CES 2014

2014 International CES Opens To News That USA Vinyl Sales Hit 22 Year "Record" High

Michael Fremer  |  Jan 8, 2014

The 2014 International CES opened yesterday, with attendance down due to the extremely cold weather conditions gripping the nation, but among vinyl fans warm feelings prevailed as sales were the highest in 2013 since the 1991 debut of Soundscan. And it can be argued that Soundscan barely "scratches the surface" of actual record sales.

In fact, Analogplanet is in the midst of compiling the number of records pressed worldwide at the major pressing plants. We are waiting for a few "stragglers" who promised to provide numbers soon. Soundscan puts the number of 6 million. The Czech plant GZ Media alone says it pressed in excess of 7 million records in 2013 and while it can be argued that pressed records aren't the same as sold records, plants are only pressing what is being ordered and what is being ordered is usually what labels expect to sell and labels are not in the business of amassing large, unsold inventories.

Meanwhile sales of CDs continued to plunge in 2013 and even digital downloads saw a sales decrease last year as more and more "fast food" music lovers chose to gorge themselves on low quality, high content streaming services like Spotify, Pandora and the others.

That leaves vinyl as the only music medium to show a sales increase in 2013 and it was a large one compared to 2012.

COMMENTS
Stu Morgenstern's picture
Submitted by Stu Morgenstern on Wed, 2014-01-08 17:50

to know how many new records are being pressed just so we can laugh at all the jerks who told us vinyl was dead. However, I believe that there is an enormous used record market. There are three great used stores within 15 miles of my home in addition to a gigantic Goodwill outlet center that sells records for 50 cents! Don't forget all those flea markets during the summer. Who is going to count all those?

gMRfk6LMHn's picture
Submitted by gMRfk6LMHn on Thu, 2014-01-09 03:16

VINYL IS MAKING A COMEBACK!

Every time I see this heading (over the last 30 years) I laugh out loud. A lot of this type of headline grabbing is written by people who have zero interest in the vinyl LP.

My usual response is... hey buddy, I have news for you, VINYL NEVER WENT AWAY!

I used to worry about vinyl disappearing but the way things are at the moment, vinyl should see me through till my dying days!

James, Dublin, Ireland

Brother John's picture
Submitted by Brother John on Mon, 2014-01-13 19:42

I do price comparisons all the time and almost always find that Amazon overcharges $20.00 or more for the same vinyl LP's than Independent online retailers such as  Acoustic Sounds, Music Direct, Soundstage Direct. So If I were you Reed I would shop elsewhere for my new Vinyl. 

Vinyl James's picture
Submitted by Vinyl James on Mon, 2014-02-10 08:43

Greetings all from Toronto, Canada

7 years ago I got back into vinyl after watching a couple of TV shows about vinyl records and how the quality of sound is still warmer and sounds better than most cds.

The downtown Toronto area has several excellent stores selling vinyl.

To name some, but not all: HMV, Kopps Collectibles, Play de Record, Sonic Boom, Bay-Bloor Audio and Ric's Collectables.

My vinyl collection has now grown to over two thousand, with almost half of that new pressings and 180-200 gram pressings from the Europe and Japan featuring Jazz, Classic Rock and Movie Soundtracks.

Rest in peace George Marino. You were one of the true gods of re-mastering.

 

Vinyl Rules !!!    ......    Vinyl James

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