Few people in the early 2000s would have (0) PREDICTED that vinyl records would ever again be commercially relevant. With the rise of digital downloads and, later, streaming services, the once-dominant LP seemed destined for the museum. Yet over the past decade sales have been steadily up, and specialised record shops have a remarkable comeback in cities across Europe and North America.
Part of the appeal, enthusiasts argue, in the physical nature of the object itself. A record is something you can hold, examine and display, and the large sleeves allow artwork to be fully Many listeners also claim that analogue sound has a warmth and depth that compressed digital formats simply cannot
Critics, meanwhile, out that the revival is driven as much by nostalgia and marketing as by genuine audio quality. Whatever the explanation, the trend shows no signs of slowing down. Major artists now routinely release limited on vinyl, and pressing plants that had closed years ago are being reopened to up with the demand.