Why vinyl records are the oldest yet trendiest way to listen to music

Main points

• Trends from the ’90s-’00s like wired headphones and low-rise jeans are back, and now vinyl records are making a comeback, appealing to the masses.
• Vinyl record sales soared to 27.5 million in 2020, with Taylor Swift leading the way, with one in every 15 vinyl records sold being hers.
• Despite the high cost, the feeling of nostalgia and calm that comes with playing vinyl records on a record player is still unmatched by other music formats.

It’s no secret that the fashion and technology of the ’90s and ’00s have had a major resurgence in today’s pop culture. From wired headphones to low-rise jeans, walking the streets of New York might make you feel like you’ve stepped into a time machine and traveled back to 2005. However, while wired headphones may be making a comeback, Gen Z has given up on bringing back cassette tapes for something even older: the record player.

From wired headphones to low-rise jeans, walking the streets of New York might make you feel like you’ve stepped into a time machine and traveled back to 2005.

The comeback of vinyl records is nothing new. I remember asking my parents for my first record player in eighth grade and my parents’ reaction was total confusion. Why would a 13-year-old want a record player?

Now, ten years later, I still buy the latest vinyl releases from my favorite artists and play them on my Electrohome record player.

Looking Back: The Rise and Fall of Vinyl Records

Vinyl records began being produced in the late 1800s, but didn’t really reach the peak of their popularity until the 1950s and 1960s. The rise of rock music and young people having more free time gave way to the mass production of vinyl records by record companies. This was before television, so turning on your record player and spinning your favorite vinyl record was the only way you could drown out the noise of the world around you.

Record sales peaked in the 1970s, accounting for nearly 66% of all music format revenue. However, as with anything, there is always something newer and shinier to replace the old technology, and the cassette recorder did just that. In the 1980s and 1990s, cassette players, along with compact discs (CDs), became the most popular way to listen to music.

The invention of cassette tapes, CDs, and digital streaming made record players obsolete. Well, until recently.

By the early 2000s, tapes and CDs were eclipsed by MP3 players, making digital music the next best thing. According to Statista, fewer than 1 million records were sold in 2005.

The invention of cassette tapes, CDs, and digital streaming made record players obsolete. Well, until recently.

Skip a beat: Vinyl records are making a comeback

Some crazy things happened in 2020. If you’re thinking about the rise in vinyl record sales, you’re right. As of the end of 2020, vinyl record sales increased to 27.5 million, an increase of 30% over the previous year. Vinyl records have slowly become more popular since 2010, with Tumblr users promoting a “retro” aesthetic. However, the astronomical sales of vinyl records in 2020 prove that vinyl no longer only appeals to audiophiles or niche indie band listeners, but now appeals to the masses.

However, the astronomical sales of vinyl records in 2020 prove that vinyl no longer only appeals to audiophiles or niche indie band listeners, but now appeals to the masses.

Nowadays, almost every artist releases their latest album on vinyl and on Spotify or Apple Music. In 2023, Americans purchased nearly 50 million vinyl records, a 14% increase from 2022. As with everything in the music industry these days, the rise in vinyl sales can be attributed to one artist: Taylor Swift.It’s no surprise that one in 10 vinyl records sold in the U.S. is by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s “Tortured Poet’s Department” will be available on vinyl in three different versions next week.

In 2022, Taylor Swift accounted for one-half of vinyl record sales. It only makes me wonder how much of this year’s vinyl sales her upcoming album The Tortured Poet’s Department , which is available in three different special-edition vinyl formats, will account for.

Why vinyl records will never go out of style

I have been listening to vinyl records since 2014. I’ve always been a big proponent of listening to music in all formats, and there’s an undeniable sense of calm that comes with listening to vinyl. Whether I’m writing, doing homework, or just trying to wind down at the end of the day, I love the feeling of putting a vinyl record on the record player, setting the needle down, and listening to music playing softly in the background.

Whether I’m writing, doing homework, or just trying to wind down at the end of the day, I love the feeling of putting a vinyl record on the record player, setting the needle down, and listening to music playing softly in the background.

The biggest drawback to listening to music on vinyl is the cost. Vinyl records aren’t cheap, and neither are decent record players. When I first started getting into vinyl, I bought a $60 record player from Urban Outfitters and thought that would do it. I mean $60 isn’t cheap either. However, after using a few record players, I’ve learned that sometimes it’s worth spending a little more money on a record player.

I currently use an Electrohome Kingston record player, which includes a radio, Bluetooth speaker functionality (for when I want to play music from my phone), and a 3.5mm jack for an auxiliary cord.

I look forward to the day when I can give every Taylor Swift vinyl record to my future children.

Despite their high cost, listening to vinyl records creates a sense of nostalgia that you don’t get with other music formats. When I first got into vinyl, my grandfather gave me his old records of Frank Sinatra, Elvis and Billy Joel. My uncle gave him LPs of the Ramones and Green Day; also, every Christmas my parents gave me a LP of their favorite artist. I look forward to the day when I can give every Taylor Swift vinyl record to my future children.