The resurgence of vinyl records has had a noticeable impact
on the music industry. According to http://www.fastcolabs.com
there has been a 33.5% increase in LP sales over the last 6 months of 2013 in
comparison to the first half of the year. The article, The Unlikely Return of Vinyl, And How Indie Musicians Are Making Money
on Them goes on to state that “Vinyl sales could hit 5.9 million by
the end of the year if this pace keeps up, about a 28% increase over 2012.”
Could vinyl be the missing link? Could this once archaic medium of music
provide an income stream that will support the indie musician in months and
years to come? Some believe the answer is an emphatic yes; others are more
skeptical. Some indie labels have gone as far as nixing CD production
altogether and are focusing exclusively on digital and vinyl production.
One might ask who is purchasing all
this vinyl. Believe it or not you can look beyond the cliché scarf and mustache
sporting hipster scene to notice the growing popularity of vinyl. You can find
baby boomers purchasing Revolver reissues on vinyl as well as teenagers who are
fascinated with the aesthetics of vinyl. This movement seems to also transcend
the mere sound quality of vinyl, which in itself is enough to warrant its
resurgence. The tangibility of the vinyl has fans flocking to indie record
stores. The feel, the texture and artwork also seem to play a roll in its
popularity.
The indie label Matador which released
Queen of the Stone Age latest release Like
Clockwork contributes 13% of its overall sales to vinyl Forbes.com.
Pressing vinyl seems to be a valid income stream for indie labels and indie
artist alike. The market for vinyl is diverse and seems to attract those
individuals and fans who’s lifestyle choices are geared to the conscious
consumer who eats organic, drinks craft beer, and listens to Radiohead on vinyl
while cleaning his bathroom with green disinfectant wipes.
