By PHI HA
The sound of crackles and squeaks right before the record starts can be heard again, as vinyl records make a major comeback in the 21st century.
In contrast, other music formats such as CDs are quickly becoming a thing of the past, as more people turn to mobiles and online formats for their music.
Australian vinyl sales more than doubled in profit last year, increasing by 127 per cent, according to data from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).
It saw 277,767 records sold, up from 137,658 in the previous year. This caps off a strong upward trend that began in 2009.
While these figures are small compared to digital downloads and even CDs, the data also shows record sales contributed nearly $6.5 million to the Australian music industry. CD album sales still reign supreme, despite being on the decline, down to 12,563,714 from 14,226,201 in 2013.
“The ongoing revival of vinyl demonstrates this format’s enduring power of reinvention and popularity,” the ARIA media release read.
The surge of vinyl sales is consistent with global trends, with countries such as UK and the US recording similar trends.
The demand is so big that Smithsonian magazine reported American vinyl presses are struggling to cope with demand.
Simon Karis, co-owner of Polyester Records in Fitzroy, says he thinks customers are returning to vinyl as they look for quality and long-lasting investments in music.
“Customers perceive the digital formats to be somewhat disposable in modern contexts and not worth paying as much for, whereas vinyl LPs are kind of the antithesis of all that in some ways,” Mr Karis says.
“[They’re] a large format item, more tactile and more visually enticing perhaps than a CD.
“[This] offers a different sound which is probably more comparable to the digital alternative than ever before, considering how much compressed digital music we are used to listening to.”
Although record sales have been rising, Mr Karis notes its popularity is not widespread, and sees it as still being a small market.
“Vinyl is still in this sense a niche market, but a market we perceive to be a viable one nonetheless and something that lots of people around the world have lots of fun with,” Mr Karis says.
Music artists are also moving towards vinyl, with many producing vinyl albums with special features. Jack White’s Lazaretto LP has vinyl-exclusive hidden tracks that run at different speeds. Artists jumping on the vinyl bandwagon include Kanye West, Arctic Monkeys and Florence and the Machine.
Avid vinyl collector Andrew Pilkington says the unique and fulfilling listening experience is what attracts him to the wax format.
“Rather than downloading all your favourite songs to an mp3 player, choosing vinyl creates a greater sense of ownership and a more intimate listening experience to your favourite artists,” Mr Pilkington says.
“The tangibility of the artwork and quality of analog playback is what I believe trumps choosing to go digital.”
It’s not hard to find vinyl in Melbourne. Here are three of Melbourne’s best stores to buy your next vinyl record from.
Basement Discs, 24 Block Place, Melbourne
Tucked away in a basement in one of Melbourne's iconic laneways, Basement discs is a Melbourne institution. Featuring a wide range of vinyl, the store also holds regular in-store performances. A must visit for any vinyl lover.
Round and Round records, 556 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
The owners of this eclectic store started off selling records from their diverse collections, featuring West African, stoner rock, Italian psych and everything in between. They still sell a mix of new and second-hand vinyl, so look for a bargain! Customers should expect to stumble across rare and unique records not found in the likes of Jb Hi-fi or Sanity.
Polyester Records, 387 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
The store, founded in 1981, stocks one of the largest ranges of new vinyl LPs in Melbourne as well as CDs, tickets, DVDs and Books. The store prides itself for having an inviting retail and events space that is tightly linked to a global music community. Come here on a random night and you might see live performances from local and international artists.