In excess of one million vinyl records have been sold in the UK so far in 2014, which is the first time this significant landmark has been reached since 1996. Back then it was the Oasis album “What’s the Story Morning Glory?” driving the  vinyl record sales and due to the re-issue of  “What’s the Story Morning Glory?” is one of the best-selling vinyl records of this year too.

This major statistic flies in the face of the digital era that was supposed to be all about music downloads, facilitated by technology like smartphones and tablets. Earlier this month, Pink Floyd’s latest and last album “The Endless River” became the fastest-selling vinyl record release since 1997. It seems that the consumer’s love of vinyl is an endless river!!

The Official Chart Company has indicated that it will soon launch a weekly vinyl record chart. Martin Talbot, managing director of the Official Charts Company, commented: “In an era when we’re all talking about digital music, the fact that these beautiful physical artefacts are still as popular as they are is fantastic. It’s really remarkable. We’re seeing it come back as a significant earner for the music industry as well. Only five years ago this business was worth around £3m a year. This year it’s going to be worth £20m.”

Meanwhile Gennaro Castaldo from music industry body the BPI, explained: “Most of us did write off vinyl. Whilst the candle flickered and nearly went out… it didn’t entirely go out. I think at the start of the 2000 period, a few rock bands came along – The Killers, Arctic Monkeys – and it’s helped make vinyl cool again.”

The market for vinyl appears to be divided into two groups, according to a survey by the BBC….”There is the thirty five plus generation, which grew up with vinyl, who continue to add to their vinyl record collection by continuing to buy music in the format. Meanwhile, a younger generation has adopted vinyl as an antidote to the own-nothing trend of services like iTunes and Spotify.”

One survey that appears to support this theory was published in April by the ICM Group: It indicated that 15% of physical music, whether on vinyl, CD or cassette tape, was purchased with no intention of ever listening to it. Nigel House, co-founder of the Rough Trade retail chain, told the BBC he thought that the big record labels were releasing vinyl again because it has become fashionable: “Certain styles of music, they need that warmth. They need that feeling. Soul, reggae, hip-hop, even punk – they sound so much better on vinyl.”

Gennaro Castaldo from the BPI agrees with this view: “The difference between vinyl and other formats is that it’s viewed as an art form, really – the audio quality, the sleeve notes, the cover art. Whilst other formats are being superseded every time technology improves, vinyl doesn’t really fit into that category because it’s more than that.”

Simon Sterland, Record Press Blog author and owner of online framed vinyl record gift retailer MyFirstRecord.co.uk, points out: “The vinyl record industry is going from strength to strength, year on year. This is comprehensive proof, if it were needed, that there is a growing customer base for physical copies of music in a technology driven world. I can only see this trend for vinyl record buying continuing as clearly the music download is a poor substitute for the tactile warmth of the vinyl single or album, not to mention the decorative album cover artwork. Put simply, vinyl has a personality all of its own. This increase in national vinyl record sales is mirrored by MyFirstRecord.co.uk sales in 2014, which have more than doubled from last year and we still have the important Christmas trading period to come.”

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