Globally Vinyl Music Hits Record Sales

Records are spinning back into fashion globally in 2022

Vinyl Records are making a comeback across the globe according to sources from the USA, Australia, and the UK where the Guardian reported vinyl record sales had the highest market share since 1990.

Sunday Age - Australian Newspaper Dec 4th 2022

It’s undeniable that in an age of instantaneous access to music, information and entertainment there is a peacefulness that comes with slowly building a collection of cherished records and listening to them through a record player. 

Playing a record is a completely different experience from listening to music via devices such as phones, car speakers, headphones etc. 

There is no instant gratification with records; a collection has to be built, the records maintained, the player set up and most importantly the record has to be physically placed on the player. 

The physical feel of a record and the action required to play almost makes the music itself tangible. Slipping a record out of its plastic case, placing it gently on the player, and softly lowering the tonearm lever create an experience that is attracting a younger audience.

This younger audience has been born flooded with overwhelming amounts of information, competition, access, and technology - not that this is entirely a negative experience, but does explain the rise in record popularity. 

AGS Honolulu exterior

Aloha Got Soul and Hungry Ear Records are two popular record stores in downtown Honolulu. Aloha Got Soul or AGS is predominantly focused on supporting local artists whereas Hungry Ear Records have a larger selection with multiple genres.

As an avid record collector - and the daughter of one! - hopefully this trend is here to stay, this being said, I’m not quite ready for cassette tapes or DVD’s! 

Record player and collection