Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

[Axo1989]

But people (who downplay the vinyl revival) so often point to how it's a streaming world now, and vinyl sales pale in comparison to the number of streams. The first thing to point out is that streaming is in a sense not directly comparable to physical media in terms of it's significance and engagement for the listener. I mean, my wife will say to Alexa "play Backstreet Boys" and I'll be subjected to hours of Backstreet Boys songs (ready to put screwdrivers through my ears). My wife is barely listening, the music is constantly streaming those songs while she's doing any number of things, even when she's in some other part of the house not listening, it continues to stream. She's become a "Swifty" too, and so it's the same with Swift's music in our home "Play Taylor Swift" and it just streams endlessly in the background, adding to her streaming numbers. So the way streaming is used can in of itself naturally inflate the numbers, especially in terms of the listener engagement. Whereas physical media like vinyl, when people play the record, they tend to really listen.

Yes, number of streams essentially means the number of times somebody plays that track (either deliberately or as part of a playlist etc) so it isn't possible to correlate to physical media sale in that sense (I'm sure there are industry metrics for various purposes). It's also one reason why a stream doesn't pay much.

While I don't have any vinyl at all myself, I'm sure you have albums you play to the point of wearing out, versus some you play rarely or not at all. And there is the counterpoint that some vinyl sales are to collectors (in various demographics) who don't play the media at all. I'm guessing there are a range of estimates for that (see upthread, although there hasn't been much in-depth).

Anyway, I can barely manage the concept of playlist algorithms and auto-play, let alone BSB on repeat.

 

[Sal1950]

50 years ago Pink Floyd were in fashion....

They still are !

Upwards and Onwards...still renaissancing...

Vinyl sales up nearly 15 per cent in 2023​

Vinyl sales up nearly 15 per cent in 2023

Artists including Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey and Blur have aided the sales

www.nme.com

What audiophiles actually listen to this highly compressed pop garbage.
Those big sale numbers are propelled by the kool hipster crowd that will move on soon as they grow up.

 

[MattHooper]

Yes, number of streams essentially means the number of times somebody plays that track (either deliberately or as part of a playlist etc) so it isn't possible to correlate to physical media sale in that sense (I'm sure there are industry metrics for various purposes). It's also one reason why a stream doesn't pay much.

While I don't have any vinyl at all myself, I'm sure you have albums you play to the point of wearing out, versus some you play rarely or not at all. And there is the counterpoint that some vinyl sales are to collectors (in various demographics) who don't play the media at all. I'm guessing there are a range of estimates for that (see upthread, although there hasn't been much in-depth).

Anyway, I can barely manage the concept of playlist algorithms and auto-play, let alone BSB on repeat.

Ha! I actually feel like an old befuddled fogey when it comes to streaming apps. They drive me crazy. I usually just want to find an album and play a song, or the album. But every time I make a selection, whatever the app, it's

"Add to playlist?"

No, I don't want it on a playlist, just play the thing right now!

"Make a play list?"

No, I don't want a f*cking playlist! Just play the song!

"You SURE you don't want to start a playlist"

Damn, it no just play the song!!!!

I hate playlists.

(Though, ok, I've got one playlist I use...but I still find the whole playlist thing a hassle).

For discovering music I do a lot of that on youtube. I find their mind reading algorithm has become staggeringly good at leading me down new rabbit holes.

 

[MattHooper]

They still are !

What audiophiles actually listen to this highly compressed pop garbage.
Those big sale numbers are propelled by the kool hipster crowd that will move on soon as they grow up.

Any new post about vinyl sales is like the Bat Light going up for Sal and Newman.

There must be some hidden forum function - "Someone said something nice about vinyl" - monitoring the conversations.

 

[Sal1950]

Ha! I actually feel like an old befuddled fogey when it comes to streaming apps. They drive me crazy. I usually just want to find an album and play a song, or the album. But every time I make a selection, whatever the app, it's

Agree with you there Matt. I mainly only use streaming to check out new album releases before a
high def digital purchase to add to my local library.

Any new post about vinyl sales is like the Bat Light going up for Sal and Newman.

Yep, on ASR it's like a new post about the value of expensive cables and power cords.
We just can't let BS stand.

 

[Axo1989]

Ha! I actually feel like an old befuddled fogey when it comes to streaming apps. They drive me crazy. I usually just want to find an album and play a song, or the album. But every time I make a selection, whatever the app, it's

"Add to playlist?"

No, I don't want it on a playlist, just play the thing right now!

"Make a play list?"

No, I don't want a f*cking playlist! Just play the song!

"You SURE you don't want to start a playlist"

Damn, it no just play the song!!!!

I hate playlists.

(Though, ok, I've got one playlist I use...but I still find the whole playlist thing a hassle).

For discovering music I do a lot of that on youtube. I find their mind reading algorithm has become staggeringly good at leading me down new rabbit holes.

Ah yes, I have no playlists in the usual sense. My version is adding everything (or everything I like in some cases) by an artist to the library, then playing chronologically. Heaven forbid if an algorithm plays tracks out of album order.

Any new post about vinyl sales is like the Bat Light going up for Sal and Newman.

There must be some hidden forum function - "Someone said something nice about vinyl" - monitoring the conversations.

Are you being followed?

And the response looks a bit reflexive. Actually reading the article you posted would surely uncover artists old enough for even @Sal1950 to listen to.

 

[Timcognito]

We just can't let BS stand.

 

[Axo1989]

View attachment 324522

Carburettors are the automotive equivalent of turntables, surely? Mechanical, finicky, basically obsolete ... but still fun.

 

[Galliardist]

No, I said that probably wasn't it. But I was curious why you invoked "Taylor Swift" and "fashion overtaking us" as negatives in your response to @MattHooper's post. Unless I misunderstood, and you were being positive. If so, say so.

There was also a chance you'd explain why you might think the artists listed in the article—starting at the top with Lana Del Rey—are selling due to fashion as opposed to say artistic merit. But that was a long shot.

Lana del Rey isn’t at the top of the list any more though. Not by miles.

And it has to be said, sales of 1989 make zero sense in terms of the vinyl industry, yet perfect sense in terms of the Taylor Swift industry.

It raises a point I missed when I dismissed the renaissance yesterday, though. Vinyl has gained a status in parts of our society that sits well outside of audiophile sound arguments and such.

 

[Timcognito]

Carburettors are the automotive equivalent of turntables, surely? Mechanical, finicky, basically obsolete ... but still fun.

Yes, I guess that was a bad analogy. My Carter AFB used to give me fits. PHEV these days.

 

[Axo1989]

Lana del Rey isn’t at the top of the list any more though. Not by miles.

Which list? The numbers @MattHooper linked were 2023 through September (and UK, per MusicWeek via NME) where Ocean Blvd was first. Your Statistica subscription is too pricey for casual use, for example, but I'd appreciate your October update (has it changed by miles in a month?)

Doesn't really change my response though: tell me about fashion versus artistic merit wrt the artists selling records. To the extent that those things can be disentangled. Not originally directed at you, of course, and I don't think you were making the same pejorative point as @Newman.

And it has to be said, sales of 1989 make zero sense in terms of the vinyl industry, yet perfect sense in terms of the Taylor Swift industry.

It raises a point I missed when I dismissed the renaissance yesterday, though. Vinyl has gained a status in parts of our society that sits well outside of audiophile sound arguments and such.

Why doesn't 1989 make sense there (not disagreeing, I'm just not following)? Because it's one of her 'Taylor's version' releases? Something else? I agree with the second point.

 

[egellings]

Carburettors are the automotive equivalent of turntables, surely? Mechanical, finicky, basically obsolete ... but still fun.

I thought carburetors were smoking devices used to optimize the doob-air mixture.

 

[Axo1989]

I thought carburetors were smoking devices used to optimize the doob-air mixture.

Being a bit slow on the uptake, I looked-up and got Doob's martingale inequality. Which should keep me entertained for hours.

 

[Timcognito]

Sorry to derail the thread, I know Sal is a car guy and would appreciate the joke.

 

[levimax]

Sorry to derail the thread, I know Sal is a car guy and would appreciate the joke.

This thread is at it's best when derailed......

 

[Galliardist]

Those big sale numbers are propelled by the kool hipster crowd that will move on soon as they grow up.

I’ve been reading that line for years now.

Are hipsters the Swift fan base?

Taylor Swift is no short term fad either.

 

[RayDunzl]

What's remarkable to me is that he seems to be sitting with Gogo Yubari and she hasn't yet killed him.

Or maybe she has, and she just got him back from the taxidermist and placed him there, just so...

 

[Galliardist]

Why doesn't 1989 make sense there (not disagreeing, I'm just not following)? Because it's one of her 'Taylor's version' releases? Something else? I agree with the second point.

Well, look at tbe numbers. 30000, 40000 sales of an album over a six month period, then all of a sudden… bang! One album suddenly sells half a million. Why? The only other time that happened, same singer. Conclusion: it’s about the singer.

That 50% of vinyl buyers not owning a record player makes a little more sense to me in tbe light of these numbers.

 

[MattHooper]

This thread is at it's best when derailed......

In my city we have a notorious doomsday church whose sign set over the local roadway read: "Prepare thyself now, Jesus is about to return to judge all!"

That sign stayed up year after year, decade after decade, getting ever more worn and tattered. Optimistic folks, they were not inclined to give up on the claim.

I sometimes think of that sign when people who at this point still believe vinyl is a "fad."

 

[Timcognito]

What's remarkable to me is that he seems to be sitting with Gogo Yubari and she hasn't yet killed him.

Or maybe she has, and she just got him back from the taxidermist and placed him there, just so...

Too Funny thanks for the link. It was needed to get a real LOL