![]() It turned out that Record Store Day was a big deal and it became an annual celebration of all things vinyl. The national event led to a modest-but-noticeable increase in sales but opinions in the industry were mixed on whether or not it was due to RSD. Twenty years later, in a rapidly-changing music business, a crew of indie music sellers created and launched the first Record Store Day on April 19th, 2008. Record stores (remember those?) were blowing out LPs for 99 cents apiece and converting their sales floors to CDs and tapes, pretty much showing vinyl the door. ![]() Music was becoming a digital experience and clunky old vinyl records had no place in this bold and exciting future. Record plants were scaling back or halting vinyl production altogether. The prevailing wisdom at the time was that LPs were losing relevance and would soon disappear. The writing was very much on the wall and RCA was producing LPs by the end of that year.įast-forward to the late 80s and vinyl sales are on the ropes and taking a beating from CDs and cassette tapes. In 1950, Billboard Magazine reported 45 sales of almost $6 million in a 12-month time frame while LPs made well over $12 million during the same period. 45s swiftly vanquished 78s as the most popular format for single-song records but higher-priced LP records made more money. Industry predictions at the time were that LPs would triumph over all comers and Columbia would be the winner of any sort of music war. In the years following WWII, the dominant 78 rpm format faced stiff competition from two new upstart contenders: Columbia Records’ 33 1/3 rpm vinyl LPs and RCA Victor’s shorter 45 rpm singles. Clearly, records are still an important part of the music business and remain meaningful to listeners and consumers. Also, MRC Data shows that record sales have been growing for the past 15 years and are up a staggering 46% since the beginning of the pandemic. According to the RIAA, flat black platters accounted for better than 5% of all music sales and rang up over $600 million in the US, alone. The reemergence of vinyl records as a legit, commercial listening format is a whole lot more than hype. ![]() Still, cassette-only labels are indeed a thing now and their releases have been embraced by many diehard music fans who long for a physical connection to the music they love. There has even been a surge of interest in cassette tapes, too, and they have become part of the DIY indie music scene, although not to the same degree that records have. It’s become normal for bands and artists at all levels to have records for sale and new pressing plants are springing up to produce them.Ī new generation of fans have discovered the pleasures of hard copy listening and collecting in a beautiful, enthusiastic way despite the instant gratification offered by the major streaming platforms. Everything old is new again, it seems, and it’s a great day for music lovers. Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, vinyl still grew an astounding 28.7% in 2020. For the first time since 1986, revenues from vinyl records are larger than CDs. Candidly however, Sam and Danny didn’t need any coercing as you’re about to see.Friends and neighbors, vinyl records are booming once again. In advance of the 2 shows here in DC last summer, we grabbed bassist Sam Kiszka and drummer Danny Wagner from the tour bus down to the basement confines of Som Records, the backdrop for all of our Washington record rummages. (There’s probably some good parenting in there too, but we digress.) ![]() Well, we’ll tell you what our ears have heard-a shit-hot rock and roll band who have most certainly had their noses tucked into some records from early on, and who have absorbed the authenticity and passion those old records still elicit. It’s been one hell of a steady ascent, even before a proper debut LP has arrived in stores. You’ve most likely heard plenty about Greta Van Fleet of late-saviours of rock and roll, reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and other ’70s arena rock stalwarts, and heck–that here in Washington, DC they sold out the storied 9:30 Club on a Friday to packing them in at the far larger Anthem in DC the following evening. ![]()
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