No one really knows if Vinyl sales are up or down. Of the hundreds of articles out there about the revival of record sales, half say the hype is true, the other half say record sales are as low as ever. I myself, believe the hype because I look at it comparitively. Are records selling more than CDs? No. Are Records selling more that digital mp3s? Of course not. But Vinyl is being bought more and more by music lovers of all ages. You have the adults who never got rid of their turntable and never stopped buying records, then you have the young 20 somethings seeing the value of purchasing hard copies of music and the beautiful sound quality of a record. So what's the answer? Is Vinyl up or down? My answer to this conundrum is simple yet complex: People like the idea of vinyl more than they actually like buying it. For diehard music lovers, music is all about the experience. You go to the local record store, you sift your fingers through the endless library, you find an exciting new piece, and you buy it with money you saved. Feeling the grooves in your hands, placing the large disc on your turntable, and hearing the music make its way through the needle and to your speakers. There is nothing more satisfying. But, all the while the average music junkie goes to itunes to get there quick fix.
It is for this reason that stores like Criminal Records are suffering. In his article "Co-Founder of Record Store Day's Atlanta Store Expected to Close," Tyler Kane covers the upcoming demise of a beloved Atlanta music staple. The current owner of the store, Eric Levin, is a prominent member of the music community and is credited with starting Record Store Day, a nation wide event where independent record stores all across the country release new vinyl in a celebratory way. Levin does not cite a decrease in record sales for the collapse of Criminal Records, rather he says its just the Economy in general. All of the products he sells are expensive, and people just don't need records, comics, and action figures to survive. Despite the economic downturn, Criminal Records isn't going down without a fight. Many are starting campaigns to save the store, and many bands are stepping in to help.
This article is an important one to the Atlanta music scene. I myself am an Atlanta native and have visited Criminal Records numerous times. It pains me to know that Criminal Records is dying, but they are not yet dead. I love to see that artists and locals are fighting to save the in-debt business. Music is the lifeblood of many communities, and the people need to protect their independent retailers. Articles such as this are extremely important to raise awareness. It is easy for music lovers to forget about the little guy. Itunes is just a click away, and in a world where convenience rules, people aren't going to record stores. Vinyl is what musicians love, and they love to play small, intimate shows in stores like Criminal Records. If music lovers want to keep records alive, they must support local independent retailers.
I would have liked to see this article talk about why vinyl is appealing. If people are going to be made aware of failing record stores, they must also have a reason to save it. Vinyl is a pure form of audio, and is enriching to buy. It sounds better, it looks better, and it's a better value, truthfully. The average CD is abut 12 dollars compared to about 20 dollars for vinyl. However, when you buy Records you also receive a CD or a digital download code. Its a 2 for 1 deal, and a good investment. I would like to see articles urging people to save Vinyl and make the record comeback bigger than it already is.
I remember when vinyl was cheaper than CDs!!!! Dr. C's son is a musician, and he says his best sales come in vinyl. For one thing, you can't autograph a download, so the point-of-sale purchase for the musician at a concert is in vinyl. As an author who likes to sign actual books and can't sign an on-line version, I see the appeal!!!
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