Are Younger Music Fans starting to Choose the CD over Vinyl? Is it Price, Quality or Convenience?

Are Younger Music Fans starting to Choose the CD over Vinyl? Is it Price, Quality or Convenience?
The new Lewis Capaldi album is the biggest selling album in the UK so far this year and it has been propelled into the number one position with a surge of 58,421 CDs next to 18,308 vinyl albums.
I love ALL FORMATS, but if these figures had been the other way around the press would have been doing it's usual the CD format is over etc.
Recent Stats
Lewis Capaldi - CD Sales 58,421 - Vinyl 18,308
Ed Sheeran - CD Sales 41,122 - Vinyl 8,124
Metallica - CD Sales 15,873 - Vinyl 6,292
Now Spinning Magazine supports all formats but I feel this is further good news for the CD format.
We all know the music business has changes and that physical music sales make up about 14-16% in the UK of total sales but within that the CD and Vinyl formats are both important and valid to all fans of physical music.
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
www.nowspinning.co.uk.
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[@ldesaes]

Than you, Phil, for another great video. After years of vinyl collecting, I've gone back to CDs, and personally I've decided that it is the best format for me. I'm happy to see that I'm not the only one. Long live the CD!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil

[@Andy-qk4bl]

Same! Ditching my entire vinyl collection to CD

[@recordgalaxy]

They should make CDs with a vinyl size album cover , people want the big artwork , why haven’t they done this yet ?

[@xShibux]

Grew up with cassettes (Michael Jackson: Bad being my first one) and CDs. Never disbanded CDs, but got hooked on Vinyl as well. Discovering this old Format and the Music from the 60s/70s is a great experience. Owning physical media and playing your favorite tracks is all that matters, regardless of the format LP, MC, CD or even MiniDisc.

[@BM30]

Because I’m 17, some of my friends ask why I buy CDs and for me, it’s because I hate streaming services and prefer physical media. I see Vinyls as a visual medium if that makes sense. As most vinyl collectors love looking at the cover art and seeing the disc spin and they see that as cooler than the actual album. With CDs I just love how small they are for storage while gettiny the highest quality possible for cheap.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and share why you prefer to buy physical music from a younger person’s perspective. Phil :)

[@danielwilliams1921]

I'm 73 and began collecting records when I was 8 or 9, mostly 45s I'd spin on one of those little suitcase record players. Bought 100s of records over the years, slowly selling them off when CD pressing became available (but keeping a hundred or so high-quality pressings and rare collectibles). And put my Denon DP-60L turntable - a classic piece of gear - in storage around '87, only to recently hook it back up to see if I was really missing something. I was and I wasn't. I always took care of my records, and those that were recorded well initially (like Graceland) still sounded a bit better than the CD version. But most records weren't, and their CD versions are just better. And quite candidly, having to get up to flip the record isn't something I'm nostalgic for. So I'm about 90% CD, and likely to remain so. But whatever format you choose, music is the mind's greatest escape, capable of taking you places where the exquisite exists. I'll be accused of bias but facts are facts: We had the best music, the best drugs, and the most freedom.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Daniel, welcome and thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts and journey in being a music fan! Phil :)

[@officialwillieg2001]

At 22 years old, I lean more towards CD. Smaller, easier to carry, less money and easier to shelve. Good video Phil, I find it kinda crazy people are actually still taking towards the cassettes 😅

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

I have no idea what is going on in cassette land! I do know many are being bundled together with vinyl sales etc.

[@JohnSmith-zl8rz]

but less sounds quality on many albums, many albums sounds better on vinyl, some don't, so to each to own.

[@TheSoundrookie]

I believe people should have what they want, but I also don't get the cassette wave. The sound quality of cassettes has always been awful - Even when the format was at it's peak. Neither the Dragon or Dolby S could ever bring it within range of what I consider hifi, so I've never regretted leaving the cassette format and going R2R. But all due respect to those who like it. I can btw say the same about the cd format. For me it's vinyl till a digital format with higher resolution hit's the market (higher than SACD and Blu-ray audio which still isn't quite there).

[@djtrishm]

I agree!

[@Coneman3]

Cassettes can be very HQ depending on the tapes and deck used.

[@CutiePie-hh3gg]

I never stopped buying CDs

[@seand67]

I never stopped loving physical media. No streaming (aka 'renting') music for me. I own the music in my collection

[@Sarge_72]

All the advantages of CDs are starting to surface… one interesting thing is younger listeners grew up with ‘clean’ sound. With vinyl there are so many variables that can influence the sound Pressing quality, turntable it’s played on, etc. CDs 💿 just play crisp & clear every time…. I DO still buy vinyl, just picky about when.

[@makimakipapura7543]

I believe that CD's are the best in terms of potential sound quality.

[@jegarajramoo3873]

Many young people are discovering CDs through the sales of used CDs. They are cheap and have great audio dynamics. I agree with your comments regarding the way the media favors vinyl. For comparison, I watched a news programme on CNN which reported that American youngsters are throwing away their smartphones for cheaper old fashioned dumbphones! Just because a small number of youths are doing it doesn't mean the smartphone is out of favor. The mainstream media is notorious for exaggerating!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Very true!

[@mimoso5335]

I'm 21 and I love collecting music in all formats since they all have their own advantages. Vinyl is very expensive so most records I buy are either from bands I really like, special editions or ones that contain exclusive tracks, but I really love the packaging, booklets, etc. CDs on the other hand are very convenient, have the best sound quality, sometimes come with relevant bonus tracks and are cheap(er)! If more vinyl records came with download codes then I'd probably feel more encouraged to buy them. I love cassettes as well because they're very charming for me and sound much better than what most people would like you to believe. I should've picked a less expensive hobby...

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for sharing and it is wonderful to hear from younger music fans. It is a hobby that will create the soundtrack to your life with many of your Cds, Vinyl records being like diary entries. Phil :)

[@Raypirri]

Onya Phil! The Vinyl world is self- imploding due to ridiculous pricing and greedy retailers. It’s only natural that people will aim towards CDs which for some reason, have been undervalued. As technology and equipment gets better, those (dare I say it?) “digital” CDs are really unbelievably enhanced. Like you, I have lived through the ages of “only Vinyl” to the introduction of cassettes- to CD becoming the next best thing to- “CDs and anything digital” sucks where “Vinyl is so much warmer” to now, where CDs are going to be on top again, as your stats show. Love your work, man. The Sociology of humans is always fascinating. Cheers from Oz!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Ray, thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts. Thank you for the positive feedback as well - Phil :)

[@jnagarya519]

The "warmth" of vinyl is distortion. "Purists" don't like hearing that. CDs lack the distortion, and "digital" is blamed, even though CD is translated into analog on playback. In other words, listeners can't actually tell the difference between analog and digital.

[@Steven-ot2iy]

Very Informative video - thank you. I'm an older music fan (60) and prefer CDs over vinyl. I buy in a ratio of about 20:1. I love handling full size LPs for the art and legibility of print and for nostalgia's sake. I also like the "warm" sound of LPs which is basically just distortion, BUT, I actually kind of like how it sounds. I can certainly do without the pops & crackles, ring wear and weight (yes my record collection weighs a ton) and it takes up a lot of space in my small home. I used to move often when I was younger and moving LPs SUCKS. Thankfully, the cost is not a factor for me when making a purchasing decision. I like CDs better in every other respect. It's just my personal preference, nothing more.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Steven, thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts. That is really interesting and I can really relate to it also being in a small home and being a similar age! Phil :)

[@TheHSIHP]

The warm sound is not "basically just distortion".

[@chrisrees7054]

Same here. I'm 61, about 20:1

[@keeganhall8334]

I grew up in the 90’s and it was all about cd’s. I never stopped buying them. Then a few years back I got into buying vinyl as well, but I’m much more selective when buying those due to price, space, etc. Streaming is convenient and easy, but nothing compares to physical media imo. I still love buying cd’s!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching and sharing your listening choices - Phil:)

[@morgankw89]

The only thing I wish CDs had was more consistent packaging. Some that I have came in just a very cheap thin sleeve with the cover art.

[@spiritwalker1988]

Hi Phil, I'm a fan of your channel. Since the cd came out, l felt it was the best way to listen to the music, and to this day l only buy cd's and only when l find a rarity from the 70's on vinyl do l buy it. Take care Phil !

[@recordgalaxy]

CD prices have also gone up a lot in the past year since you made this video

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

I mention this is my latest 'Music Biz Chat' video

[@SaintMartins]

I stopped collecting vinyl back in 2010 when i noticed for the first time local stores were selling used vinyl for $15 to $20. I had never seen that price before, even during the 80's & 90's. I suspected collecting vinyl was becoming trendy i was right so i got out.

[@johnrountree370]

Thank you for putting a prpoper analysis of CDs vs vinyl sales online. The hype machine around vinyl is truly distorted. Meanwhile I smile to myself as I listen to my "inferior" CDs. Did I mention they sound better too?

[@pez7031]

Another excellent video Phil. I finally hit the + 8,000 CD count in my collection (thanks to a huge order I placed over the weekend with Rock Candy Records [love their CD reissues!]. It’s refreshing to hear REAL news about physical media sales and not filtered/biased hype that’s intended to bury my favorite format. Is there any data available about U.S. sales/broken out like you illustrate for the U.K.? I’d be interested if you could share that in a future video. Either way, keep up the great work my friend!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Pez, thank you for watching and your positive feedback, if I can find a current US data I will include it in a future video. Phil

[@kathk94]

tysm for all the info! I'm 29 & from the US, I've always loved cds. Love listening to them on my cd player, love the effort put into the artwork/booklets & the different designs from jewel case to digipaks. Sound quality is great, they last long & I can rip them to my iphone. Having cds/a cd player especially came in handy when I lost electricity a few years back. I hope more young people understand the importance of ownership with physical media.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Kath, welcome and thank you for watching. Great to hear your thoughts and why you like the CD format - Phil :)

[@Bruno-Melo]

Your video demystifies the preconception that vinyl sales are surpassing cd sales. It probably is in value but not in number of units and I can’t stop thinking that price and convenience are still driving cd sales across the world.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you 🙏

[@maxslamer]

As an older music fan choosing CD over Vinyl I wonder what I would do if suddenly CD's would cost twice as much and Vinyl would cost what CD's cost today. Not likely to happen, but perhaps interesting as a thought experiment. I'm not sure I would switch to buying only Vinyl, but I'd have to buy less CD's, that's for sure. :)

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Interesting concept! Let’s hope if it ever happened it wasn’t this video that caused it - Phil :)

[@mikewhiteley641]

Hi Phil, I'm 61 years old and I am a retired pensioner. I had about 800 vinyl LPs before the advent of the CD. I bought into the hype ( Cds sound better than vinyl ),and replaced my favorite albums on CD. Then, vinyl all but disappeared. To this day,I still buy CDS. I suspect I always will.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Mike, I’m 64 so you are a youngster! Keep rocking, music keeps us young at heart ❤️ thank you for watching - Phil

[@lauriebrett5292]

Hi Phil, I love your videos, you give a nice refreshing look into music. I'm in my sixties as well so I've been collecting records since the early 70s & only changed over to CDs when they virtually phased out records. Now I buy a mixture of vinyl & CDs, mainly box sets as there are some good re-issues that are coming out. I listen to many formats depending on where I am in the house. Love my records & listening to them though my big hi-fi system but one of my favourite listening places is the kitchen when I'm cooking & that's just through my iPod. Enjoy the music no matter where you are. 😊

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you 🙏

[@williamhopper6602]

I just bought another Cd player from Amazon. I buy cds every week and have a big collection. Never going back to vinyl records.

[@kenfrederick6223]

Informative! As much as I like and respect the continuing enthusiasm in vinyl, CD is my favorite format. Sounds great, lasts a long time, and takes up less space. Recent CD purchases for me are a Stranglers "Original Album Series" box set and ZZ TOP "Raw". Both are awesome. Take care!

[@MdmeStephanieBaker]

The Stranglers yesman

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Ken, thank you for watching and sharing your recent purchases ! Phil :)

[@Heavenly_Picture_Studio]

Well, minidisc is my format of choice...but just try and find prerecorded minidiscs for under $200 I'll purchase anything in any audio format as long as it appeals to my keen senses!

[@TheSoundrookie]

Hi Phil. I so much hope this turns out to be true, because that will lead to lower prices on vinyl and probably higher pressing quality. And if it in the long run leads to vinyl dying out again, I'll be looking forward to the loads of good stuff that can be picked up for peanuts when people starts dumping their collections (lots of it mint and never played due to the "Silent vinyl" insanity). Sounds to me like a win/win situation no matter what. Stay awesome Mate.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

I have not thought of that. All that mint vinyl that has never been played!

[@calvinnapier9977]

I recently went back to cd completely. I just bought a new cd transport and dac. I got tired of the hassle and price of vinyl. If it matters I'm from the USA and 60 years old.

[@curtissimpkins]

I just found your channel and let you know i am more into cds i do love vinyl but i love cds much better and i am 56 years old and i buy Elvis Presley Cds and i dont think cds are dead..and i am from the USA great video .. and i sub to your channel.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Curtis, thank you for watching and a warm welcome to my channel! Phil :)

[@oldmaninhisshed1111]

For me personally comparing a £40 digital master on Vinyl to a digital master on CD for £12 is a no brained, old analogue masters on Vinyl may have the edge sonically but for anything recorded after the mid 80's, it's all digital and all sounds the same to those up us not deluded into thinking we have super special golden hearing, remember anyone over 40 cannot hear half the frequencies we once used to be able to hear and if you are over 60 it's a quarter of the frequency range you once could, unless you are one of those deluded audiophiles who think they can hear the difference between £1000 interconnects, unless one is faulty you can't, you just think you can😊

[@skippythetubrat]

I am approaching 60. I generally buy CDs. I do have a turntable and do buy albums, but I generally buy old classical or jazz albums. When it comes to popular music (well, oldies at this point) it's almost always a CD. I particularly like CDs produced prior to the loudness wars of the 1990s.

[@ErwinvanMaanen]

Great🌟As a long-time cd album collector I am also a proponent for the medium. I appreciate vinyl but don’t get the hype. I am confident the cd wil have a Renaissance as a versatile physical medium that sounds superior to vinyl with great recordings. 🌟

[@chrisrees7054]

I just want the music!!! I dont care if it's a record or a CD!

[@tonyjoint9465]

I completely agree with all you have said, cd is not dead ,it is media bullshite which keep pushing this fact! I wonder if it's because they make more cash from vinyl 🤔 anyway good blog mate👍

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Tony, thank you for watching and for your support - Phil

[@kevinmuldoon224]

Hi Phil, very interesting. I wonder if to some degree it reflects a biting down of the cost of living? It’s hard enough to continue buying organic veg, never mind keeping up with vinyl prices. Or, as you say, given the lower differential on Lewis’ album perhaps it’s indicating that the shine of vinyl is wearing off a bit? Regardless, good to hear that the cd is doing well (or at least, much better than many declare it to be doing). Cheers!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Kevin, thank you for watching and I do think the cost of living crisis is certainly affecting things as well. Phil

[@terrydaktyllus1320]

I buy £15 stretch jeans from Tesco these days... I stepped off "the cool bus" a couple of decades ago, so I am certainly not going to lose any sleep over whether or not CDs are "cool"!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

There is a cool bus 🚌? Great comment- thank you for watching - Phil

[@TheReactor8]

Vinyl is always limited edition as one cannot reprint vinyl timely. Vinyl is done one time and then only if there is such a big after market only then and if they even bother, years later there will be a reissue. CD is an easy copy to demand.

[@Toogoodtobetrue458]

I hate that Amazon sends cd-r on demand. Not real production of CDs. I like vinyl if pressed well.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

I have only ever experienced that once and sent it straight back !

[@bradjackson4595]

Hi Phil like you I prefer to have the physical product and I started buying vinyl again 5 years ago but in the last year or so have reverted back to CDs in a lot of cases as the price is more than half the vinyl in Australia now.

[@FernandoGastelo]

Most of my purchases are used media. 20 years ago vinyl used to be cheaper so thats what i would buy. Now CD is cheaper so I mostly buy that instead

[@LEEFORDJAGG]

To get the best out of vinyl I would have to upgrade the Record Player set up I have. I retained some of my vinyl from my teenage years. It’s fun looking around charity shops etc for second hand vinyl ((three for a fiver), but I have to remember,oh,I have that on CD already somewhere/instorage. I sold the bulk of my vinyl in the early 2000’s.

[@CliffCollipriest2013]

I can't speak for the younger folks, but I can speak for myself. I had been leaning towards vinyl these past 3-4 years to mix with SACD's. Lately the quality of even high end vinyl has gone to hell in many cases. Case in point, I just purchased Chantal Chamberland's Temptation on 180 gram vinyl from Evosound, which cost $60. Disc 1 is acceptable, barely. Disc 2 has so much noise from hiss, to ticks and loud pops it is unlistenable. I will never play it again and ended up buying a digital download so I could listen to Chantal's album. At this point I am going back to primarily SACD, where there are no ticks, loud pops or hiss.

[@greyhoundude6112]

I don't know how people can afford to collect new vinyl these days. I certainly can't afford $30 to $40 for new records. But vinyl sales are doing well, so the economy must be doing gangbusters. As the hipsters make the switch to vinyl, I'm picking up used CDs for $2 to $4, including the nicely remastered CDs. I'm more interested in the music rather than the system of delivery.

[@modehead101]

Fascinating video and sales stats. I was wondering where one can access those sales figures as I would like to find a similar breakdown of the recent Depeche Mode album Memento Mori?

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

When was it released?

[@modehead101]

@@NowSpinningMagazine Hi Phil, it was released 24/03/23.

[@philmole1209]

I like vinyl but always have and always will prefer CDs.

[@thedreamcatcher72]

Cheers Phil, I buy both but it's mainly cds I still have a cd player in the car and always have something spinning on my commute.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil

[@timothystockman7533]

For me, I want to HAVE IT, whether it's an LP, CD, or even a file on my hard drive. What I don't care for is a streaming service. Besides good music, I want good sound. Both are getting harder to come by. You would think that producers and mastering engineers would want to produce the best sound quality they can, but the loudness wars have left us with a lot of music which gives you a headache. But by owning your music, you can at least choose what mastering you are getting.

[@SO-ym3zs]

CD's have been--and continue to be--my chief way of buying music, and I don't expect that to change. Vinyl is overpriced, heavy, large, and prone to dust, degradation, etc. Sound quality is at best different than CDs, at worst inferior to them. Zero interest in digital purchases--ever. If labels and artists want my money, press a CD :)

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Both sit well in the physical music market. Some people will like one over the other but try to force music fans to pick one is not going to work.

[@rolandpritchard1731]

If your into Hi Fi your see the C.D. is still alive as will as the record player and with a good set thay both can sound great, so skys the limit on what your spinning on.

[@backrowbrighton]

Fascinating as always Phil. Big thank you to the Lewis Capaldi and Ed Sheeran fans for stepping up like they did. The sheer cost of new vinyl is a serious factor in this. I'm a big Little Feat fan and I am looking forward to the pending release of deluxe versions of two of their classic albums, 'Dixie Chicken' and 'Sailin Shoes'. The CD versions are £14.99 (double disc) and the vinyl version (three records) are £64.99. Paying £50 more for the in trend format is verging on the silly side.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching, the difference in price for this Little Feat album is silly 🙃

[@ianw1962]

Little Feat brilliant band, I'm lucking to have got there albums when they came out. I will be buying the CD' version A. because its cheaper B. because there be bonus tracks on the CD.

[@RMthedude]

In my case it is the price, CDs here in Brazil are way cheaper than Vinyl or Cassettes (YES, CHEAPER THAN A CASSETE)... I started collecting cassettes, it is my favourite format mostly because of the lo-fi quality, but the taxes to import from Brazil went CRAZY and we started to pay more in taxes than in the products, so i started buying CDs and it's fine by me, not the analogic but i can enjoy pretty well, it's equally portable and looks good in the shelf.

[@stonecoldfloors8200]

I went back to vinyl a few years ago and i am loving it. But i also have a couple of hundred or so albums on my phone so i can Bluetooth them to a device (mainly car). Wich is just so convenient. And all the music on my phone is... uploaded from CD...! 😂

[@maxdamiann]

CDs, now, in the past and forever more. Hands down...

[@ingarchris]

Thank you Phil :^)

[@luissegovia8205]

In My opinión ...lps sound better than cds ...if You own a good sound system ....but the price of lps is so high ....in Every country is the same ......😢 Greetings from chile 🇨🇱🇨🇱

[@sturob6810]

I have just over 900 cds, 200 albums and just getting near 1200 singles, singles are my main passion I grew up buying 2 singles a week with my £1.50 pocket money. I recently went out to buy the new ash album and the electronic best of compilation, I went to fopp in Edinburgh and was planning to buy the vinyl's, the ash album was £36 and the electronic was £40 I ended up buying the cds for £11 each. I like both vinyl and cds but I am no longer willing to pay the price for vinyl. when you can buy 3 cds for the price of one lps I'm afraid there's no contest, I think my cd and singles collections will continue to grow but I'm only going to buy lps when it is really something special.

[@vagabond197979]

I have about 500 LPs and about 500 CDs (many duplicates). It all depends on the pressing. If one sounds noticeably better I'll go with that. If not, I'll generally go with the CD just because it's easier, sounds cleaner and won't wear out my stylus. All else being equal, I'd probably go with the CD.

[@johngarbutt]

I love the cd. Sounds great and does not wear out like vinyl and much better value.

[@keitholiver1299]

Thanks for an other interesting breakdown of the UK stats Phil. CD's will be around longer than the media would like us to believe. They will have their day again, until then I'm buying as much as possible while they are still relatively cheap undervalued as I once did with vinyl.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Great stuff Keith, thank you for watching - Phil

[@dieseltruck3695]

I'm noticing the price of metal and older hip hop cds rising in the U.S

[@gavinhardy75]

Great video. I got into vinyl about 9 years ago, I’m 48 and started off on cassette. My last turntable was a nice late 70s Technics with a modern cartridge and pricey micro line stylus. Yet I sold it along with my 200 LPs last month. The reason: Fed up or buying used albums that looked to be in fantastic condition yet had heavy groove wear or new pressings with poor quality. I never stopped buying cds though, their undesirability to the majority is a bonus for us who like them, for instance, I picked up all nine of Muse studio albums on cd in fantastic condition from a charity shop yesterday. Total cost-£3. By comparison one repressing of any of their albums would be £25-30 new. I’ve decided not to get back into vinyl despite missing it’s ‘collectibility’ due to the high prices and risk of a poor sounding record that cannot be determined as such by visual inspection.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Gavin, thank you for sharing your views - Phil

[@michaelharrison6263]

I've picked up a few vinyl albums since they've made a comeback. As much as I love the sound of it, I lean more toward the CD. It's what I grew up with, so I get the same nostalgia kick from them that someone older would get from vinyl. Long live physical media.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Well I am Multi-Format Man! Seriously I will always support the CD, it is still my favourite format for music even though I still buy some vinyl. Phil

[@chrisrees7054]

I quit buying records. I really like CD's, good clean sound with no skips r pops. CD's are less expensive too.

[@edwardosborne2427]

Nice video. I'm looking in HMV recently. The Beatles white album vinyl is £60 just too much. I love vinyl and cd, but I think record companies are shooting themselves in the foot as regards vinyl prices.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

I agree, I think they are not seeing the world through the eyes of their target audience! Phil

[@casablanca2745]

We live in a great era where we have a wealth of options to explore. I grew up with vinyl but love my CD’s and streaming is the cherry on the cake. Regardless of your taste and budgets there are terrific options to explore for us music fans. Great video!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you 😊

[@jerrygeorgopolis8015]

Phil, You put your finger on it (imho) at the end of the video. People will buy the cd and if that leaves them wanting more, the vinyl purchase may happen. Myself, I have compared some of my old vinyl lp's to the cd pressing, and to my ears the cd sound wins. That said, I do look for the best cd pressing out there for my money. Thanks again Phil, and all the best to you and yours.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Jerry, thank you for watching and your support and kind words! Phil :)

[@diegorivas1991]

In terms on physical formats and technological evolution, the SACD and even DVD audio were meant to be the next step over CDs already by the late 90s, however the MP3 era starting the 2000s killed all of that and reduced them to an audiophile and collectors format. As a teenager back then MP3s were all about how many songs you can download and fit on an 128 MB pendrive on passable quality (128 kbps were considered good enough and even 192 kbps back then was "audiophile" by lo fi standards) for listening outdoors or on trips was a good as it could get, and higher bitrates or paying for a CD was for "snobs", and vinyl was seeing as an obsolete format for grandpas or U-40 dudes that could be your oldest uncle who may be into, plus other than old turntables you have to overlook for get a new one. Now as a man in my 30s that seriously began collecting physical media and enjoying the hobby of collect both CDs and vinyl even for bootlegs I look for high quality recordings, and yes, CD for those is THE format, as well for box sets and compilations.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, thank you for watching. I think your journey is being replicated a lot now. A lot of my youngest sons friends were 100% mp3, downloads, streaming etc. now entering their 24th year they are buying records, interested in sound quality and having something tangible in their hands !

[@robertmorris8371]

I never got back into collecting vinyl once I had my 1st cd player I think for me I like sitting and listening to an album without having to get up and flip a record over plus storing cds is way more convenient than lps

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil

[@jonnyduk3968]

I started with buying vinyl in the late 70's, although just called them record then, then started buying CDs on 1991 up until 2004ish, then started downloadin, then started streaming in 2015, been back into buying CDs again big time for last three years, wanted to ensure that artists are remunerated more, has really made me enjoy music more, for me it is really is a case of less is more, now anticipate and look forward to buying/receiving an album, if I don't take to it straight away, I persevere with it. Longest period between buying an album and liking it, Mutations by Beck, underwhelmed when I bought it, now love it, has only taken me 24 years! That's the value of physical media

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Jonny, thank you for watching and sharing your listening story. Phil

[@jean-lucpernel2202]

Hi Phil, avec le temps j'ai revendu mes vynils, pour remplacer par des CD, surtout depuis les années 2000 ou le son ,la reproduction des pochettes et l'apparition des bonus (Singles , inédits et la cerise sur le gâteau LE SON PARFAIT ¡! JE N'AI GARDÉ QUE QUELQUES PIÈCES TRES RARE ,SURTOUT EN EDITION ANGLAISE. OU AMÉRICAINE POUR LRS SUPERBES POCHETTES ( GIMMICK COVER ) ET LA PLACE , LES VYNILS PÈSENT LOURDS POUR MES VIEUX OS 😊, LA MANIPULATION EST PLUS FACILE POUR LES CD .🤗😊

[@Ricky-cl5bu]

I have all formats cassette, cd vinyl and streaming, and my favourite is definitely CD

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil

[@robintaylor485]

I have got to figure out the UK money system

[@douglasweston126]

Hi Phil - excellent. I am 73 years young and collect predominantly CD's - occasionally I'll pick up some Vinyl, cheap lol. For me its very much the price of vinyl thats the main factor. Would love to be able to afford it, but they are way to expensive for me. I love combing charity shops, going to records fairs and occasionally I'll pick up a few new CD's - depending on what it is eg Jethro Tull anniversary box sets etc . I notice you have the latest Cats In Space album behind you - I did buy that new from the UK, and I do like to support the artists wherever I can. Also I like to support our local record shops of which there are not many these days. Keep on Rockin Cya Doug

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Douglas, welcome to Now Spinning Magazine! Thank you for watching - Phil

[@tiborosz1825]

I buy vinyl if its a repress of an analog recording (yeah i know its a digital transfer). And I buy the CD if the album is from the digital era. My biggest problem with the CD is the C. If the standard format was the mediabook with a better representation of the art I would be happier.

[@jamesdavies542]

Cost has to be a major factor.

[@SoundlabStudios63]

As a younger vinyl enthusiast for the long haul, I hope this is the case so I can get cheaper records.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

There are always bargains if you keep looking! Phil :)

[@n0s0luti0n]

I am curious, why do you think the media is pushing vinyl so hard? Are they carrying water for the corporate labels that like the higher profit margin on vinyl?

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

They see it as a way of getting more clicks for their advertisers. They know fans still love CDs and they are probably a key part of the target audience!

[@thexfile.]

The deluxe editions now include a CD, Blu-ray, and LP.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

It depends on the Artist and label but I do like those for some special releases. Phil

[@Ash-fd6lw]

I would argue that a digital file is in the same league as physical media, as opposed to streaming. The crucial point is having your own copy of the music. If you own an LP, CD or a digital file, you never have to worry about a streaming service becoming unavailable, you have the music forever. Streaming is equivalent to renting, the only thing I find useful about streaming is it is an easy way to check out new music (similar to how listening to the radio was the way to discover new music back in the old days). Preferred format is another matter altogether. I prefer CD to vinyl or cassette, but my first preference is a lossless digital file. In fact I rarely play CDs, because I rip the tracks as digital files and play those (and scan the covers), the CD gets put away as a 'preservation master'. I do buy CDs rather than downloads because downloads are often compressed. The convenience and ease of digital files is the big thing for me - I can make lossless copies and play them on multiple devices in any sequence I want, and I can even put the audio onto a video and watch music videos with high quality sound. Vinyl is my least favourite format because it is terribly inconvenient - it is not portable, cannot be sorted into limitless playlists, can't skip tracks you don't like, have to turn the album over halfway through, is subject to damage from dust, worn stylus, warping, scratches, pops and crackles, wow and flutter, and gradually wears out from regular playing - and that is before even considering the limited dynamic range.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

I actually stream every day and use is mostly to listen to new music or if I am in the car or a room upstairs etc. I tend to play more CDs because its easier. Vinyl is as bit of ritual as I have to think about cleaning it more and getting up every 15 - 20 mins to turn it over! . Phil

[@chrisrees7054]

I used to buy records for $5 - $10. Those days are gone!

[@ericelliott227]

The answer is "yes" with what is just recently happening in the vinyl market. There is no excuse for it and if it keeps up for a few more months the entire analog market will be wiped out! Turntable manufactures, tonearm manufactures, phono stage makes, even record cleaning gear, etc. will have to shutter. I had hoped to never see this day, but crazy record sellers have drunk some kind of koolaid and have decided to start shooting themselves in the foot and blaming customers or others instead of looking in the mirror.

[@mrglasses8953]

I can get old CDs for £1-3. It's definitely the cheapest way to collect old stuff. But I tend to rip them instead of playing them.

[@DorianPaige00]

Most people don't really have a choice as one is usually more available than the other depending on era or title. Music fans only really bust the bank for titles if they have a sizable amount to begin with. With today's album, you can't experiment with Lp because it is so expensive. If someone gets a defective vinyl record, that leaves a taste especially if they can't return it. Personally I don't want anything to do with vinyl and I'm someone who is worth quite a bit. I'm highly interested in soul and jazz but only on cd. I really liked the era starting in the mid 90's when the majors got out of the reissues and subleased it to third parties like Wounded Bird, Sequel, Ace, Kent, Right Stuff, Rhino, Hipo-select, One Way, Spy, BBR, Cherry Red, Sundazed, etc. You are the "Richard Dawkins of physical media".

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Is that a good thing ?

[@Coneman3]

I like all physical media formats but I mainly prefer and choose CD.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil

[@MegaPalesz]

Vinyl has a better sound!!!!But CD is also good..And vinyl is more expensive.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

It depends on your system. People who love only CDs are going to say CD and the same is true on vinyl only fans. Now Spinning Magazine supports all formats so saying which one is better makes no difference here. I buy both, just depends on the artist price and what comes with it! Phil

[@MegaPalesz]

@@NowSpinningMagazine You're right..I have both vinyl and cd...But the bass is brighter and nicer for vinyl!!The other thing is much more enjoyable than the cd...Good music listening

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

@@MegaPalesz thank you for sharing your personal view on this.

[@AppleMan531]

I also believe that the Record Companies miss out on a lot of Opportunity! Wouldn't it be great to get the Beatle albums on color vinyl.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

HaHa...thank you for watching - Phil :)

[@NickYousoufian]

I'm probably one of the youngest members at 33 so I can definitely speak on the younger part. I buy CDs pretty much 99% of the time. It takes up way less space and all you need is a CD player. I have a turntable but holy smokes the more expensive ones requires speakers and a receiver. So there's that as well. I will get a couple of vinyl box sets but it better be jam-packed like the KISS ones. Just the records and a booklet doesn't cut it for me. I also have vinyl (about 1600) but if I'm looking for a box set, it's CD 95% but if vinyl accompanies it, that's fine.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Great comment and thank you for sharing - Phil

[@NickYousoufian]

@@NowSpinningMagazine You're welcome!

[@brenobutcher]

I like both, if it's one of my favourite bands like Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, UFO..., I will buy everything in both formats.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Same here actually! Phil :)

[@fractalign]

I started buying Vinyl in 1991 and remember the establishment claiming vinyl was dead and for squares. Fast forward 20 years and it was the squares bemoaning the impending death of CDs.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Yep… that’s about it! Phil :)

[@amateurmusicresearch1972]

I'm all for cd's, I have 1500, but what happens when your cd/dvd player breaks down? In my country at least, they don't sell those anymore, and you probable need to find something used on the internet, or go to one of those extremely expensive specialized HIFI stores. The music business needs to sort this out, get those cheap discmans out there again.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Totally agree - Phil

[@ianw1962]

I had a box full of vinyl to buy at my record shop (the owner keeps putting vinyl into my jazz box for me to look at buy if i want the albums) once my box is empty its CD's for me. last vinyl buy was over £200 can not afford vinyl any more. CD's I will start buying again you get about x3 CD's to 1vinyl album.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil

[@2packs4sure]

A beautiful pristine quiet piece of vinyl on a good turntable through a good preamp is unbeatable,,, but the percentage of the records I've had in my life that meet that criteria is very very low....

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Totally 👍 could not agree more. Thank you for watching - Phil

[@donaldfraser1555]

Hi phil lm like you i love vinyl CDs and cassettes been collecting for years all about the great music good for the heart and soul cheers Donald 😊.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Donald, thank you for watching - Phil

[@WhitneyHouston4eva1]

With the prices being charged for vinyl nowadays, it's no surprise that consumers are choosing the cheaper option of cds. What I like about any physical media is that the singer or group gets more than they would by streaming. Another fact is that we own it and don't have to pay monthly subscriptions to listen to the music.

[@hasseelmerson]

Thanks for information just wondering if Jim Capaldi is father to this Lewis..... Swedish music fan who buy all sorts....

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, no, not related - Thank you - Phil

[@vintagevinylvets1187]

I’ve bought vinyl as a rule for the last decade. If I really enjoy the album, I’ll own it on CD too. Lately, I’ve bought CD exclusively, usually the deluxe version if available. The last vinyl we bought was The Cure’s “Wish” 30th Anniversary back in January.🎧🙏🏻

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts - Phil

[@graemeknowles1431]

I love buying CDS 💿. I inherited my Mum nd Dad's collection.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

I hope you enjoy it and it brings back lots of memories. Phil

[@AndrewWatson64]

When we hear that vinyl is outselling cd it's in terms of total value, not units sold.