Posted on 10/21/2021 7:55:15 PM PDT by algore
In the first six months of this year, 17 million vinyl records were sold in the United States, generating $467 million in retail revenue, nearly double the amount from the same period in 2020, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
Sixteen million CDs were also sold in the first half of 2021, worth just $205 million.
Physical recordings are now just a sliver of the overall music business — streaming is 84 percent of domestic revenue — but they can be a strong indication of fan loyalty, and stars like Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo make vinyl an important part of their marketing.
Yet there are worrying signs that the vinyl bonanza has exceeded the industrial capacity needed to sustain it. Production logjams and a reliance on balky, decades-old pressing machines have led to what executives say are unprecedented delays.
A couple of years ago, a new record could be turned around in a few months; now it can take up to a year, wreaking havoc on artists’ release plans.
Kevin Morby, said that his latest LP, “A Night at the Little Los Angeles,” barely arrived in time to sell on his fall tour. And he is one of the lucky ones. Artists from the Beach Boys to Tyler, the Creator have seen their vinyl held up recently.
But the bigger issue may be simple supply and demand. Consumption of vinyl LPs has grown much faster than the industry’s ability to make records. The business relies on an aging infrastructure of pressing machines, most of which date to the 1970s or earlier and can be costly to maintain.
New machines came along only in recent years, and can cost up to $300,000 each. There’s a backlog of orders for those, too.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Is it the “hip/cool” factor? What do vinyl albums have over CDs?
Greta is pissed:
“Like all plastic materials, PVC/vinyl results from a series of processing steps that convert hydrocarbon-based raw materials (petroleum, natural gas or coal) into unique synthetic products called polymers. The vinyl polymer is unusual, however, because it is based only in part on hydrocarbon feedstocks: ethylene obtained by processing, or cracking, natural gas or petroleum. The other half of the vinyl polymer is based on the natural element chlorine.”
https://www.vinylinfo.org/production/
I have a bunch from the 40’s including an arsenal of Victory Records from the AAF.
I also have 200 lbs of busbar copper.
Vinyl has a richer sound compared to the tinny sound of a CD.
And not just the ones from obscure groups that never made it to CD.
Tonight it was Tales Of Mystery And Imagination by APP.
The sound is just better some how.
Maybe it is only nostalgia.
At this point, when you can hear any song you want instantly on youtube, spotify, Apple Music, etc., there’s little practical need to own music on physical media.
Once the market for music on physical media pretty much changed from “functional” to “collectible” (i.e., buying as a decoration piece in your home), LPs had the advantage of size (i.e., larger album-art) and old-school cred.
My first 45 was Elvis’ “Jailhouse Rock”. Still have it and the Color Jacket. 1957, who should see what I have in the basement including a Promo album by the Crickets after buddy Holly died, entitled “Something Old, Something New”. Bought it for a dollar. Still have it. A very good record.
Oh, for you old timers, I have Rusty Warren’s 45 of “Knockers Up”. That should bring some smiles and tears to you.
LOL! NOW they tell me!
While some audiophiles may disagree, I PERSONALLY find that the sound from vinyl is more “real”. Digital sound is technically “perfect”: it carries everything from 20 Hz to 20KHz.
What is totally missing from digital sound is all the sub-harmonics between the instruments, the vocalists and the listener above and below that very narrow range of sound.
The harmonic sounds created below and above the normal hearing range of the listener are a much larger part of the music than most folks realize.
I was listening to some music the other day and actually said to my friends that “this would sound WAY better analogue”, and several agreed.
Digital sound, while technically “perfect”, lacks SOUL. It lacks depth, and it lacks the very essence of the performer. It is shallow, weak, and is popular only because it is cheap and easily distributed.
I think there is some echo caused by the speakers vibrating the turntable that may cause a slight “echo warmth”
I have recorded many albums onto cd using a Pioneer Cd-r pdr-xxx series
The recorded cd sound the same to me.
also the difference in mastering between LP and CD is huge.
Thanks for that,
I used to be Big with LP’s
couldn’t lug them around so
Sold them.
Now if I need a tune or Vid
It’s right Here,Now.
.
Tom Cruise doing his
Dance to Ludacris from
TROPIC THUNDER.
GET BACK!
I agree. I’m no aficionado, but as a simple music lover, to me analogue has a richer, warmer, more “filled-in” sound overall. Digital sounds good (clear and crisp) but it has something missing— kind of like it was recorded in a vacuum.
Caution,,,
Bad Words,
must be the
Devil inside.
.
But it’s Funny!
That is only true of the older thick vinyl records. About the time they stared coming out with CDs they went to a thinner vinyl record and they warped very badly even before they were opened.
The smell. The crackle. The art.
AND with really old records I dissolve them in lacquer thinner for wood finish.
Mom was furious.
I fixed it with some glass although it always played a little funny after that.
Plus there’s that whole analog/digital thingy! LOL!
But the vinyl records in the 60s & 70s I wish I had kept. I had some very collectible records. Oh well, that's life and water long gone from under the bridge now. But I don't mind MP3s, as I really do not listen to songs that much anymore, since I rarely drive anymore.
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