The Vinyl Revival 

strides onwards 

Vinyl record sales are accounting for increasing sales of music, and its not all back catalog items either, but ‘new’ music by contemporary artists.   

The UK record industry trade body, the BPI, publishes statistics about album sales and its findings for 2022 show that albums (or LPs as some of us still call them), are increasingly important in the music world. 

Of the ten biggest selling vinyl albums in the UK last year, eight were new releases. Last year only half of the top ten vinyl albums were new releases – and a few years ago it was only three. That is a definite trend.

 “Vinyl’s revival has been one of the most welcome success stories of recent times,” says BPI boss Geoff Taylor. “ While initially this renaissance was built largely on older music fans reconnecting with treasured past albums and on younger generations newly discovering classic releases, increasingly the ongoing rise in LP sales has been driven by brand new releases”.

“A diverse and growing number of contemporary artists have recognised the enduring magic of this most beloved format”, he adds, “from global superstars such as Taylor Swift and Harry Styles to breakthrough UK talent including Wet Leg and Yard Act. As the LP marks its 75th anniversary in 2023, it’s as relevant as ever, highlighting that, in an age of streaming, physical music purchases remain an essential and healthy part of the music market”.

In case you wondered, the eight new releases that feature in the top ten vinyl albums of 2022 were: –

              Taylor Swift               ‘Midnights’

              Harry Styles               ‘Harry’s House’

              Arctic Monkeys         ‘The Car’ 

              Liam Gallagher          ‘C’mon You Know’

              Wet Leg                      'Wet Leg’

              The 1975s                   ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’

              Fontaines DC             ‘Skinty Fia’ 

              Muse                           ‘Will Of The People’

The Arctic Monkeys also have one of the older albums that made it into the vinyl top ten this year, with the 2013 release ‘AM’ at number nine, while Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ – from 1977 – was at number six.

Record Store Day is an annual event that began in 2007. Its usually held  on a Saturday in April as well as on Black Friday in November. Its designed to  "celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store". The day brings together fans, artists, and thousands of independent record stores around the world. 

Many artistes release special 'limited edition' records on that day which are only available in independent record shops, such as Darren Crowther's  Disc Discovery on Spring Bank in Hull, or in Eric White's shop in Norwich.  Both they and many other independents deserve at least a visit from you - you're bound to enjoy browsing the thousands of new and used vinyl on sale.  You're bound to say , quite a few times, "Oooh, Ive not heard that for years and years, I must give it a home!" 

Happy disc hunting!