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My niece is turning nine next week. Over last Christmas she got three Taylor Swift records, with no turntable to play them on. She now wants a turntable, so I’m setting her up with one and a set of speakers for her birthday. She’s pretty excited about the whole thing!

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

That’s amazing! Great to hear it! 👍

@YTFan-eo6hu

5 ай бұрын

Which turntable are you looking into and which speakers for your niece?

@SimonLloydGuitar

5 ай бұрын

please DON'T get her one those applling Crossley things. get a proper turntable

@pellucid

5 ай бұрын

Ha! no danger there. Her late Grandpa was once gifted a Crossley that I wound up later gutting to use as a box @@SimonLloydGuitar

@pellucid

5 ай бұрын

IKEA Obegraensad - just picked it up new for $99 CAD, which will be siting on an isolation platform to (hopefully) reduce vibrations, as it is an all-plastic deck. Speakers are Edifier R980T's. We'll see how (or if) this vinyl appreciation of hers progresses - if so, I have some nicer gear she can have later on. She's seen me at home playing records and is interested in learning how it's all done @@YTFan-eo6hu

Vinyl is meant to be played, otherwise you might as well just buy the sleeve or a picture of the album cover.

Interesting seeing those numbers going back to the year 2007 since right at the start of that year was when I bought my first turntable (Sony) so I could play whatever little bit I had as well as my dad's stuff on my own stereo and enjoy a better experience in the process. I even occasionally bought quite a bit more from our used record stores here (WA state) and found some nice gems even in the bargain bin. I certainly had no idea that vinyl was virtually about to make a rebound right around the corner, especially with Record Store Day starting to come out! And oddly enough due to personal circumstances, as well as the pandemic ending, I encouraged myself to go out and officially ended up getting quite a bit more vinyl, new and old. And this place in Seattle, Easy Street Records was definitely a top spot on my list that I kept going back to! (And the West Seattle Bridge FINALLY reopening made that MUCH easier, any fellow locals know what I'm talking about... LOL!) And now ironically around the Christmas season last year, I finally bought my Audio Technica turntable since I knew for years I would eventually upgrade, and I'm still adding. So in my case, I can say they're getting played, and no it's not a Taylor Swift bandwagon thing. LOL!

Collecting records and Listening to records are two different things! I've always had my suspicions about the whole vinyl revival. It's ironic when the public are being told that the vinyl experience is so much better than CD or streaming and then I see young folks buying expensive albums to play on crappy turntables- just what benefit are they getting? The amount of product placement on TV and movies is also noticeable with almost every cool TV.shows lead character having a vinyl collection and very often seen dropping the tone arm from a great height onto the disc- they obviously don't have a clue about vinyl! It also drives me nuts to hear folks refer to VINYLS- The plural of vinyl is of course VINYL (and while I'm at it - it's New YEAR not New YEARS)!!!! There does seem to be more interest in CDs this year- I've seen a lot more posts on Reddit extolling the benefits of CDs At the end of the day you pays your money you makes your choice- each to their own. It's all about enjoying the music

@SimonLloydGuitar

5 ай бұрын

True but who collects the mass produced run-of-the-mill standard pressing? Nobody. except fashionistas. Collectors hunt special editions, miss-pressing,, bootlegs etc.

@VirtualGuth

5 ай бұрын

AMEN!

@ebinrock

5 ай бұрын

When I grew up, no one even used the word vinyl. We just played records.

My kids buy a few just to display. I ask them if they would like to listen to them on one of my turntables and they say no thank you, just want to have them.

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

Interesting! Who knows, maybe curiosity will kick in at some point

I’ve only recently set up a #vinylcommunity channel here on YT, and I’ve noticed a massive chasm between average ages on VC YT. The younger VC are often GenZ/millennials (like myself) but I’m so glad there’s so many of them, and they all have 1D/Harry Styles/Taylor Swift records as essentials. It reminds me of the way boomers & GenXers would always have a Sinatra or similar huge selling artist. I say, more people buying vinyl can only be a good thing! Also, getting vinyl as a present can be a gateway into starting your own collection, so again, more power to the youngers

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

Agree 100% - welcome, by the way

And some of those new $30-$40 "vinyls" are being spun on shitty Crosley "turntables" purchased at a local Rite Aid for $59.95.

@ebinrock

5 ай бұрын

I'm proud of my son, who not only plays on a decent actual turntable (Audio-Technica LP-120X) and separate receiver and speakers, but also religiously cares for his records, stylus, everything.

A decade ago, records were the budget format. Easy to obtain at a fair price. Now that the price gouging has started, I would not be surprised to see that sales will taper off.

I believe one component to the 50% figure is social media driven. Instagram users and the 1.6 million membership on Reddit’s r/vinyl need photo’s of LP’s to post and not necessarily to play. The urge to be relevant and prove your bona fides online is strong.

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

I suspect some of this definitely goes on! Let’s hope they catch the bug eventually out of curiosity 🎶🎧

@SimonLloydGuitar

5 ай бұрын

Fashionistas ruin everything

@VirtualGuth

5 ай бұрын

I believe that social media is a big component of such behavior. The "look at me with my walls full of vinyl" people aren't just limited to record collectors. These days there are a lot of people who own tons of cameras, guitars, watches, you name it, all of the sake of showing them off on social media. Were social media to suddenly disappear, I'd bet that a large chunk of those people would no doubt lose interest in the very things they claim to be so passionate about. What they are really passionate about is social media itself.

This is not surprising. Taylor Swift aside, these days it seems that "collecting" is in. It appears to me that a large number of people are buying lots of certain things for the primary purpose of showing them off to others via social media. This isn't limited just to vinyl LPs, but all sorts of material things. Just look at the t-shirt design that you are selling in your store "It's not hoarding if it's vinyl" - what a load of BS. Were all forms of social media to disappear overnight, I'd bet that the majority of people with really large collections would soon begin to downsize the number of things that they own. Despite this, vinyl will likely live on. CDs will likely experience a 2nd coming. There will always be people who enjoy listening to music for the sake of listening to music who aren't attention seekers or format warriors, but they do like to own their music in at least one physical format or more.

Great video with thoughtful analysis. Thank you. BTW, I subscribed.

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed. Welcome aboard 🎶🎧

I know many collectors who do have turntables but still haven't played 80% of there collection.

@soundmatters

3 ай бұрын

True enough. I’ve seen that kind of collector syndrome too 🎶

Yo Vinyl is the future....great info subbed

Nice analysis, Mark. My Hi-Fi club friends are all interested in the stories of the members who play records. Some are actually moving back to vinyl even though they have very good digital set ups. So far, I have personally helped with the sourcing of two Linn LP12s, one Ariston RD80, three Rega P1s and a P3. My next victim(!) realises it’s only a matter of time 😂. And for the cynics, no I don’t profit from this.

I don't see how the still sealed crowd could really hurt matters much.i figure there's a good cross section of them thatll crack open some of albums in the future. Then theres another section of folks like us who'll get hooked. Further spreading the madness 😁 Manythnx Sound Matters

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

Agree: I think, overall, this is a net benefit. Goes to show the appeal of owning a physical album-vinyl being the ultimate physical format in that way 🎶🎧

I am 71 and have collected vynil records since I was 16and have collection of 1500 to 2900 records. I still nuynew records but I ro listen to turn

we're a no Taylor house. and we do own a turntable and many records but the cost has definitely gone up and we have slowed down purchases considerably. we simply cannot keep up and it's not fun for us to spend so much money even though we love our records.

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

The cost of this hobby is a shame. We need more pressing plants to meet demand!

@SimonLloydGuitar

5 ай бұрын

The hipsters who mocked and berated vinyl now think its cool and all the out of touch people like us have to start paying stupid prices for records again.

I think the merch aspect (buying vinyl cos you like the brand / artist) is ok.... In the end it's supporting physical media. I got into vinyl both as a collector of merch but also to own the media (in the same way I buy 4k blu ray discs as opposed to just watching movies on streaming). So if fans START off buying records for merch reasons... That's OK Imho. A percentage of them will no doubt buy a turntable. Good channel mate. Subbed. 😊

@scottishgeekguy

5 ай бұрын

And I don't own a Taylor swift record...... Yet 😉

@scottishgeekguy

5 ай бұрын

Also a reason I chose vinyl over cd... My genre of choice (movie soundtracks) seemed to have more variety on vinyl.... With more exclusives released... Variant and limited editions... With the art and sleeves etc...

@robert71457

4 ай бұрын

You should, she's very good and the production/mix/mastering is second to none.

You can strip away Taylor Swift's vinyl album sales if you wish, but you'll have to continue doing that for years to come. Her productivity is unmatched as she's releasing a new album this year even after constant touring for the past year. She does promote vinyl as merch. She sold four versions of midnights along with a clock frame to display them all. She did the same with four CD versions of 1989. Even so, I do expect such sales to lead to turntable sales. Other pop stars like Harry Styles, Lana del Rey, and Olivia Rodrigo also sell plenty of vinyl.

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

True enough. In the end, if we’re open and nice to newcomers, it’s absolutely a net-benefit to this hobby I think. Making the hobby accessible is a big motivation for what I do 🎶🎧

@lsaideOK

5 ай бұрын

@@soundmatters Even though I do own a turntable and do listen to my vinyl albums, a main reason I buy vinyl is to directly contribute to the artist, especially those less popular than Taylor. Anyone who buys vinyl shares one of things I value most about vinyl: its visuals which includes the cover art, any inserts, interior art. Posters are also often included as well as photos. Maybe autographs. Readable lyrics! The actual recording is gravy!

Some interesting stats there. Maybe if sales start to level off slightly, then prices may start to come down too. Well we can at least hope !

I hope so, maybe prices will come down!

I just bought one in January. I've had old records for 30 years but no means to play them.

When I saw this title, I thought you meant that 50% of vinyl buyers didn't own a turntable proper (i.e., a dedicated component to connect to separate preamp and/or receiver/integrated amplifier) and that they just had all-in-one units or "suitcase" type players like Crosleys.

I'm 70, I have four turntables and roughly 3500 records. I sold hi-fi in the 70's. I love the hobby but I've been predicting its collapse for the last five or six years. And then two years ago my 12-year-old granddaughter wanted a turntable. She ended up buying a bunch of records and yeah, a couple of Taylor swift. But the turntable broke and she still has the records but I don't know what's going on with it now. This isn't the first time it's been called out that a lot of people that buy records don't have a turntable. For these people I guess it's kind of like trading cards.

lol, I was one of the ones that owned records but not a turntable. I now own a turntable, though it was given to me and not one that I want, but it’s a start. I want a pro-ject debut carbon evo and I might just end up pulling the trigger since the turntable that was given to me has a p mount, which seems super limited in choices with cartridge.

I'm a super fan buying vinyl but I just don't have the budget for it but I try from time to time

All my kids have excellent turntables and buy new vinyl but I am shocked at the ridiculous price some of these new releases cost. New vinyl for me is a luxury and I do buy the occasional one but I do buy lots of used records simply because of the price difference.

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

That’s great! Nice to hear they’re enjoying it. But yea, I feel you on the cost. I buy a mix of both; I love older pressings, but it can be a bit of a lottery in terms of condition, as I’m sure you know 🎶

@tonyjedioftheforest1364

5 ай бұрын

@@soundmatters true, if I end up with a bad pressing or damaged record then I will buy the CD if one is available. After all CD’s are as cheap as chips used.

I have a turntable. I don't own any Taylor Swift. She's not my style. But I buy records regularly, both new and used and am particular on the quality. I love the romance of the turntable!!!

The 50% stat is totally misleading. You only need to buy one 45 to be in that stat. Vast majority of records are bought by enthusiasts who have loads of vinyl and a player.

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

Context is key 🎶🎧

I'd buy more vinyl, I just cant afford a decent entry-level turn-table lol. ( So now I have fun recording high quality digital to cassette tape ) 😅

How about buying records for gifts. I can see quite a number of that 50% buying a record for a friend or family member who has a turntable. Lots of birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions where a non turntable owner might want to buy a record as a gift for a turntable owner. Do they take that into account?

we need some mordern house music printed in vinyl, honest.

I think that 12inch vinyl records exist so people like Graham Norton and other chat show hosts can hold them up to the camera when someone has just brought out a new record .A cd is too small.

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

😅🎶

I think there is something to your reasoning. Times are not great financially for most people I know. Time, as they say, will tell.

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

I’m actually surprised how well records are holding up given the financial situation of the world

Doesn't worry me. According to those graphs the early 2000s was an absolute nadir, but you could still get everything you wanted them, and stuff was available much cheaper.

Predictions of the eminent demise of the vinyl revival have been with us for the entire 30 years of market growth.

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

Vinyl isn’t going anywhere. It’ll find its niche in the market and stay

Should we be concerned for the other 50% buying vinyl with no turntable no intention of playing it and only for show and ownership. Do they actually know how to correctly store it,stacking them high flat = 🍌.... Also are their pointless purchases causing an inflation on the price of vinyl.

Vinyl is over rated, it's not crap... over rated.. no way I'd pay $30 for a digitally remastered/recorded album

@knockshinnoch1950

5 ай бұрын

Yup it's a big con. For me the negatives associated with vinyl- and there are many- far outweigh any benefits. People are being conned.

@VirtualGuth

5 ай бұрын

if you enjoy jazz you might check NYC-based tenor sax player Jerome Sabbagh. For his past couple of LPs he has gone to the necessary lengths to produce an entirely analog product. The reception was so positive that he got involved with starting a new record label with the mission of producing entirely analog albums by other jazz artists. It's true that such records are not inexpensive, but if you are going to spend $30+ on a LP, it might as well be an AAA product. For what it's worth, I'm not a format warrior. I enjoy listening to music via LPs and CDs as well as streaming and the occasional tape.

I think people buy the records like anybody else to look at the covers while they've downloaded the music I think it's just a matter of time before they buy a record player and some equipment and not just use a Bluetooth speaker ☺ I never got a response from you from my other comment about the MC Pro can you play MM cartridges through it can you disable the gain?

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

Let’s hope so. Regarding the MC Pro. I’m currently constructing a review on that as we speak. It’s Moving Coil only though I’m afraid. Look to Michael’s MM Pro or Spartan 10/15 for the MM options. Hope that helps 🎶🎧👍

It's almost ridiculous, and a bit difficult to believe that it is only 50% (in italics) of consumers who have records to be played back on a turntable; for actual listening! Are you absolutely certain that percentage is accurate, and correct for the majority of listeners to music from vinyl? Seriously, it seems as if it is another gimmick for click bait? Not that you meant it that way, I'm not accusing you of such shenanigans. However, not having any turntable, and playback system, and buying records; only to collect them, is a bit odd to me. Although I also identify myself as a collector, I've played back records since late 1973-4. Not that I have very many records; a friend of mine has up to 5,500 records in his collection! Yes, he has listened to every record, and both A, B sides.🔉🎵🎶

Why was my comment deleted?? All I asked was if Taylor Swift recorded her masters in both analog, and mixing into analog, and digital recording and mixing, if she only recorded in digital then what good is it to buy vinyl for that type of recording? You can't magically record something on to digital and expect it to convert to analog just because it's on vinyl! All that does is scam people into thinking they're getting an analog recording by buying vinyl. It's the same problem in reverse when they took analog masters and put them onto CDs, they never did sound quite right

@soundmatters

5 ай бұрын

Not sure what comment you’re referring to. I certainly didn’t delete anything. I’m not sure how her masters are handled, but the recording will be digital.

@Rekmeyata

5 ай бұрын

@@soundmatters Right, therefore the record would be digital in nature, so it wouldn't be a good idea to buy a record made that way.

You are talking about the music industry, extortion and exploitation are their moto no matter whether your the artist or fan.

Just like any fad, many people will end up with more useless stuff in their garage and attic. It will be good for people looking for bargains.

I DON'T KNOW WHO TAYLOR SWIFT IS I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF HIS MUSIC SHOOT I THOUGHT "TAYLOR" IS A GUY'S MAN NAME ??