Make music personal ... again
(UWM Post/UWire via COMTEX) -- -- They're big, they're round and there are probably boxes of them in your parents' attic. What are they? They're vinyl records, and they're making a comeback.
Sale numbers from the Record Industry Association of America reflect that in 2006-2007 vinyl showed a 46.2 percent increase in revenue and a 36.6 percent increase in units sold. With this increase in sales, entertainment and record companies alike are taking notice.Stores like Best Buy are now beginning to carry vinyl to keep up with the change. Also, record companies are repressing classic rock artists like Jimi Hendrix on heavy weight vinyl to improve sound quality, which is one of the main reasons people started listening to vinyl again.
Vinyl enthusiast Sahan Jayasuria says that he prefers the warmer and fuller sound of vinyl. He also likes the fact that vinyl records are collector's items. "Some records are more limited than others [and some are] hand numbered," he said. There are many other factors that play into the vinyl resurgence too.
One reason vinyl is coming back is because it's a more personal way of listening to music. Vinyl records require much more care than CDs and MP3s. Because vinyl is easier to scratch and break, you cannot keep them out of their case and in a pile on your desk. Most vinyl collectors have a cleaning kit to help keep their records in top listening condition.
Vinyl is also more personal because it forces the listener to actually sit down and listen to the music. You cannot go to the gym or walk to class with vinyl as it forces the listener to stay within earshot of the player. The listener is forced to really hear what is being played, allowing them to get a deeper understanding of the music.
The biggest thing that makes vinyl so personal is the flip. When listening to an MP3 or CD, there is no flipping involved. You may be asking why the flip is so important, and the answer is that flipping the record makes you part of the listening process. Instead of just hitting play, the album cannot finish unless you flip it.
As previously mentioned, vinyl is now considered collectors item. Just like baseball cards and comic books, vinyl records are one more thing for people to maintain and cherish. This gives new vinyl enthusiasts a reason to re-buy their favorite albums that they had previously purchased on a different format.
For people who still want to be able to make their music portable, records are now coming with a free MP3 downloads so you can take your music with you as well as collect it on your shelf. The larger album art is another reason why people like collecting vinyl. Stores are now making frames for vinyl so that collectors can put their favorite albums up on their wall.
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals' new album "Cardinology" is a vinyl collector's dream. This album not only comes with a free MP3 download of the entire record, but has different cover art drawn by graphic novelist Leah Hayes, who also drew the pamphlet in a comic book style for the album. Also included is a 7-inch with two songs not on the record. These bonuses will only be given to those who buy the vinyl record.
With vinyl sales rising, what are music stores doing to satisfy their consumers? Atomic Records rearranged the store a year and a half ago to accommodate the growing demand for new vinyl. They also increased their order size for new releases on vinyl.
"We usually order in about 10 copies of a record on the release date," Atomic manager Vicki Flurry said. For "Cardinology," Atomic ordered 20 copies for the release date.
Exclusive Company manager Wade Michaels said that vinyl never left. "We've always carried new vinyl, but for the past two years we've been making more room for it." When asked if interest in buying vinyl will continue to grow, both stores said yes, and that they will continue to make more room for it. Both stores also said that if you want a record not in stock, they can order it for you as long as it's in print.
Though not all of the new releases offer a free digital download, there are some new nifty gadgets to help you get your jams in your computer. Companies like Ion are making turntables that convert the songs to MP3s, so there is no excuse to not join the vinyl revolution.
U. Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, Nov 17, 2008
http://www.uwmpost.com
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