Vinyl Sales: Change the Record

UK vinyl sales in 2014 have already exceeded the total sold in the whole of 2013, according to the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA).

It may be another vinyl revival success story but lets remember that vinyl remains relatively niche- sales this year are currently at 844,122, compared with 829,243 last year, meaning that they could conceivably top a million. That would be four times what sales were in 2008 but the total vinyl albums sold this year make up less than a 3% market share of the entire physical albums market.

Director General of ERA Kim Bayley said: “This is an extraordinary turnaround. Independent retailers were first to identify the untapped potential for vinyl and made it the focus of Record Store Day. With record labels now making more vinyl available, this trend shows no sign of abating.”

Bayley also added that the humble compact disc remains the most popular format, with almost two thirds of albums still sold on cd. It was also revealed that Arctic Monkeys’ AM is the biggest selling vinyl LP of the year so far.

The Gen asks: what happens when craft beers, beards and dressing like a farmer goes out of fashion? Will the vinyl groove also wear itself out?