Vinyl record sales top CDs for first time in more than 30 years: “Music lovers clearly can’t get enough.” Vinyl records are back and more popular than ever. A new report found that vinyl record sales continued their more than decade-long growth in 2022, and for the first time in more than three decades, outsold CDs in the number of units. The report, published by the Recording Industry Association of America on Thursday, found that physical formats of music saw another year of overall growth in 2022, totaling $1.7 billion. Making up nearly three-quarters of that growth were vinyl records, which saw a 17% increase in revenues for $1.2 billion. This marked the product’s 16th year of consecutive growth, RIAA said. It also marked the first time since 1987 that more vinyl records were sold than CDs, which saw a revenue decline of 18% in 2022. The group said that 41 million vinyl albums were sold last year, compared to 33 million CDs. But physical copies continued to do better than downloads, which once again saw a decline in revenues.
Essex, UK | The Essex record shop that doubles up as a cool cafe: If you can’t find the record you want just ask. Vinyl records have really had a revival in recent years, with many modern albums now getting record releases. Certainly, something you don’t get from only streaming music online is the joy of searching through a record shop for that hidden gem and lucky for us one vinyl store here in Essex is the perfect place to do some vinyl hunting. Hey Joe, in Brentwood, is a bit different from others as it also doubles as a coffee shop as well as selling a huge range of records, all brand new. When I heard about Hey Joe I knew that I had to go along to check it out. I have recently got a record player and have been meaning to go and look for some records, not that I needed an excuse to pop along. Hey Joe can be found in the Baytree Shopping Centre, right at the entrance so it is very easy to find. It had a great vibe to it as soon as I walked in so I was excited to try it out.
Berwick, PA | Record store bounces back with a new location: After losing a thousand record and his old storefront due to water damage, owner Mark Collier has finally reopened WaxPax Records. From Dolly Parton to the Beatles. Hip-hop to country to punk, WaxPax Records sells music across the decades for everyone. Collier is just happy to be back. “With friends that have been with me for years and new friends I just made today, it’s one of the most incredible moments of my life, thank you so much for being here,” said Collier as he addressed his store. Collier first opened WaxPax in September of 2021 down the street. A burst pipe last December forced him to close. Fans of the store were excited to see the new location open. “I’m very happy, I’m very happy,” said Jarid Jopling of Scranton, Lackawanna Co. “I love supporting it. When he told me about the grand opening I absolutely had to be here.”
AU | Ball Park Music, Confidence Man and more feature in Australian Record Store Day 2023 releases: Releases by Peking Duk, Ocean Alley, Polish Club, Underground Lovers, GUM and Ambrose Kenny-Smith – along with a new ‘Bluey’ soundtrack album – are among other local Record Store Day highlights. Releases by Ball Park Music, Confidence Man, Peking Duk, Ocean Alley and Polish Club are among the Australian records that will be available as part of this year’s Record Store Day on April 22. Those include a seven-inch vinyl containing Peking Duk’s two most recent singles: last year’s ‘Spend It’ with Circa Waves and this year’s rework of Savage Garden‘s ‘I Want You’, featuring newly-recorded vocals from Darren Hayes himself. Ball Park Music’s 2011 ‘Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs’ favourite ‘It’s Nice to Be Alive’ will also be available as a seven-inch single. Confidence Man’s ‘Re-Tilt’ remix EP will be available on vinyl, while Ocean Alley’s 2018 album ‘Chiaroscuro’ will be available as a translucent orange double-LP. Polish Club’s ‘Nye_2020_megamix.Exe’ will be available as a transparent pink LP.
Oxford, OH | Vinyl is back in Oxford… finally: For 17 consecutive years, vinyl record sales have increased annually. The physicality of holding a beloved album cannot be matched by a digital album, whether streamed or downloaded. Black Plastic Oxford has brought the vinyl market back to Oxford after years without record stores Uptown. And, if I may say, it’s about damn time! For record collectors, vinyl enthusiasts and people who just love holding something in their hands, this is a more-than-welcome business. Behind us are the days of driving to the recently-relocated Main Street Vinyl in Hamilton to scratch the itch that comes along with every passing minute not spent in a record store. The narrow store fills the former shoes of The Oxford Copy Shop and does so in a way that makes you believe it couldn’t have ever been anything but a record shop. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of albums line either wall with boxes of jewelry in the middle and posters under the shelves.
Kansas City, KS | Manor Records closed its shop to focus on bigger plans: leveling up Kansas City’s music industry: Kansas City may have a long legacy of jazz musicians, but it’s not known these days as a destination for musical artists. Manor Records is trying to change that by funding local artists and music venues. Manor Records started like a lot of great ideas: in the basement of an unassuming house. It was 2012 when Shaun Crowley, just graduated from high school, moved into a 3-bedroom home off Johnson Drive in Shawnee, Kansas, with four bandmates. Before long, Crowley and the others turned the cute, ranch-style home into their landlord’s worst nightmare: a noisy, DIY concert venue. They even built a stage and bar in the basement. “It’s two blocks from the Shawnee Police headquarters and then two blocks from this massive church,” says Crowley. “It’s very funny that we got away with everything right there, because we were young and doing crazy stuff.”
Analog Online: How to Start Your Vinyl Record Collection: Not sure where to buy vinyl records? We spoke to some experts about where to go and what to look for if you’re just getting started. It’s fun to go crate digging for a rare vinyl record at a local music store, but not everyone has access to that kind of experience. Now, most people buy records online. And make no mistake, people are buying vinyl records. For the first time since 1987, vinyl albums outsold CDs by units in the US in 2022: 41 million versus 33 million CDs, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Taylor Swift’s Midnights led the way(Opens in a new window). Looking to bulk up your record collection? We polled a few vinyl experts on how they buy records, what to look for, and some accessories that might may help if you’re just getting started.
