USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
SUMMATIONWeeklyy
This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T Vol. 23, No. 16
April 19, 2023
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 8 Pages
Section A, Page 1
VINYL REVIVAL
vinyl only for its physical aesthetic, and
trends, as vinyl is also the top-selling
not to listen to it. According to Billboard,
By Nicole Willis
D
These national trends match local
ust off that old stereo and
format at Revolver Records. When asked
snag your parents’ records
about the shop’s recent sales, Jones
because vinyl is back!
said: “[Sales] have bumped up a little
WHAT IS ers listening to the finished product on vinyl. Because the artist’s intention was RECORD to have the album played on a turntable, STORE DAY? it sounds better on a turntable. records with the intention of consum-
According to the Recording Industry
bit because more people are into records.
Another major factor contributing
Association of America (RIAA), 2022
Yes, there’s been an increase. Ever since
to the recent increase in vinyl sales is
marked the sixteenth consecutive year
I reopened Revolver in 2010, vinyl has
the collectability aspect of vinyl records.
that vinyl has continued to rise in popu-
been my bread and butter, meat and
Today, vinyl comes in so many varieties—
larity. Last year was the first year since
potatoes. It’s been just about all I sell.”
it is pressed with different colors, glitter
1987 that more vinyl records were sold
With all this talk about vinyl making
inside of it, a splattered effect, different
than CDs. In a time where every album
such a big comeback, one may wonder
shapes, etc. While it was possible to press
is digitally in the palm of our hands, this
why today’s teens and young adults
funky-colored and patterned vinyl in the
data points to the resurrection of a fading
are gravitating toward a format that
70s and 80s, it was much less common.
format and industry.
feels outdated. After all, vinyl has been
Since vinyl was the standard format for
In anticipation of Record Store Day
succeeded by cassettes, 8-tracks, CDs,
listening to music back then, the appear-
on April 22, we spoke with Eric Jones,
MP3s and today’s popular streaming
ance of the record did not matter much
owner of Pensacola’s Revolver Records,
format. While each new format has
to the consumer. If the record played
who says that vinyl’s popularity has
claimed to improve the listening expe-
music, the product was good. These
steadily been on the rise for more than a
rience, many people still see vinyl as the
fun varieties have created an aesthetic
decade “I would say vinyl dipped in the
best and most magical way to experi-
aspect to collecting records.
90s and the 2000s,” Jones explained. “The
ence their favorite music. Three major
Several artists are cashing in on the
teens [2013, 2014, etc.] is when it started
factors contribute to the recent resur-
collectability aspect of the vinyl craze.
kicking back in and it’s still going strong.
gence of vinyl records: sound, collect-
Most recently, American singer-song-
We’ll see how long that lasts. It could be
ability and experience.
writer Taylor Swift released four editions
a bubble that bursts, or next year could bring twice what it did this year.”
People are rediscovering (or discov-
of her latest album Midnights on vinyl.
ering for the first time) the warm sound
Each of the four editions featured a
In recent years, older and newer
that vinyl has. In a world where we grav-
different colored record and different
artists alike are promoting vinyl records
itate towards Spotify and Apple Music
album art. When a fan purchases all four
to their fanbases. Older artists like Pink
out of convenience, a warm and rich-
albums, they can lay out the records with
Floyd and The Rolling Stones are reis-
sounding record can be a good way
the back covers facing up to connect the
suing their catalogs on vinyl, and newer
to take a break from the compressed
back cover art, which makes a clock. The
artists like Billie Eilish and Harry Styles
and almost robotic sound of listen-
funny thing about the four records is
are even releasing some of their newest
ing to music on streaming platforms.
apart from the different colored records
albums on vinyl. Fans are jumping at the
Because of the openness that vinyl
and the different cover art, the track list-
chance to get the latest vinyl releases
has in comparison to the compressed
ing and music is the exact same on all
from their favorite artists.
sound of music on streaming platforms,
four copies of the album.
According to the RIAA, 41 million
there are sounds that one may hear on
Swift is the prime example of an
vinyl records were sold in 2022 alone.
the vinyl version of the album that get
artist who understands the collectabil-
In the past year, vinyl revenue grew 17
lost in the digital version.
percent, reaching $1.2 billion in total
ity aspect of the vinyl craze. She essen-
Vinyl has made such a comeback that there is even a holiday centered around the idea of collecting—Record Store Day (RSD). RSD is a biannual day-long event that celebrates the independentlyowned record stores that supply local communities and keep the love of vinyl alive and spinning. RSD was first held on April 19, 2008. Since then, the event has grown into the worldwide phenomenon it is today. RSD draws people out to independent record stores to shop exclusive titles and mingle with fellow vinyl lovers. If a record store chooses to participate in RSD, they can receive exclusive RSD titles from large and small artists alike. In addition to exclusive titles, record stores have other fun things on RSD. Many shops offer promotional items like posters, tote bags, and pins showcasing featured artists and sponsors of RSD. Some shops even offer customers live music and refreshments to keep them entertained while they browse. Each year, RSD is celebrated on the third Saturday of April and on Black Friday. This year’s RSD celebration date of April 22 is fastly approaching. A few local shops that participate in Record Store Day and receive exclusive RSD titles are Music Box, Revolver Records and if you’re up for a drive, Dr. Music in Fairhope, AL.
nearly half of the people who purchase vinyl records do not own an actual record player. The physical ritual of vinyl also plays into another contributor to vinyl’s resurgence—the experience. Many people are falling in love with vinyl because of the experience they get all the way from buying an album to taking it home and enjoying it. The vinyl experience often starts with browsing the selection at a local record store. Flicking through stacks of albums and finding something unique is exciting. It is equally exciting to look at all the details hidden in the cover art—something that isn’t possible with a tiny album image on a screen. When the time to play the album finally comes, it is exciting to drop the needle on the record and be immersed in the warm sound seeping out of the speakers. Listening to an album all the way through and hearing the songs on an album in their intended order creates a complete experience. From browsing through thousands of records at a record store, to hearing the last track on an album, people are enjoying the distinct experience that vinyl provides. The vinyl revival has been kindled by fans who want to seek out albums, admire the physical art of an album cover, and enjoy the warm sounds of their favorite artist— an experience that streaming can never provide. Perhaps this unique experience is why vinyl is still on fire after all these years and other formats. “Vinyl is more popular maybe
In addition to the richness of vinyl,
tially sold the same album four times.
than it was a year or two ago, but that
sales. Vinyl proved to be the most popu-
many older (and some new) records
Swift not only made this smart market-
lar physical music format for consumers
sound better on vinyl because they
ing move to sell more records, but she
type of collectability is what many new
Jones explained. “There’s always been
doesn’t mean it was ever unpopular,”
in 2022, accounting for 71 percent of the
were mastered to be listened to on vinyl.
also sold a kit that allows fans to wall-
vinyl fans crave; they want something
a strong market for vinyl. It’s stronger
total revenue made by any other physical
For example, since Spotify did not exist
mount each of the records and place
that looks as good as it sounds. Many
now but even at its lowest point, vinyl
music formats.
in the 1960s, the Beatles mixed their
moving clock hands in the center. This
people are purchasing and collecting
was never really dead.”
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