Music streaming sites are helping to drive sales of vinyl, according to new research.

Half of consumers in the ICM survey say they have listened to an album online before buying a vinyl copy. This behavioural pattern is more commonplace for people who use ad-funded services such as SoundCloud or YouTube, suggesting free music can drive physical sales.

Interestingly though 48% of people who bought vinyl records last month admit they have yet to play it and 7% of those polled admitted that they do not even own a turntable. Jordan Katende, a student in Manchester, told the BBC: “I have vinyls in my room but it’s more for decor. I don’t actually play them. It gives me the old-school vibe. That’s what vinyl’s all about.”

Others say they buy records to support their favourite artists, while 50% of consumers identify themselves as “collectors”. Helena, an 18-year-old from Kingston, who has started using her father’s old record player admitted: “It’s really nice to have an object that you can hold and physically play. I also think it’s important to support artists financially if you can. I like it if someone puts effort into making a release look special.”

The renaissance in vinyl record purchasing during a period of declining sales has been one of the music industry’s more surprising success stories. In 2014, 2.1 million LPs were purchased by music fans as demand increased for an eighth successive year – climbing 64% to a 21-year high. Official Charts Company figures suggest the rise has continued in 2016, with 637,056 vinyl records sold in the first three months of the year, accounting for almost 3% of the UK music market.

Simon Sterland, Record Press Blog author and owner of online framed vinyl record gift retailer MyFirstRecord.co.uk, endorses the ICM poll findings: “Vinyl record sales are extremely buoyant. These survey findings are comprehensive proof, if it were needed, that there is a growing customer base for physical copies of music in a technology driven world.”

He continues: “I can only see this trend for vinyl record buying continuing as the music download is no substitute for the tactility of the vinyl single or album, not to mention the decorative album cover artwork. Vinyl has a personality all of its own. The re-emergence of vinyl is mirrored by MyFirstRecord.co.uk with framed vinyl gift sales increasing every year since its launch in 2011.”

The vinyl revival has been encouraged by the annual Record Store Day, which started nine years ago as a means of supporting independent music retailers. This year’s event takes place on Saturday 16th April and sees record shops around the UK stocking thousands of one-off records. There will be vinyl releases from artists including Justin Bieber, Abba, David Bowie, Alan Partridge, Foals, Chase & Status and the Dead Kennedys.

Celebrate your love of the vinyl record by ordering a favourite song as a framed and mounted vinyl single. If you are buying it as a gift, you can personalise it with an inscribed / engraved plaque. ORDER NOW www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/