Why have Vinyls become so popular?

2017 and 2018 have seen a rise in everything 70s and 80s, including records and all the accessories that go along with them. It’s near enough impossible to walk through your local HMV without spotting the album currently at number one on a record with a colourful, glossy looking sleeve.  I personally prefer independent record stores, with their bustling community feel, but the concept remains the same.

So why are records suddenly on the rise?

Well, for one, the community surrounding vinyl collection and purchase is always bubby and vibrant. There’s no better feeling than walking into a record store and finding people just like you, hunting for good deals on vinyl to add to their collections. The chats are always cheery, and advice always welcome and given. They’re wonderful places to meet new people and discover new music- and also usually have the best deals (at least in my experience)!

Also, so many modern vinyl’s come with codes that allow you to download the album at no extra cost, so those worried about splashing the cash on a £15-£30 LP Record as well as the £10 album to download can easily just purchase the one and type in a short code for their downloaded version. So, there’s no fear of missing out!

But I strongly believe the reason vinyl’s have popped back into fashion is because of what they offer in comparison to their MP3 counterparts. To me, records offer a completely different experience to a song or album downloaded onto your phone. They act as something that can be passed on down generations, hold memories such as birthdays or a special Christmas. They can be gifted, signed, shared, traded with friends- the list is extensive. You couldn’t capture all of that in an album downloaded to your phone, so people are investing in something you can build memories around.