Daft Punk, Arctic Monkeys and Vampire Weekend have all been championing vinyl records in recent times, contributing to the vinyl record achieving its highest sales figures for more than a decade.

Figures released by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) indicate 550,000 LPs have been sold so far in 2013. Sales of vinyl albums have doubled in 2013 in the UK. BPI’s chief executive Geoff Taylor explains: “We’re witnessing a renaissance for records. They’re no longer retro-mania and are becoming the format of choice for more and more music fans. Vinyl sales are growing fast”.

Record Store Day, the annual celebration and promotion of independent record shops, is credited with driving the surge in sales, with £2 million in vinyl sales in 2013. Kim Bayley, who organises the RSD event, points out: “Record Store Day has been incredibly important as a catalyst for the resurgence of vinyl. The fact that indie record shops managed to sell £2m worth of vinyl in one day puts pay to the idea that either vinyl or record stores themselves are on the way out.”

Many contemporary artists now put out new releases on vinyl, even though it is an expensive option. Bastille began by releasing 300 copies of their first single “Flaws” on a seven-inch vinyl record. Bastille’s lead vocalist Dan Smith explains: “It was just so nice to have that physical thing, so ever since then we’ve released all of our singles on vinyl. There’s something intrinsically nostalgic about it. I guess retro culture is quite popular now with lots of people”.

Kim Bayley adds: “I guess in an age when people don’t even consider buying music they just download it or stream it, it’s nice to have something physical.”

It isn’t just the older generation of music lovers who grew up with vinyl records that are still buying them. Earlier in the year, research showed under-25s had been the driving force behind the surge in sales for vinyl records over the past five years. Research by ICM suggested 18 to 24-year-olds were buying more vinyl records than any other age group under 50.

Simon Sterland, Record Press Blog author and owner of online framed vinyl record gift retailer MyFirstRecord.co.uk, corroborates this increasing trend for under 25 year olds buying contemporary and vintage vinyl: “When we established MyFirstRecord.co.uk two years ago, we expected to attract a demographic audience / market from the over 35s who had grown up with vinyl. We have been pleasantly surprised to find that over half our customers are 30 or below”.

He continues: “It seems that in the era of the invisible music download, the youth market also seek something more tangible when buying music. Vinyl appeals to all the human senses, particularly hearing, touch, smell and sight. It would appear that although the kids find the music download a convenient and cost effective way to buy music on a day to day basis, vinyl holds a special place in their hearts. Therefore when looking for a special gift for a friend or relative for an 18th, 21st or 30th Birthday, they are turning to MyFirstRecord.co.uk to provide a framed vinyl copy of a favourite song”.

Simon Sterland of MyFirstRecord.co.uk concludes: “I can only see this trend for vinyl buying continuing as clearly the music download is no substitute for the the tactileness of the vinyl single or album, not to mention the decorative album cover artwork. Put simply, vinyl has a personality all of it’s own”.

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