SONGPEOPLE.CO.UK LISTEN. RATE. WIN

CDs sales have famously taken every plunge imaginable lately, and with peer-to-peer networks and pirating sites constantly popping up, they aren’t the only music format that isn’t making much money for record companies. 

However – many music fans are taking their interests back to the old school, and investing in records.  In the States, record sales have gone up almost double time, even if consumers these days are more inclined to store music on an iPod than anywhere else. 

Sky.com reports that record companies have begun ringing in profits not just by selling vinyl to nostalgic graying rock fans, but to members of a more youthful generation as well.  Chris Carmino, manager of the legendary Amoeba records in Hollywood told Sky, “People are realizing that vinyl is the collectors’ format. CDs are becoming just vessels of information, something to throw into your computer for the purpose of getting that music into your iPod.”

Of course, CD sales, however increasingly lethargic, are still leading over record sales at the moment. In the UK vinyl sales haven’t moved much, but there has been an increasing demand for limited edition vinyl singles.  Record stores like the Vinyl Factory, west of London, and Phonica in the West End report that the limited edition releases like that of the Pet Shop Boys’ latest synth pop masterpiece, 'Yes', have seen spiking sales and increasing consumer interest.
Though Phonica has begun selling t-shirts that read “Vinyl Kills the MP3 Industry,” this is still a bit of an exaggeration.  But collectors and artist alike continue to revel in the sound quality of a vinyl record. 

“Music sounds better on vinyl,” Chris Lowe told Sky. “It’s just a fact isn’t it? And also it’s the process of getting it out, putting it on.”