written by Diane Turbyfill
Music swims through the airwaves and zips into computers and compact disc, but some people just can't stop loving vinyl.
"It will still have a small audience who thinks that vinyl sounds better. It's nostalgia," said Anthony Michaels.
A Dallas resident, Michaels is assistant program director at WLNK 107.9 and a former record representative for Atlantic Records.
Many vinyl lovers say you can't beat the sound emitted when the needle glides over a record. Michaels begs to differ.
"It's always depended on the system that you have," said Michaels. "People love the warm sound of vinyl, which I've never understood."
All the rage for decades, vinyl records were replaced by cassette tapes, followed by CDs, then by digital downloads. But don't count out the big black LPs yet. More people purchased vinyl records in 2008 than they have in almost 20 years, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
The number of record sales doesn't compete with digital downloads but it is on the rise.
"Vinyl continued to stage a comeback as the format more than doubled year-over-year to $57 million, the highest level since 1990," Joshua Friedlander wrote in a release about 2008 shipment statistics.
Vice president of the recording association, Friedlander credits devout fans, new releases and catalogue material with the resurgence.
A sparse selection of new releases and compellations are sold at Best Buy on Franklin Boulevard. The latest Ben Folds and Coldplay records sit on shelves above CDs next to collections from Queen, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen. Prices range from $29.99 to $129.99.
Pearl Jam also still puts out music on vinyl, according to Michaels.
"It's all up to the bands if they want to release it," said Michaels. "Record companies aren't pushing them to put it on vinyl. They just want to get it digital and put it online."
Some artists include vouchers for free digital downloads inside new vinyl records.
Vinyl at Eddie's Place on Garrison Boulevard has a more eclectic flavor. Open for more than a month, the store buys and sells albums.
"I was wondering how vinyl would do, and it's doing quite well," said store owner Eddie Patterson.
Patterson's selection includes Neil Diamond, the Monkees, the Beatles and Elvis. Prices range from $1.99 to $150.
Most large retail stores are not devoting too much space to the resurrected vinyl records, Michaels said.
"They're giving like 10 square feet to vinyl now," he said.
But even vinyl-lovers can click their way to getting their fix.
Amazon.com offers a special vinyl-only section with hundreds of items on sale and a list of those on the horizon.
Michaels doesn't aim to be a naysayer but believes vinyl isn't strong enough to stage a full comeback.
"There will still be people that buy vinyl, but it'll never be as big as it was," he said.
You can reach Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817.
More people purchased vinyl records in 2008 than they have in almost 20 years, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
Progression of LP/EP sales in millions
•1998 $34
•1999 $31.8
•2000 $27.7
•2001 $27.4
•2002 $20.5
•2003 $21.7
•2004 $19.3
•2005 $14.2
•2006 $15.7
•2007 $22.9
•2008 $46.2
•2009 $56.7
Numbers indicate dollar values using shipment statistics from the Recording Industry Association of America.
More people purchased vinyl records in 2008 than they have in almost 20 years, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
SOURCE: http://www.gastongazette.com
Reprinted By Permission
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