Vinyl records have now surpassed CDs as the most-sold physical media. Statistics in 2021 show that vinyl was responsible for 50.4% of all physical media sales, surpassing CDs, which is a first since 1991. Why has vinyl had a sudden surge in popularity?

The Appeal

Vinyl has a feel. Many people ask me why I choose to throw on a record when I can play the same album from my phone. People argue that digital music is more convenient and can sound better with the right equipment. So why would it make sense to play a record? I always tell these people that vinyl has a feel. 

While I have found that most of the appeal of vinyl is the unexplainable feel, there are some solid points that otherwise contribute to its appeal:

The Sound

Vinyl is famous for having a “warm” sound signature. The term “warm” refers to a type of sound in which bass and vocals are more present, while treble frequencies are present but slightly subdued. The warm sound is often described as comfy and pleasant, inoffensive but not boring. The warm sound is like relaxing by the fireplace in the evening after a day's hard work. Vinyl’s warmth is what makes vinyl so pleasant-sounding; its warmth is how the sound of vinyl attracts listeners. 

Crackle, snap, pop!

Much like the sound of a fire, vinyl has satisfying pops and crackles that add to the atmosphere. I find that the sounds of fire are often nostalgic, cozy, and pleasant. The light static of vinyl gives me the same feeling as listening to the snaps and crackles of an open fire.

On a more technical note, vinyl is a completely “lossless” format of audio. This term refers to a type of audio that preserves all of the detail in the music while the term “lossy” refers to a type of audio that is missing detail. Since vinyl is a lossless format, you can be sure that vinyl is a high quality source of music. 

The Experience

When you say that playing a record is an experience, many people will be confused. How can listening to music on a record be any different from listening from your phone, let alone offer an entirely different experience? Well it is a well-known rule that it is better to experience music in the way that the artist intended it to be.

Many artists like Pink Floyd make their albums follow a structure (rising action, climax, etc.) that can often tell a story. For example, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of The Moon takes you on a journey through the several factors that lead people to mental insanity. The album is meant to be listened to from start to finish. When the album is broken up into its own separate songs, you miss the creative and clever experience that Pink Floyd has crafted.

On a lighter note, many people, myself included, enjoy the simple process of just putting on a record. The process of taking the vinyl out of its sleeve, cleaning it, and dropping the needle, is a very special one. 

Tactility and The Joy of Collecting

One of the most appealing aspects of vinyl is the tactility. The joy of actually possessing your favourite albums is quite amazing. It is crazy how much people overlook this aspect of vinyl. 

Another part of the tactility aspect is how vinyl is collectible. For many people, the appeal to vinyl is its value. Records can get really expensive or rare which makes them very collectable. Records like the 1969 pressing of In the Court of The Crimson King by King Crimson and the withdrawn “butcher cover” of Yesterday and Today by The Beatles can go for thousand dollars, making these records very collectible.

In conclusion…

Vinyl is a source of music that has been around for 75 years. Although vinyl is slowly rising in popularity, there are many people who still have not experienced the beauty of vinyl. I’ll put on a record and feel the usual feeling of awe, but know that many people have not experienced that same musical experience that you get from listening to vinyl. I realised that by educating others about collecting and listening to vinyl, I am opening the door for more music lovers to experience a timeless format of music: the vinyl record.