CDs and vinyl are outselling digital music downloads: Digital music downloads began to outsell physical media since 2012. It took four more years for digital music revenue to surpass those from physical media as well. Then streaming happened, and last year generated more money in the US than all the other formats. Now, digital downloads are coming in dead last, with fewer sales than CDs, vinyl or other physical media, according to the latest annual report from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Even though shipments of physical media dropped 4 percent to $1.5 billion, digital download revenues fell 25 percent to $1.3 billion in 2017, putting CDs and vinyl back on top of non-streaming music formats.
The Future of Downloads, Accelerating Growth & Vinyl Vinyl Vinyl: 5 Takeaways From the RIAA Year-End Report: The “vinyl revival” has been one of the industry’s favorite underdog storylines of the past decade, after the format averaged 38 percent growth from 2012 to 2015. But after growing just 3.7 percent in 2016, there were signs that the revival was stuttering into a more even lane, and may be nearing its peak. Yet in 2017, the numbers perked back up again, as revenues from LPs got a 10 percent boost over the year prior, to $395 million. It’s not the type of roaring growth that it was, but it’s heading back in the right direction, with many fans still seemingly bent on having that physical piece of art to call their own.
Local radio personality making vinyl great again: PHOENIX – A classic radio station in Phoenix is bringing back vinyls. (“Vinyls” is not a word. —Ed.) Yes, those discs with the circular grooves that play music. Russ Egan, who is KSLX-FM’s weeknight radio personality, wanted to add a different element to his evening show. So, he decided to spin things up, and bring back vinyl records. “I thought let’s play a vinyl album side, ’cause I’ve done that at stations in the past, and enjoyed stations in the past that have done that themselves,” said Egan. The team was immediately on board with his idea. Soon after, Egan dug up a turntable and his old vinyl records. He says it was like a trip down memory lane. “It’s like opening up a book,” said Egan. “You can smell it. You can feel it. You remember so many things from the last time you listen to the record.”
Vinyl Revolution: New Brighton Shop Set To Celebrate Its First Record Store Day: Brighton based independent record store Vinyl Revolution will be hosting its first
Record Store Day, next month, and will be providing its customers with access to exclusive vinyl releases, as well as numerous live performances outside the store in Duke Street. The store is the brainchild of musician Simon Parker – whose musical career has its roots and cultural inspiration in Brighton – and his business partner, Rachel Lowe. “Buying records in a supermarket is soulless, but too many record stores are unwelcoming and quite blokey – even my musician friends, who really know their music, say they have felt unwelcome or intimidated,” explained Simon Parker.
5 Belgian labels to check out at the Brussels Independent Label Market: If a label’s power lies in the strength of their visuals (like the legendary Factory Records sleeves designed by Peter Saville, for example), Okraïna Records is probably Belgium’s most striking label right now. Founded by Brussels’ native Philippe Delvosalle, Okraïna puts out nothing but 10-inch vinyls – frequently splits featuring two artists. The sleeves – all designed by Gwenola Carrère – share an innocent, poetic aesthetic and are done by hand with markers. But beyond the beautiful visuals, Okraïna Records builds a bridge between traditional genres and modern artists, the folk music of yore and the pop music of today.
With Official Historic Designation, The Search For a New Home For VIP Records’ Sign Continues: After a long year in which it squabbled with the city over the rights to its iconic sign, VIP Records and its famous whistler sign was officially recognized as a historic landmark after the Long Beach City Council adopted an ordinance certifying it as one Tuesday night. The sign had been the focus of a struggle between VIP owner and operator, Kelvin Anderson, and the city since he announced he was closing his shop that had been a part of the Central Long Beach community for four decades. The record store not only sold music to generations of hip hop fans but also helped foster the young careers of now infamous rap legends like Snoop Dogg, Warren G and others.
Pink Floyd announce remastered vinyl reissue of live album Pulse featuring a full performance of The Dark Side of the Moon: Just a few weeks after it was revealed that a mono reissue of Pink Floyd’s The Piper At The Gates of Dawn would be one of Record Store Day’s exclusive releases, the legendary rock outfit have announced yet another vinyl reissue. On May 18th, a remastered edition of live album Pulse will be available as a 4-LP box set, making it the album’s first vinyl reissue since it was first released in 1995. Featuring audio remastered from the original tapes by James Guthrie, Joel Plante and Bernie Grundman, the songs will be pressed on 180-gram wax and ensconced in individual inner and outer sleeves. As on the live recording’s original cassette release, this edition will also include “One Of These Days”, which wasn’t included on the CD version. There’s also a 52-page hardback photo book, as well as artwork that’s been recreated by Hipgnosis’ Aubrey Powell and Peter Curzon.
