Celebrate Vinyl Week! Why you should rediscover vinyl...

Since vinyl records were last popular, music has gone through an evolution of cassette tapes, CD’s, iPod’s and digital downloading. But now, vinyl records have made their comeback! So much so that last year, vinyl generated more money for British artists than the music streaming giant YouTube. There is even an annual ‘Record Store Day’ event, which is dedicated to celebrating record store culture. So where has this revival for old-school vinyl come from?

People love vinyl records

• They provide better quality music.
  All LP lovers will tell you that there is something special about listening to vinyl records. Aside from creating a fond feeling of nostalgia, many people believe vinyl records produce a much better quality sound than digital music.
  
  
• They give us the ‘music buying experience’.
  Purchasing songs online might be quick and convenient for consumers, but it means that we’ve lost that music buying experience. Record stores create a more authentic approach to buying music and give vinyl fans the enjoyment of browsing, before buying a tangible piece of music.
  
  
• They’re collectable.
  An extensive vinyl collection is the mark of a true music fan. Buying physical copies not only helps to support your favourite artists, but it also allows you to establish a music collection that is more sentimental than an online playlist.
  
  
• People appreciate having physical copies.
  The popularity of online streaming has actually made people miss owning a physical copy of music. Despite streaming sites, such as YouTube, giving consumers free access to songs, vinyl sales are at their highest in 21 years.
  
  

There is now more access to vinyl records

• Big selling artists are releasing vinyl versions of their music.
  Newer artists are now releasing their music in vinyl form, which has not only sparked a rise in sales but also made it much easier for vinyl lovers to access new music. Singers such as Adele, Ed Sheeran and Amy Winehouse were amongst the top sellers last year, helping vinyl LP sales climb for an eighth consecutive year to their highest level since 1994.
  
  
• It’s much easier to find good quality record players.
  The growth of vinyl record sales has meant that lots of shops are restocking good quality record players too. Shackletons, for example, have a top range of retro-style record players to suit all music lovers.
  
  

Let us know what you think! Are vinyl records hard to beat when it comes to quality music?

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