Vinyl Record Sales Are Down 33% in 2024

[@TheVinylDen]

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[@randymixter7432]

My store customers (of all ages) are actually buying more records from me this year than they were last year. The trick is to sell albums at a reasonable price. Most of my new sealed albums sell for $29 or less. I might make less profit but my increased sales make up for that. The enthusiasm is still there if the price is right.

[@vincentrathbone26]

I wish brand new records in Australia were $29, a standard reissue of any Led Zeppelin LP will set you back AU$90!, in the early to mid 80's we were paying as little as AU$5 for reissues, Hendrix, Cream, The Who, Doors etc, etc, I miss those days.

[@PreppyGuy007]

It's nice to see that you haven't been taken over by the Greed Demon 🙂

[@PreppyGuy007]

I would think that has to do with "import" fees? With the projected tariff on overseas products, the US will be catching up to Australia.

[@reallyretro]

According to myself, nothing is over…nothing. I will collect vinyl till my dying day.

[@TheVinylDen]

Me too, but I hate seeing record stores struggle. Even though it isn’t all doom and gloom, only a 6% increase is a huge red flag.

[@dawnpatrol700]

Same here, but the bubble HAS burst. I sell vinyl online, and I make half of what I did 3 years ago

[@MetalSamantha]

@@dawnpatrol700I was at record fair a couple of weeks ago and the prices definitely seemed a bit lower than I was expecting

[@rabarebra]

@@MetalSamantha There is definitely a change in people's buying pattern, after covid. 2024 is the year people had enough. I believe pressing plants with the overhang in 2022, think that they in 2023 into 2024 can continue churning out records that they should've churned out in 2022. They failed. Pumped the prices up too much.

[@BackwoodsFilms]

Their own greed will be their demise. People are realizing that they can't afford to keep paying $40 - $50 for an album.

[@mikeyhodge6191]

I think it’s the lack of expendable income right now and the price of records. 2-3 records can be a $100 day. As far as CD’s go, I wish we had data on used sales. I’ve bought more CD’s lately and see others in my area doing the same.

[@rabarebra]

Nope. I have more income than ever, still I decline spending these ridiculous prices on new vinyl reissues. Now these cost $50 to $70 each. And the audiophiles ones cost $100 (yes, Analogue Productions cost that much here in Europe).

[@showdown2006]

It's become too expensive, and there is only so many times you can reissue something.

[@rabarebra]

Not only that. It goes hand in hand with quality control. People stop buying - prices went up - people stop buying - prices climb more. These companies think we're stupid.

[@gregoryhausinger9072]

I think Pink Floyd would disagree with you. Im eagerly awaiting the 50 year and 6 month anniversary release of Dark Side of the Moon...I hear its been remastered :)

[@showdown2006]

@@gregoryhausinger9072 haha

[@ignatiusb.samson977]

It’s because they’re charging too much. It’s ridiculous. I’m not surprised at all that sales are down. I’m as die hard a vinyl guy as there is and I pass on 80% of the records that I would otherwise buy in a second. I just don’t want to pay over 20 dollars for a record. I’ll grudgingly pay 30, but I won’t pay that very often. And I rarely ever pay more than that. I see records all the time and think “nope”. It’s really a shame.

[@garycingel9999]

Sales Are Not This Was Debunked This Morning

[@TheVinylDen]

@@garycingel9999 I bring that up in the video, but even at a 6.2% increase sales have slowed considerably over the last 12 months and has resulted in several record stores in my area to resort to go-fund-me campaigns just to stay open. The sky isn't falling, but there's still some huge issues that need to be addressed.

[@TheVinylDen]

Pricing has definitely caused me to buy fewer albums. Even though I don't like it, I'll pay up to $40 for a release. Once it's over that I have to really think about how often I'll listen to it before I buiy it.

[@ignatiusb.samson977]

@@TheVinylDen I totally agree. And box sets are out of bounds as well. The Synchronicity release. Rush Signals 40th anniversary. I would love to have those records. But I don’t like feeling like I’m getting burned.

[@mpi5850]

@@TheVinylDen- so you bring it up in the video, but throw up a BS “sales are down 33%” in your thumbnail?? Pathetic.

[@NicS-q8n]

Retail stores are over , online vinyl sales are flat lining . Top artist always sell, then there's everyone else . Prices have shocked most consumers out of the market

[@redcomusic]

I missed the live chat (where I could've poked that belly!!!) but it'll be interesting to see what happens 2025 vs. 2024.

[@antalantal2366]

Last year I could resell vinyls from my collection very easily. This year is much harder, regardless of the price

[@rabarebra]

Because your buyers are quitting the vinyl hobby.

[@rabarebra]

I see and experience a lot of vinyl collectors that started collecting during covid giving up this hobby, and I see these collections coming in the door at the thrift stores. The inflation is wild. Records that used to cost $25, cost the double today.

[@angc1456]

I agree with you. Expensive

[@SaraDixon-zm2bs]

All I can speak to is my situation. 1. Inflation and costs of everything- I’m cutting back on new because of this, 2. Buying used vs. new because of cost, 3. I just have not seen a lot of new things that interest me in 2024, and RSD April and Black…not much for me

[@DeathMetalShred]

Around 10 years ago, i was regularly getting new releases for $17.99 - $19.99 & i refuse to pay over $30 today for a record. I know if im patient enough, i can just wait and will be able to get most releases on sale some where in the $20-$25 range.

[@rabarebra]

Agree. And I am done with the FOMO limited stuff. Makes me laugh when I see "limited". The prices is way over $30 here. New reissues cost $55 to $70 now. I will wait for the black friday sales, and FOMO can go to hell.

[@Shawn_at_Vinyl_Minimalist]

Much better analysis than other channels, i have a finance degree; one thing I'm sure of is people that are passionate about a subject are often not good anaylist of that same market. Ive made that mistake in investing more than once. My personal feeling is that we are going to see a major 50 to 70 percent pullback on some titles. Not a collapse, but an avalanche of soft collectors dumping everything in the near future. I dont yet beleive either side of the 24 story.

[@nelsonmaud1]

Im glad to see you have valid points Robert fithen heahad good points on used and flea market sales and people giving someone else records as gifts xmas birthday ect

[@williamlathim4467]

OK...I'm 76, been there, done that...still have a 55+ year collection of vinyl that I keep around just because of the memories...recently sold all my vintage equipment that I bought new in the 70's and now am 100% digital...CD's and Bluetooth streaming from my cellphone...so simple and so easy, and with 20,000 songs on my desktop I can create new playlists and load them on my cellphone within minutes...portable Bluetooth speakers for my back porch, RV, pool, etc...and, yes, the quality of sound may not be audiophile quality but it's good enough...for a guy who grew up on vinyl when that was all there was I'm just simply amazed by the newer technology...I know I'm old and lazy but vinyl today is just out-dated and over-rated...peace, love and happiness to all.

[@PreppyGuy007]

Missing the true meaning of Stereo. The way music was meant to be heard. So basically, you listen to music as back ground noise? These play lists you mentioned, songs that you have heard many times in the past. Try loading new music, and see if you enjoy the convince. Music and lyrics that you have never heard before. I admit, I had to convert some of my material to the FLAC format for my Pioneer DMH-W4660NEX head unit. But that is where is stops. I do not enjoy listen to over compressed material in my living room. Where everything is loud, louder, loudest. I am sixty one, but have great hearing. I enjoy my music. Every word, and every instrument.

[@paulh2126]

That was some really good analysis. I don't see any doom and gloom. Year on year record sales are up 6 percent, which is health growth. Struggling record sellers are a symptom of either an over saturated market or a poor business model of the business. This happens in all industries, and it forces innovation, which is good.

[@TheVinylDen]

But only a 6% increase is actually a loss when you factor in that record stores have seen 10%-15%+ increases in product and operating costs over the last year. The vinyl revival has been so successful for so long because sales have far outpaced prices and operating cost increases for 15+ years.

[@paulh2126]

@@TheVinylDen The 6 percent is volume, not value, so a 10 to 15 percent increase in costs can't be directly compared. I'm sure that the prices that stores charge have increased to cover the operating costs. If they haven't, sustainable stores will exit the market, and more sustainably operated stores will take up the slack. It's simple economics.

[@mpi5850]

@@TheVinylDen- where do you get these made up stats? Please provide your sources.

[@mpi5850]

@@paulh2126- exactly.

[@dawnpatrol700]

I'm a vinyl nut, and was even in the vinyl-hating 90s. The bubble has burst, but I'm ecstatic that there ever was a bubble. I still feel like im in the Twilight Zone

[@rabarebra]

the bubble was covid.

[@dawnpatrol700]

​@@rabarebra yup

[@MetalSamantha]

I was buying vinyl in the 90s and 00s too TBH as a collector I’m happy if prices on used records are coming down. I’ll never ever change to Spotify. I just won’t. But the prices have been getting silly. Lower prices and less competition for them is ok for me as a collector But it will be a shame for stores

[@australian12extendedmixes53]

Have been buying records since the late 70s, I have cut down my spending the past year or so because of pricing, our main store in Australia JB Hi-Fi for instance, are selling INXS - X and Full Moon Dirty Hearts coloured vinyl for $92 Au each, the same records 3 years ago were $42, massive price hiking from the record companies.

[@lexpeters735]

Yes, I totally agree. JB and Amazon had reasonable prices about 3 years ago and now the prices are skyrocketing. I switched to Rarewaves U.K. Their prices and postage are more than reasonable also, they have a rewards programme which has worked well for me.

[@paulwaters753]

the prices of new records here in Australia is crazy ey, I prefer to support local record shops instead of JB hi-fi

[@melovemusic69]

No it's bad. If I'm not buying I'm sure a lot of people aren't buying near as much too. It will continue to go down I have a feeling. I'm even looking into getting back into CDs and buying a streaming device to hookup to my vintage system.

[@rEdf196]

For me, it was the release of the infamous Adele triple vinyl in 2022 which was heavily hyped in the media with a whopping 500,000 copies and an expectation of huge sales. It was also the last new vinyl album stocked at our local Walmart a year before vinyl along with CD's were phased out altogether. at the time I did see the Adele vinyl flop as a harbinger of things to come.

[@rabarebra]

She destroyed for everyone else of the artists waiting for their vinyl records to be pressed during 2022. F#$ing idiot woman and garbage music.

[@slidetek]

IF record sales are down (debatable), there's one big reason for it: the economy. When people are paying for groceries with credit cards, things that fall under luxuries like toys will necessarily take a hit. We've seen that across the board from vacation and park attendance to retail sales. I absolutely don't buy the cost of LP's to some degree. Sure, if you insist on buying UHQR double LP 45s for $150, then that's pricey. But, that type of thing wasn't available over 2 decades ago. After going through my entire library to ultrasonic clean over the past 2 years (collecting since 1968) I found "expensive" import LP's from the 80's with tower record price tags at $11-12. Adjusted for inflation, that's $33. Most LP's (like quality Rhino reissues) are going for $25-30. But, more for us!

[@Mr.BigSquid]

That might be the case but wages still haven’t kept up. The prices may be equivalent adjusted for inflation but 2hrs of work could buy a record in the old days whereas now that’s 4-5 hrs due to much lower wages relative to expenses.

[@rabarebra]

@@Mr.BigSquid 2 hours can still buy me an expensive record. Not sure which country you live in, but my wages rised about $5000 this year.

[@Mr.BigSquid]

@@rabarebra The highest minimum wage is $16/hr, after taxes it still takes 3 - 4 hours of work to buy a LP, if not more for most people. Wages haven’t kept pace and the economy is slowly eroding. That’s why college kids pretty much walk out of record stores now and it’s all middle aged dudes.

[@rabarebra]

@@Mr.BigSquid 1) Which country do you live in? 2) How old are you? 3) For how many years have you been working in your life? This hobby is not for kids, or those who already started working for the first time in their whole life.

[@Mr.BigSquid]

@@rabarebra my point exactly lol. It WAS a habit for everyone. When rich middle aged guys are the overwhelming buyers for vinyl and college kids can’t & aren’t buying it’s no longer a hip or cool hobby. It’s clearly a bubble about to implode as soon as the economy downgrades more.

[@JerryWCarman]

It isn't really fake. Vinyl sales are down simply because the price is too high.

[@markgreet3543]

They have a good future, second hand ones are cheap, and new ones are not but i think they have a good longevity.

[@Andersljungberg]

since, for example, analog productions and mofi also sell SACDs, perhaps the statistics on SACDs could have been interesting or other digital physical media that have a resolution of more than 16 bits

[@H-mu4bo]

The vinyl rip off is second only to the Live Nation rip off for concert tickets.

[@TheVinylDen]

Ain’t that the damn truth! 😂

[@jziemann]

If a record came out that was a "must have" then I usually do not care much about price (obviously within reason). But there has been fewer records out this last year or two that I must have. And they are too expensive for me to spend on a "kind of be nice to have" record.

[@urchargearr]

It has to be the pricing tbh. I will still be buying records, but I've had to slow down a ton, when double albums were average 28-30 that wasnt so bad, but now albums I want are 35-50. and single lp albums went from 20-25 average to the 30$ range (some being 35) I have been able to find alot of used records for great prices, yet I am passing on 80-90% of new vinyl that 2-3yrs ago id buy instantly

[@michaelschultz1125]

I think some of the decrease in percentages may have to do with what is currently being released. For those of us that are older and grew up listening to records in the 60's and 70's, it seems that re-releases of our favorite bands and albums from that era are down from previous years. That's probably due to so much of it was already re-released over the last 3 years. There are less all-time greatest albums and bands left that haven't already been done. Unfortunately, I'm still buying as much as I've always have because I keep expanding my listening interests into different era and genres.

[@jpriot]

The industry got what it wanted. Jack up the prices and it slows demand. They need to build more pressing plants!

[@BC-ni3sk]

I think part of the issues is a creep up in the pricing. Again when there's profit to be made they keep cranking up the prices they will run off customers. I think anyone the production chain for vinyl would be mindful and look to keep prices in check or again they will go the way of the DoDo bird.

[@jefflunz7287]

I save money buying CDs, instead of LPs.

[@TheVinylDen]

I’ve been saying for the last couple of years that now is a great time to get into CDs.

[@angc1456]

Cd is not a vinyl record

[@TheHSIHP]

Hopefully. I would love for it to go back to the pre-Crosley days.

[@shaybapple]

So over 100 years ago?

[@stuff3829]

If this is true it's because they're too expensive.

[@angc1456]

Yep expensive

[@Element115-75]

Yeah, because most people don’t have the extra income anymore with the high prices of just basic living. Our country turned into a joke

[@mdit21]

I personally bought more new albums this year than before (which is unusual for me, but some reissues that I like have been coming out lately).😊

[@TheVinylDen]

There’s been some great reissues this year.

[@AlcoVoz]

Been collecting since I was 10 years old (23 years) and in my opinion new records are too expensive. Scarce and rare stuff being pricey is one thing, those are collectors items in a collectors market. But the new retail records of modern artists are too much. I'll buy a new one from time to time if I really want it in my collection, but getting someone to pay $40 for something they can already get for free is a hard sell to most people. And I myself don't stream except here on KZbin to check out something that I don't have but am considering buying (unless it's something that's not available elsewhere.)

[@markbutcher2734]

It's not because of anything. You need to remake the video sales are not down Read the article again. There was an error in the data used in the calculation. If you read the article it's actually up 6% this year.

[@audioeeze8396]

Yes your right, he will have to do a follow up video.

[@Mr.BigSquid]

6.2% excluding independent stores, hard to say whether they’re up or down missing a massive data set. If anything, the numbers still show sales are down. Were the old numbers that far off? Possibly.

[@TheVinylDen]

I actually discuss that in the video. But even though the 33% decrease wasn’t correct, a small 6% increase is still a huge red flag because that increase fails to outpace the rising costs that we’ve seen to record stores. Simply looking at a 6% increase isn’t telling the entire story.

[@alfowler7058]

I’ve lived the changes from 78’s to 33’s to 8 tracks, to cassettes, CD’s back to vinyl to streaming. It’s nothing more than another cycle. Vinny numbers will decrease until the cost comes down and the trend will increase again. Unfortunately vinyl is like any other collectable they wont hold their value.

[@TheVinylDen]

You are right, everything is cyclical.

[@angc1456]

Facts :the music labels fault!! Extreme expensive prices!

[@rabarebra]

Adele's fault.

[@Andersljungberg]

seems that many people who buy classical do so as digital albums. i guess that means people who buy music downloads then maybe it has something to do with hi-res . And or that record companies who make classical music offer downloads of their music? then you have the jazz music

[@cmkilcullen8176]

I wonder how and why they chose to collect data differently...

[@TheVinylDen]

That’s a very good question that I haven’t been able to get an answer for yet.

[@tubinonyou]

So vinyl sales are still growing just at a slower rate than last year? That doesn't bother me at all. Sometimes I wonder if the vinyl market crashing wouldn't be a good thing in the sense that it would allow for a reset of sorts. Companies wouldn't be able to keep raking customers over the coals if customers aren't buying. I actually have a question about the secondary market if there was a crash: Will super collectable out of print records decrease in price as well? Like, would we see ÆNIMA drop from $1,000 to $300? Or would those elusive titles be immune to a crash?

[@TheVinylDen]

If the secondary market does crash I would expect most of the prices to drastically drop (even on the more rare albums), but if prices drop too far I think people will decide to hold onto those more expensive releases in hopes of the market going back up.

[@rabarebra]

Tool is not the centre of the industry.

[@tubinonyou]

@@rabarebra No, they certainly are not and that is precisely why I used that album as an example of an expensive, basically impossible title to acquire. Another example (although I believe it has been confirmed that a 30th anniversary reissue is coming in 2025) is Alice In Chains' self-titled album. We're not discussing "centre of the industry". We're discussing expensive titles on the secondary market.

[@rabarebra]

@@tubinonyou Tool vinyl records will be reissued. Patience is your friend.

[@CarrieColliton]

It is important to note that the 6% increase in vinyl sales WITHOUT any sales from indie record stores AT ALL. When you add those indie sales in, the sales increase over last year is almost certainly higher than 6%.

[@TheVinylDen]

That’s a 6% gain when comparing sales in 2024 vs 2023 without record store sales from either year, so when looking at the numbers that way it’s still comparable. There’s a reason why so many record stores have been struggling this year.

[@jacreynolds101]

I have to go a step deeper, I think this is economy related on a bigger level. Cost of living continues to rise. Once we see a change in comic factors, I believe vinyl sales, new and used, will increase again.

[@msmith9641]

Yes. Once people have to pay for more day to day living expenses then it’s natural there is less money to spend on records.

[@sabs1970]

Vinyl now just cost way to much cash but CDs are affordable if you keep away from the rip off boxsets

[@aceman3577]

I'll say this much if prices keep going up and up because of inflation and everything else out there vinyl will go away unless prices start going down

[@thevinylinch]

Very interesting.

[@phatdad9750]

I perfer record stores but the closest store is an hour and half away. I make the trip when i can but sometimes its hard when you're after a single album. but recently I try to just put the cash back and wait till I can buy multiple albums

[@TheVinylDen]

It’s definitely tough when there isn’t a record store that close. My local store isn’t that far away, but it’s still a 45-50 minute drive. So if I want to go to the record store I know I have to carve out at least 3-4 hours out of my day.

[@rabarebra]

@@TheVinylDen My thrift store is 5 minutes walk away. I buy all the stuff that the recent vinyl collectors that gave up returned (to buy CDs instead) - stupid people. So nice boxsets at decent prices at the thrift stores. I have cut back on buying new stuff, though. More picky and selective now, because of all the crap I've seen (bad quality and bad mastering jobs recently, plus stupid prices).

[@angc1456]

Its not the record stores that are in controll of the Expensive prices. Is The Record labels that put the Expensive prices

[@eternalhalloween1]

Well, I'm certainly not going to get everything I have on CD over on vinyl LP. If I want an album, I'm going to get the CD. Oh, I bought some vinyl LPs. But they were from a used place. So I paid "next to nothing" for them. I'm sure there will always be a market for vinyl. But eventually reality will set in. A lot of people will understand just how much space records take up, and how much care they require. Just my opinion.

[@Therazorschannel]

When Walmart and Target do variants it’s over.

[@sjbang5764]

Then it's over?

[@rabarebra]

Agree. Not over, but those releases are ridiculous.

[@paulwaters753]

I'll never stop buying records, I doubt record sales are down with all the records that are being released

[@graemeknowles1431]

Hey Nick.. Man i hope not. I love buying Physical Media.. It's my happy place..❤

[@TheVinylDen]

Me too. I’m hoping this is just a small market correction and not a symptom of a larger downturn looming.

[@vrp_pdx]

Feeling it at my store, sales are down

[@sjbang5764]

Is it true new vinyl records have a digital step? I'm talking about new recordings made by contemporary bands, not reissues of records recorded before 1983.

[@TheVinylDen]

Almost all albums recorded since 2000 have been recorded digitally, so I assume that all of the albums released since then have a digital step, but if done right they can sound just as good as albums that don’t.

[@jimnoren2054]

Not surprised at the decline. Lack of titles and pricing= decline.

[@PreppyGuy007]

Are they really? In my world, it is totally opposite. My world meaning 'internet Record Sales". I don't buy records from stores in the US. A large percentage of records that are manufactured here in the US are defective. Therefore, I do most of my purchasing from the UK, Germany, and France just to name a few. I even discovered that amazon is selling defective LP's (e.g. Jackets, Sleeves, Inserts) multiple times over thinking that the buyer will not recognize the issues that the previous buyer did. I purchased the Pet Shot Boys, "Smash" Greatest Hits. A Six LP Box Set for $110.08 from amazon. The box was in terrific shape. However, all the sleeves were split on one side. In addition, I found a few strains of long hair on Disc 2/ Side 1. Obviously a previous return. So, I ordered another box set. This time, in mint condition. This is expected when shelling out $100 + for any vinyl compilation. Steaming? Yeah it's out there. It too will be heading towards a price hike. Oh, and let's not forget internet and data packages to access those Steaming Services are also on the climb. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the New Economy.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Hopefully prices fall 33%

[@TheVinylDen]

I think if prices don’t come down at least 10%-15% over the next year or so record sales are going to slow down even more than they already have.

[@Mr.BigSquid]

I quit buying vinyl almost 6 months ago. Upgraded my system and now streaming and CD sounds way better. Got rid of a lot of vinyl while I could still get a good price for it.

[@doylebbq4329]

That's sad, hopefully you come back eventually

[@TheVinylDen]

I have a good friend that has done the same thing. It might not be as fun as listening to records, but it’s a lot cheaper to buy CDs and hi res audio files.

[@doylebbq4329]

@@TheVinylDen I do the same but I don't think they sound as good as good quality vinyl and never will

[@TheVinylDen]

@@doylebbq4329I 100% agree

[@rabarebra]

I see this trend also in Norway.

[@Andy-bz7ow]

I sure did not add to the decrease!!! I still average 2 to 5 new albums a week.

[@mpi5850]

This is fake news, see Mazzy’s video on the subject. Vinyl sales are up again this year.

[@TheVinylDen]

Yep, I discuss that in the video. Even though the 33% decrease isn’t correct, only a 6.2% increase is still a large slowdown in growth and some record stores are beginning to struggle. Just because the initial decline wasn’t accurate doesn’t mean that there aren’t serious issues in the vinyl record market.

[@TheVinylDen]

I’ll also add that that just shows that Mazzy doesn’t understand economics. If your operating costs as a business rise 14%-20% and your sales only go up 6%, then that’s actually a 8%-14% loss.

[@TheVinylDen]

What’s made the vinyl revival so successful is that for 17 years sales have grown by double digits (in most years) and has far outpaced rising costs.

[@Mr.BigSquid]

The 6.2% figure appears to exclude data from independent stores. So we don’t really know what happened. I think it’s an unfair claim some folks are making to say this is totally “fake news” when a massive group of retailers isn’t included. Indications from on the ground sure seem to indicate a slowdown.

[@Mr.BigSquid]

@@TheVinylDenexcellent point

[@willisevans6559]

An update suggested sales are actually up 6.2%.

[@TheVinylDen]

Yeah, I discuss that in the video. I still see it as a big red flag though because the modest gains have been outpaced by price increases and record stores are beginning to feel it in their bottom lines.

[@artmusicliterature9859]

It's the economy. People are spent. Everything has been getting more expensive exponentially.

[@bill-hc4vh]

Hopefully trump becomes president and this nightmare of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be over. They did nothing to lower inflation. Now nobody can afford groceries or vinyl Records.

[@PreppyGuy007]

And now with the new administration, be prepared for things to increase in price even further. Welcome, to the New Economy.

[@pdelman10]

I think there are several factors to record sales being down. The first is 50% of record sales are from people who do not own a TT. That means they are fans of an artist and are completeist. The second is as a 50 year old who has been doing this for 5 plus years. I am running out of must haves. I have bought plenty of 90's artist reissues that I wanted. The price is the other factor they are expensive and sometimes the quality you are getting back is lacking in regards to sound quality and warping.

[@slidetek]

Overall, IMHO the quality of today's vinyl is leaps and bounds superior to 70's and 80's domestic. I used to get terrible sounding vinyl, often warped. I returned a _lot_ of records back in the day. Today, the quality of vinyl is superior overall (certainly there's exceptions like the Pink Floyd Animals reissue). An import in 1984 from Tower Records was about $11. Today that's $33. A Rhino reissue is not only 180 grams, but dead quiet and _flat._ My collection goes back to '68, although I did fall for the CD revolution from late 80's through the 2000's, but there was also no vinyl of current artists to be had. And good moderate priced tables were rare as hen's teeth if your current spinner bit the big one. Luckily, I never even considered selling my collection, and over the past decade have increased it, or replaced some played to death LP's with new reissues.

[@rabarebra]

@@slidetek Everything you describe is the opposite.

[@bill-hc4vh]

Why are records so expensive??? The insane prices are driving people away from the hobby. Anything over 20 dollars is simply foolish to buy. Records should not cost more than 20 dollars PERIOD. For the people that are spending insane amounts of money on these records just know that YOU are the problem. You are keeping the prices high because you are willing to pay for it. If the record companies can get away with ripping you off, they will. If people protest and refuse to pay 50 dollars for a record, they will have to drop the prices. I buy mostly used vinyl because you get more bang for your buck. I do like listening and buying new bands and artists but im sick and tired of all these new artists that put AUTOTUNE all over their voices. It's so fake and phony. I hate autotune and most new artists and bands use it. Who needs to be an amazing singer these days? NOBODY! Autotune will correct your lack of singing ability, Technology has actually ruined new music in my opinion.

[@rabarebra]

Dumb people has gotten so used to autotune that it is a feature nowadays. I actually heard from producers refuse to NOT use it, because the got too used to it. Whenever they hear a voice without autotune, they can't listen to it. This is how wild this industry has become. There is absolutely no true talent anymore.

[@apathyinc.7534]

God, I hope it's over. Maybe I'll be able to grab up entire collections at the Goodwiil for $25 again. Vinyl collecting was FUN 25 years ago. It was ruined when it got trendy.

[@TheVinylDen]

It was definitely more fun when I could dig through a stack of used records and actually find some good stuff that wasn’t way overpriced.

[@currentphonograph7487]

I,m selling new vinyl records below MSRP otherwise they don't sell. I definitely think that there should bee price decrease on overall market

[@TheVinylDen]

That’s what’s really hurting indie record stores right now. Big box stores (Walmart, Target, Amazon, etc) can cut their margins to stay competitive because music sales are just a sliver of their overall sales, but record stores can’t do the same thing for long without risking their business. It’s the same thing that killed most record stores in the late ‘90s when the CD price wars began.

[@mikeosier1273]

If you ask me, it’s the increase in prices

[@GordonPyzik]

No its not over. People are realising new vinyl sounds pretty bad so there going after the older vinynl.

[@thomaslytle5519]

Could part of the decrease in sales be because they’re taking advantage of us and raising the cost of records? Oh well. Either way I never shop at brick and mortar stores cuz they’re always around $5 more than buying the record online. Hell… even Toad Hall is doing it. Charging $5-$10 more for Analogue Productions records than AP themselves. I stopped buying from them when I saw that. Then there’s always Discogs. We don’t have to leave our house and get ripped off. So… See ya record stores! Too bad Not sad 😂

[@SuperJammygit]

Prices are dropping make no mistake

[@gilbertsoussana6282]

If you see the poor quality of the vinyl’s made in Czech Republic or in Poland you understand why record sales are down .

[@rabarebra]

GZ especially 😂

[@KenValentine-e3f]

Too expensive now.

[@_F8.]

Turns out they actually went up 6%

[@giovanni6463]

-33,3 % .... ARE THEY KIDDING US ?!?!? 🤣😎🤣: and singles in particular 45% or what? VERY funny. (First of April is long gone, by the way..........)

[@TheVinylDen]

I thought it was a joke when I first saw it. 😂

[@giovanni6463]

@@TheVinylDen 👍...... (if that turns out to be true...... 😲)

[@bacarandii]

A "33.3 percent decline" in record sales compared to last year? You mean 33 1/3? Hmmmm. The "vinyl revival" was largely driven by nostalgia and scarcity (LPs were lost relics of the past) -- two conditions that are impossible to sustain indefinitely. I don't buy nearly as many LPs as I did six or seven years ago... mainly because I pretty much have the collection of a few thousand vintage records that I've always wanted. New stuff -- which is almost all digitally recorded -- is more convenient and less expensive via downloads or CDs -- and can sound just as good or better than LPs, depending on your set-up and the original recording. Only occasionally do I feel like getting an LP of a new release -- or even an all-analog audiophile jazz reissue from the '50s or '60s -- if I already have a decent copy in some digital and/or analog format. I gave up on streaming years ago. Too much choice devalues the whole experience for me.

[@johnmalone8790]

Seriously, records died out once, why wont it happen again? They are getting ridiculously expensive... The quality of new records is generally appalling... I've even sent back a couple of Mofi records recently because of the warps... I'm buying more and more cds, then just ripping to my Uniti Core, while my poor old lp12 is getting used less & less, unfortunately...

[@rabarebra]

Same here. There is still a lot of warps and badly cut records. One would think that the crazy price increases would correct it, but no.

[@paulburns6856]

I find it odd that it's 33% like 33.3 LOL let me guess 45 are down 45%!? All kidding aside. I've bought more myself this year than last. Don't believe numbers. my .02

[@TheVinylDen]

I thought it was kind of ironic when I first saw it. 😂

[@bautistarafa70]

Yeee 45$ 60$ 120$ yea😮

[@tiborosz1825]

Yeah..down 33 1/3. Its actually up 6%.

[@jimnoren2054]

$35-40 for a record …?

[@rabarebra]

Sometimes $100

[@melsrecords-bq3di]

This is inaccurate information and has been corrected by numerous sources.

[@antalantal2366]

could you please provide a reference for the updating?

[@JJ-qs9hu]

There wasn't many great titles released this year.

[@nealhanna5609]

High priced

[@mpi5850]

Please just stick to reviewing album releases. You have no idea what you’re talking about.

[@fclefjefff4041]

There’s little I hate more than blatant, obnoxious clickbait. At best, it reeks of desperation. At worst, it’s the behavior of sketchy snake oil salesmen who can’t be trusted. Very often it’s both. 🖕

[@coolbugfacts1234]

why would I want big toxic plastic circles that spew microplastics into my home when played and have distorted audio (aka the "warm" sound)

[@rocky-o]

wrong..that figure was as wrong as anything trump says..record sales were still up this year!...

[@TheVinylDen]

While the 33% decrease wasn’t correct, only a small 6% increase is still a huge red flag. If costs go up 10%-15% but sales only rise 6% then that’s actually a loss. The vinyl revival has been so successful because growth has far exceeded rising costs for 15 years. Hopefully this is just a small market correction and not a symptom of a larger slowdown looming.

[@andreafiorini6418]

fake news

[@prowlermadmax2]

I think that the record companies got greedy and started selling new records for 40.00 and up. I just wait for a used copy at a cheaper price.