There was a time in the 90s and the early 2000s where people would have called you insane if you’d told them that vinyl was going to make a comeback. But here we are: vinyl sales have been growing for eight consecutive years now, with the sales of vinyl generating more income for many UK artists than many other sources such as YouTube streams.
Despite the claims of many throughout the decades, vinyl isn’t going anywhere.
Many have wondered why vinyl has made such a strong comeback. Some would argue that it’s the superior sound quality available on vinyl when compared to CD, despite the fact that it actually sounds inferior to CD. (Although it’s true that a perception that vinyl sounds better may be driving sales!) But it’s that precise distorted quality of vinyls that help give them what people call a “warm” or “organic” feel - and it’s that aesthetic that a lot of people really love.
Of course, it’s also true that many people are buying vinyl en masse simply because they look great. A survey by the ICM Group back in 2014 suggested that as large a portion as 15% of physical music buyers - and that includes CD buyers - purchase these formats with no intention of actually listening to the things!
If you’re running a retail music business, then vinyl could be an essential addition to your stock. Many have suggested that the impressive recovery of HMV - on life support at the start of the decade - was aided, in large part, to the vinyl revival and the store’s impressive stock of the format.
Those who are looking to sell vinyls to their customers need to work with a supplier that has access to strong back catalogues as well as new release vinyl records. There are loads of sorts of vinyls that buyers are interested in. There are brand new vinyl releases to consider - the latest Pink Floyd album, 2014’s The Endless River, became the fastest-selling vinyl since 1997 in the UK, and new releases from Radiohead and David Bowie last year also sold very well.
There are ‘semi’-new releases in the form of reissues - new and often remastered vinyl pressings of classic albums. Last year, reissues of classics by Public Image Ltd, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, and Sunny Day Real Estate all sold thousands of copies each.
The leading reason you need a supplier who has a strong back catalogue is that many vinyl sales throughout the year aren’t even of records that were released or even reissued that year. In 2016, albums among the top ten best-selling vinyls included Back to Black by Amy Winehouse, Nevermind by Nirvana, and Legend by Bob Marley, among many others. Some back catalogue sales are also spurned by certain events, such as the 2016 wave of sales of the Purple Rain vinyl record being propelled by the untimely death of Prince.
So make sure your business works with a trustworthy wholesaler with access to back catalogue and new release vinyl records. From British legends such as The Beatles, Oasis, and Iron Maiden, to visionaries from across the pond like Funkadelic, ECD Direct can get their hands on a plethora of great vinyls for your business.
