Vinyl comeback is important at a time when people are using online forms to listen to music.
The colourful array of vinyl in a record shop appeal to every individual’s music taste.
Whilst store-managers order the embodiment of physical media, it’s you who chooses the album that has changed your music listening.
Fleetwood Mac, Taylor Swift, Madonna, Harry Styles.
You can feel protective plastic move between your fingers as you brush every album, searching for the one you desire.
When you end up landing at the album you’ve wanted forever, the feeling of picking up the record and seeing the cover and track list, is truly unbeatable.
The crinkle of the plastic sleeve, the fresh distinct smell coming from the protected record, the feeling of gazing at the front cover as you head to the checkout.
It’s all incomparable to online media.
It’s important we continue to treasure this feeling by consuming physical media, otherwise the experience will be lost.
Recently, more people are indulging in this thrilling experience by buying their own record players or asking for one as a present.
By doing this, stores like HMV and independent shops have experienced a boom in the number of records sold.
Choque Hosein, manager at recently opened store Record Plant, says in referral to physical albums: “It lasts forever doesn’t it. What happens if a server goes down, you can never recover it.”
“And also, you can pass it on. You can’t pass digital media on to your children or your grandchildren.”
“It’s bigger and better.”
So physical media has changed the way people consume their favourite albums, helping them create new interests in collecting vinyl.
Getting to organise your display after an overflow of records has landed in your bedroom adds to the experience, as it makes physical media more special to you.
Daisy Turner, a passionate 19-year-old record collector, says: “I love being able to pick up a record and add it to my collection, especially when it’s an album I’ve loved since it came out.”
“I don’t understand people’s assumptions that teens collect records for appearance, I simply want a more interactive way to play music. It’s that simple.”
People are enthusiastic about loving music, and buying records allows them to express this important part of their personality.
Although some argue that physical forms of music are being bought less frequently than online forms, record buying is actually at an 18–year–high.
Every year artists release special edition vinyl for their fans to collect during an event called Record Store Day.
Fans even queue from the morning to make sure they get the records they want to add to their collections.
Record Plants experience this Record Store Day was incredible, with the manager emphasising saying: “there was close to 100 people queuing before doors opened.”
“And people had been waiting since 10pm the previous night.”
It’s undeniable that the event continues to get people excited and remain passionate about collecting records, which is important since this unmissable experience is one younger children now should be able to enjoy in years to come.
Treasuring a form of music that is a privilege is significant when younger children are consumed by online forms.
They will be the ones who are going to encourage their younger generation about the importance of treasuring vinyl.
As Choque Hosein says: “Seeing people getting delighted with what they’re buying is great, I don’t care what people like, music is music.”
“And that’s what makes it worth working with and using vinyl.”
