Vinyl outsells CDs in US for first time since 1987 as downloads decline: Report

Although many consider vinyl records to be obsolete and CDs to be sold as well, a new report from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) suggests that vinyl records are outselling CDs in the United States for the first time since 1987. suggests that physical media, including vinyl records, may be making a comeback.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), a trade group that tracks music sales, reported that 41 million vinyl albums will be purchased in 2022, compared to 33 million CDs. According to the report, recorded music sales will grow six percent to $15.9 billion in 2022, marking the seventh consecutive year of growth.

The RIAA says the biggest factor behind the recent rise is the increase in music streaming. They also suggest that playing the records to nostalgia and indie rock fans in the US, who appreciate the LP’s excellent sound quality, may have contributed to this.

The numbers speak for themselves — vinyl sales rose 17 percent to more than $1.2 billion last year — the 16th straight year of growth for the format, while CD revenue, conversely, fell 18 percent to $483 million last year. WSJ.

Vinyl records have not only grown in popularity in mainstream music, but have also spilled over into popular video games such as the recently released God of Ragnarök. The collector’s edition and Jötnar edition of the game came with a neon green vinyl record with the game’s soundtrack. The look and feel of vinyl records, as well as the sheer creativity you can expect from them today, have greatly contributed to the growth in popularity.

The WSJ notes that the industry has become “artisanal” – “some buyers are asking for new LPs – multi-colored, scented, glow-in-the-dark – that add to vinyl ownership.”

According to the report, on-demand digital downloads — which were expected to be the proverbial “future” — unexpectedly fell 20 percent to $495 million. And most importantly, both album and single downloads decreased revenue.

As RIAA CEO Mitch Glazier told Rolling Stone, “2022 was an amazing year of continued ‘growth-over-growth’ more than a decade after streaming entered the music scene.”

It will be interesting to see if this trend continues and if physical media makes a comeback, or if, like most trends, this too fades away.

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