Why Does Record Store Day Seem To Favour Vinyl Over CD? - Plus Vinyl and CD Sales Stats Q1 2024

[@jimmycampbell78]

There are a few things that bother me Phil about the retail side at the moment. The prices of CDs have gone up, which people who prefer vinyl won't really notice but I always like CDs as the affordable physical alternative. They're being marked up and its greed rearing its ugly head again. I also don't think the jewel case with a nice booklet and proper tray can be beaten. CD jewel cased are my favourite. Digipaks with trays are ok. But I hate the flimsy CDs in a cardboard sleeve/vinyl replica things (sold individually, not necessarily in a boxset)- and they have the cheek to charge high prices for those. I don't like being ripped off when the packaging is cheap and you slide the CDs unprotected out of cardboard sheaths. It's just not on.

[@vintagevinylvets1187]

Thank you for the update Phil, this is fast becoming on of our favorite KZbin channels. In the last 6-8 months, we’ve cut our vinyl buying by 75%, at least new vinyl. CD’s(especially box sets)are a better option most of the time. Part of it is cost, the other is that CD’s are easier to handle due to my husbands Parkinson’s. Regarding Record Store Day, we’re not understanding folks getting upset regarding vinyl over CD. It’s our understanding that this was designed for vinyl sales for indie stores.-Beth & Danny🎧

[@davidbutterfield7718]

Don't watch all of your posts, Phil, but every one I watch, I absolutely love. A big hug, mate!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you 🙏

[@davidbutterfield7718]

You're very welcome, and please keep posting your great, er, posts 😆. You definitely enrich life....love your enthusiasm, amongst many other things.

[@derekclacton]

Could be the name Record Store Day rather than CD Store Day? Not sure I ever heard of a CD store, come to think of it - always record shops, or music shops … I do hope some vinyl-only RSD releases will be issued in CD format - Michael Schenker Group Live at Manchester Apollo 1980 2LP wasn’t even in a gatefold and a good CD booklet would be able to do it justice. The first tour and the classic line-up. Most of the concert has already appeared as CD bonus tracks and it would be great to have the entire show on CD!

[@graemeknowles1431]

C'mon people keep buying CDs. Let's get those CD sales up.

[@davidgould3297]

Vinyl is too expensive for me now.

[@backrowbrighton]

I think you've nailed it here Phil. It is often about presentation vs content. The special edition vinyl against the in depth experience of the CD box set. Record Store Day where I live has become something of participation event. People queue up before dawn for the experience rather than what is on offer. In one record store you often see the binned left overs from the day and think why? Just taken delivery of a superb four CD box set from Cherry Red of legendary demo tapes from the late great Alan Hull. Worth standing in line for but I didn't have to.

[@PSN489]

Queue up before dawn !!! . They need help Mate.

[@Baz63]

the distinction for me is that i 'have' c.ds but i 'own' vinyl albums. Vinyl feels more like a possession and is more tactile. Won't get into the c.d. / vinyl debate but maybe that is why vinyl is revered more with RSD...possibly?

[@couleddie]

To me a CD has just as much tactile value as an LP. I get as much satisfaction from choosing a disc, putting it in the player and sitting down to play it as someone who plays LPs. There's no difference as far as i'm concerned.

[@andrewlongshaw2128]

I haven't bought any records on RSD. I have some vinyl that was specially released, but I picked them up later and cheaper.

[@HandyAndyTechTips]

Great video as usual. Personally I don't care whether RSD or any other special event celebrates the CD format. All I want is for new albums to keep being released on the format, and new playback equipment to keep being made so I can enjoy my collection for years to come.

[@LauraKnotek]

I typically rip CDs to FLAC and play the digital files once I've done that. The CD gets filed away at that point. I've never ripped vinyl to digital, since I purchase vinyl for the purpose of the analog sound.

[@jerrygeorgopolis8015]

Phil, Interesting info, thank you. Good morning from the U.S.A.

[@trevorpugh6475]

Good news about physical sales Phil. I know a few people who happily buy cd versions of new releases and also the vinyl which they frame and hang on the wall. Each to their own I suppose, I’m just thankful cd sales are still buoyant!

[@DrOz-007]

The most important thing is for artists to keep releasing albums, whatever the format. The build up, promotion, artwork, release of a single or two, videos, the touring, the whole shebang. I get the impression that most artists still take this approach, but it's hard to know for sure. I also see albums as "song cycles", a European tradition going back centuries.

[@ianemery4355]

Spot on Phil now CD prices are starting to rise music fans being hit! Vinyl prices range from £25 - £45 for an album! Being greedy will eventually damage the music industry in these current times here! Record store day is purley to make money now! It's Ltd so the price goes up! Phew! I feel better now!😂

[@krisbritwres394]

always a great listen

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Much appreciated

[@donnydarko2100]

Vinyl has so many potential minus points. And then on top of that is the price! Considering all those negatives, you are paying three times, sometimes four times, what a CD would cost. Being a pensioner, unless the vinyl is something that I can't get the CD format, it makes sense to buy the latter.

[@poglingtonpog]

I'm looking at the list for RSD there are a few interesting items, will I go? Not convinced its economically viable, prices can be a bit silly, I'll probably make a decision the day before! There are some great recordings that could be made available and never are, most of the list is extremely niche, you can get the feeling you're being ripped off!

[@jimmycampbell78]

I very much agree with you.

[@davidstafford9921]

Is that 14.5% growth in vinyl based on unit sales?

[@couleddie]

I would say not. More likely to be revenue. But the industry doesn’t want you to know that because it doesn’t ‘big-up’ vinyl.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Yes it is :)

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Usually it is revenue but the stats in this video are unit sales.

[@PSN489]

Greed and it plays on the fact that some people have to have everything before someone else. Sad really. Adeu.

[@LauraKnotek]

"Record Store Day" is obviously about vinyl because that's what records are. It's not called "CD Store Day".

[@747jono]

Got to say Phil ,i think Record Store Day is more of an American thing well they make more of a fuss about it.

[@JohnSmith-x8s5g]

Record store day favors LPs (I refuse to call them "vinyl") because they can now sell the same album for $ 40 as opposed to $ 10-15 for a cd. I'm also SO sick of the current fetishisation of the LP. Are all these people actually playing these records? (Like your story at the end of your recent video.)

[@neilbower9052]

Wasn't it originally brought in to revitalise the vinyl record industry? I think the lack of CDs on RSD these days is an indictment of how much mark up they have with the vinyl compared to the CD, some of the prices for albums this RSD should be reported for profiteering.