Global Vinyl Record Market on a Resurgence, Expected to Reach $2.8 Billion by 2028: The global vinyl record market, which reached a size of US$1.7 billion in 2022, is poised for substantial growth in the coming years according to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering, with an anticipated market size of US$2.8 billion by 2028. This growth is expected to be characterized by a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4% during the forecast period spanning from 2023 to 2028. A vinyl record, also known as a phonograph record, is an analog sound storage device made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. These discs may have a core composed of metal, resin, cardboard, or glass, and they contain grooves with modulated sound information. Vinyl records are experiencing a resurgence in popularity among both music collectors and artists, making them a cherished medium for music production.
UK | Key Production CEO Karen Emanuel talks physical music trends for 2024: With sales growth continuing for vinyl and even CD seeing a rise in sales revenue in the past year, there’s a positive mood in the physical sector for the year ahead. The BPI reported that vinyl LP sales increased for the 16th consecutive year in 2023, growing at their fastest rate this decade with an 11.8% rise to 6.1 million units. Meanwhile, the annual rate of decline for CD slowed to its lowest level since 2015, dropping by 6.9% to 10.8 million units. In revenue terms, there was even better news for CD, with ERA reporting the first year-on-year increase in sales for the first time in 20 years. Karen Emanuel is the CEO and founder of Key Production Group, a leading manufacturer for vinyl pressing, design and packaging. Founded in 1990, the company has been at the forefront of manufacturing vinyl, cassettes, CDs, DVDs and bespoke products for the music industry. Here, she offers up her top predictions on what to expect from the vinyl market and other physical releases in 2024.
Lubbock, TX | Lubbock record store said physical copies are always in as streaming services increase: Ralph’s Records has been serving the Lubbock community for 44 years despite streaming services’ massive numbers and big stores doing away with physical media. Doug Stapp, Ralph’s Records owner, said he is certain of one thing when it comes to all the years of experience, “People want a physical product. Kids will use Spotify and iTunes, etcetera, to listen to music, to bands, if they fall in love with it, they want to own it.” Stapp explained why having a physical copy of things such as records, CDs and DVDs is important for the community. “A lot of them do, as I did when I was a kid, loan it out to your friends. You know, you got to listen to this,” Stapp said. “And now a lot of a lot of people use them as art and many, many things. But they want the physical product. It’s much, much cooler holding a record in your hand than staring at your phone screen.”
Gulou, CN | Turn on the Turntables, Bring Your Own Vinyl is Back in Gulou! The Factory is opening up its turntables this weekend, allowing anyone with a record collection – be it one, two, or 50 records – to share their favorite tunes with the masses as part of Bring Your Own Vinyl (BYOV). Zak Elmasri, native Beijinger DJ Wild Wata, and Brooklyn born ADDJ began hosting the event way back in Jan 2020 just before Covid hit, after Wata brought the event from the US. The event has been hosted in different venues but now finds its resident home at the Factory. In an age where we can just tap on our phones to open an app and listen to any kind of music (depending on where you are, that is) and skip back and forth, play on repeat, mix and match, listening to vinyl records played on a turntable is almost a means of taking a step back. Add a bit of age to that record that’s spinning and you get the sound of that age, a few scratches and mixing and that’s another layer to the experience.
Healdsburg, CA | Vino and Vinyl Unite: Grand Opening of Record Shop in Healdsburg’s Boutique Tasting Room: Healdsburg’s wine tasting scene is now offering a new level of experience, as Montagne Russe proudly announces the grand opening of its record shop, Vino and Vinyls, within its tasting room. While enjoying Montagne Russe’s outstanding wine selections, guests can now peruse and listen to over 2,000 new and used records, available for trade or purchase. Montagne Russe is a small winery that specializes in cool-climate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah from primarily the Petaluma Gap and greater Sonoma Coast AVA. They opened their first tasting room in July of 2021 within the newly developed wine tasting complex, Bacchus Landing – located just ¾ of a mile down Westside Road from downtown Healdsburg. Upon opening, Montagne Russe’s owner and winemaker, Kevin Bersofsky, started his own personal record collection to play at the tasting room. As it grew, people were continuously asking to buy his records… And so began the idea of creating a record shop within the tasting room.
Sussex, UK | Arun Crematorium offers bespoke vinyl records featuring loved-ones’ ashes: Arun Crematorium can now offer bespoke vinyl records featuring recordings and images of a loved one, each containing a small amount of their ashes. The site is part of Westerleigh Group, which is always looking for ways to help create unique and personal memorials. A new partnership between And Vinyly and Westerleigh Group allows the crematorium to offer the bereaved the chance to have the ashes of a loved one pressed into a vinyl record, creating a unique bespoke memento. Options include making several 7” or 12” records for a similar price to a single vinyl, therefore enabling family members and friends to each have a lasting record of their loved one to treasure. The record can include a personal message, someone’s own soundtrack or just the sound of silence with the unmistakable background of the pops and crackles of a vinyl record. Arun Crematorium manager Adam Westwood said: “We are always looking to expand the range of memorial options available to the bereaved in order to give them the widest possible choice and help them to create uniquely personal memorials for their loved ones.”
Bromsgrove, UK | Bromsgrove Vinyl Record Fair: The first 2024 Bromsgrove Vinyl Record Fair returns on January 28th January 9am – 3.30pm with 30+ tables & FREE parking. The first 2024 Bromsgrove vinyl record fair returns on January 28th January 10am – 3pm with 30+ tables & FREE parking. Plenty of Rock / Brit Pop / Metal / Punk / Psych / Blues / Progressive Rock / 80s classics & Thousands of NEW releases on vinyl too!! FREE PARKING once you have entered your vehicles registration into the hotel’s tablet at reception.
Alice Cooper To Release ‘Billion Dollar Babies’ Trillion Dollar Deluxe Edition For 50th Anniversary: A new version of “Billion Dollar Babies” is on the way as Alice Cooper’s delightfully subversive sixth album returns in all its snakeskin glory for an extended 50th-anniversary celebration. After hitting No. 1 on the album charts in America and the U.K. in 1973, the record remains a highwater mark for the original lineup, featuring hits like “No More Mr. Nice Guy” and “Elected”. “Billion Dollar Babies: Trillion Dollar Deluxe Edition” will be available from Rhino on March 8 on 3-LP and 2-CD. Both feature a newly remastered version of the original album, along with bonus material, including studio outtakes, single mixes, and an electrifying 1973 concert recording. In the vinyl edition, the gatefold cover faithfully replicates the original’s textured snakeskin wallet design and comes complete with a $1 billion dollar bill tucked inside.
