Vinyl and CD Sales are Up. So Why Am I So Worried?
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- Опубліковано 13 чер 2022
- Discuss the latest RIAA sales data for 2021 and focus on physical media sales. There are several reasons to worry about the future of CD and vinyl sales which I will bring up with possible solutions. As always, I will talk about a new overlooked album and reveal last video’s unknown album covers and give two new unknown albums.
Streaming is scary, it feels less deserved and less peaceful. I feel good when listening to a cd. Cause it cost me money and it's physical. The thought of no longer buying music on cd makes me feel nauseated. I am in my 20s but I prefer cd over Spotify. I'm one of the few youngsters buying cds. Most of my age listen to their music on Spotify. I'm never going to give up my cds. People don't understand my peace with cds, they feel music on Spotify is better. I find music on cd personally my preference. I worry about the future of cd.
I worry as well. CDs give better sound quality than most streaming sites. However, there are many more streaming subscribers than there are of us. Thank you for watching
I still buy tons of CD's. I use Apple Music to explore music that I might want to buy. I don't think the music industry wants us to "own" our music. I will say that we need streaming to find music that normally won't get played on commercial radio. Bottom line, if you like what you hear, go out and buy and support the artist.
I'm listening to a CD as I type this. CDs sound great, are convenient, and don't cost much. But I'm also concerned that changing consumption habits can doom the medium.
@@MrMusic193 Then we should fix commercial radio!
People are lazy, thus streaming!
I am 17 and have 200-300 used (and some new) jazz and rock lps, and ~100 CDs as well. Don’t plan on stopping ever!
I was the same way. I owned exactly 300 vinyl records by 17 as well. Enjoy the music. Thank you for watching
CD players are making a big comeback. My fear is a re-inflation of reasonably priced CDs.
I'm afraid of that, too, actually. I've noticed a slight uptick in CD prices. A used CD that was maybe 5 dollars a few months ago is now more like 8 or even 10 dollars.
New CD's here in the 90's were $30AUD for an album from our local CD shop, fast-forward to today in 2023 CD's are still roughly $30AUD from an online seller ($66 in 1990's money).
I've been buying a lot of CD's second hand lately for about $8-10AUD, there hasn't been any resurgence in physical formats at all here.
Concern #2 is interesting to me considering that, even though I'm a long-time LP buyer, I've been switching this year to CDs, due to the expense of LPs. I'm hoping the LP inflation bubble bursts soon, and, if and when it does, I'll return to buying LPs, but not until then. For me, it's about the music, in some physical form, and not about the format.
Well said. I buy both depending on availability and cost. I am finding with greater frequency that the CD is available weeks before the vinyl album which sometimes causes me to prefer the CD. Probably related to delay in ability to press the album. Thank you for watching
@@AllAboutAlbums Thank you. I get that, too. For new releases that I've looked forward to, I've gotten impatient waiting for the LP and instead have sprung for the CD. Also, as much as I love LP artwork, I find that, many times, the CD artwork and packaging is as good as, sometimes better than, the LP version.
The cost of vinyl manufacturing will only go up. We have a major lacquer shortage too.
@@SPAZZOID100 Ah, that is just effing great. Thanks for adding some sunshine to my day.
@@SPAZZOID100 Yeah? Thanks. Thanks so much for adding a ray of sunshine to my day. Crap. Well, hello, CDs, then!
Hi Alex, thanks for another excellent video. Do you think the reason for the increase in CD sales could be simpler than you suggest in that with the rise in cost of vinyl, people are turning to the cheaper option of CD? The demise of the baby boomer generation is an interesting one that hadn’t occurred to me but I’m optimistic that sales of physical media will increase under those that follow.
I hope you’re right about physical media.
I agree that the cost of vinyl is definitely a factor. I have increased my CD buying since usually I can buy 2 CDs for the price of a single disc LP. Thank you for watching
@@AllAboutAlbums You do know CD can play on Blu Ray players and DVD players if CD players are hard or very expensive .I believe lasers on DVD players are stronger then CD players laser. I think HIgh end CD players are over hyped it more the material and parts of the unit the laser can still fail quicker than a not so expensive unit. I think as long as you have a great Amplifier as well as Speakers you also have a great Turntable if you prefer vinyl and if you still use cassettes you need a Cassette Player that not made today of great quality. I don't really think a expensive CD player makes the sound a lot better listening to CD maybe it does i maybe thought it picks up laser signal better but lasers can end up skipping a perfect CD with no marks.
Interesting topic, made me wonder about the pie graph of sales from 1999 right before cds started to fade. Interesting thought on vinyl sales matching mid 80s sales.
You can really learn a lot from analyzing graphs and charts. We will see what happens in the next few years. Thank you for watching
several really good points, I a weekly record buyer and webstore owner have had to significantly cut back buying lps due to rising new and used vinyl prices, cds too.
It is affecting all collectors. I hope there will be a leveling off. Will prices come down? If there is a time when vinyl becomes less popular, used vinyl prices will definitely come down. I’m not so sure about new vinyl. Thank you for watching
There's a lot of new record pressing plants opening in the US that should help cut down the current 12-month waiting time. Mobile Fidelity is opening a plant in California, VMP is opening their own plant in Colorado, and Czech Republic based GZ Media is opening a plant in Nashville. Also in Nashville, United Record Pressing has announced an expansion.
You jumped ahead of me. I am including that on my next video as an update. Thank you though for the info and thank you for watching
record prices are insane. I tend to buy black vinyl standard editions instead of limited colored vinyl version which are sometimes way too expensive.
I do the same when there is a choice. Thank you for watching
The goofy swirly twirly colored vinyl thing has been beaten completely to death. 😄 Good old black for me every time, if available.
Great Commentary on the current state of physical media!
Thank you. Enjoy your music and thank you for watching
Honestly, I think that the best thing that could happen to vinyl is for it to become niche again. It's gotten too popular for it's own good and as a result, it's lead to a lot of toxic dynamics that I feel have ruined hobby. For example: the ridiculous FOMO marketing campaigns that focus more on gimmicks like limited edition clown puke colored vinyl rather than quality pressings. The bottlenecking in production due to to the absurd demand. Did i mention quality control? The arbitrary inflation and shameless price gouging on the secondary market that stems as a result of these these dynamics. People getting away with selling common dollar bin albums for like Carol King's tapestry for 20 bucks ! New releases going for 40 Bucks and ppl not batting an eye! Remember before the revival and the current boom how it was a lot easier to get certain titles and a lot cheaper? Let's return those days.. We don't need big box stores and taco bell commercials shoving vinyl down consumers throats just so that little Timmy Poindexter can buy an overpriced reissue of Dark Side of the Moon and spin it on a cheap suitcase player and post a pic on Instagram to get likes.
Points well taken. Like everything in economics there are ups and downs. The pendulum will swing back eventually so that vinyl will be more reasonably priced. Thank you for your comments and thank you for watching
I hear what you're saying, but consider this: In 1980, which was about the peak of vinyl sales, a new release would commonly sell for $7.99. That's almost $29 in 2022 dollars.
@@ScottGrammer So what you are saying is that vinyl is not as expensive as we think? Good way to look at it.
@@AllAboutAlbums It ain't exactly cheap, but what is? I bought gas for my Honda the other day and had to arrange financing....
I think the release of Adele’s new album in 2021 may have skewed the numbers to some degree
Possibly. I know that pressing plants pushed back other orders to get enough vinyl ready for Adele’s new album’s release date. Thank you for watching
Vinyl all the way, when I can afford it. But I’m happy to stream, too. As a musician, UA-cam has become an invaluable resource, both in terms of getting stuff out there, and as a medium which also acts as an archive for interviews, concerts, etc. informative vid. Thank you very much.
Many viewers agree with you. I love physical media but do stream music in order to find new music that I later will purchase. Thank you for watching
Great video. If a CD player fails, look for an affordable DVD player, which also read CDs with no problem.
Yes, thank you. This is good advice for those who want a low cost player. Thank you for watching
Blu-ray players often have much better quality D/A converters than the average CD or DVD player, and they can be had brand new for less than $100.00.
I listen to mostly obscure opera and depend on smaller, usually European labels and production houses to release limited run CD's which you have to snatch up right away or they're gone. Streaming services don't always cover these gems and often times, when the labels go under or dissolve, the music goes with them if another label doesn't buy their catalogue. I have hundreds of opera's on CD that I've been collecting for the past 20 or so years but worry that one day this will no longer be possible.
I hear you. It is scary to loose something that is so much a part of your life. Also, consider when your disc player stops working. Thank you for your comments and thank you for watching
COVERS - Kinks -Muswell Hillbillies, Poco - Legend
Poco cover is correct. The second album is by the Kinks but wrong album by Kinks. Thank you for watching
Then people will perhaps play CDs also on Blu-ray players or UHD Blu-ray players. on some of them you can also play SACD. And Blu-ray audio Should it basically be able to play on any Blu-ray player? Unlike DVD Audio
Very good points. Thank you for your comment and thank you for watching
We know about inflation, but have the number of unit sales gone up as well?
Yes, they have. Thank you for watching
i'm personally not much concerned in regard to people who buy physical media. i'm in my 20s and only buy vinyl for the most part, and many of others do as well, only that we tend to go unnoticed. not so sure about what the future holds for CDs, but i believe vinyl is here to stay
You may be correct. At the recent record store day at least half of those waiting in line were under 30. Remember, people of my age had no choice in what they bought until 8track tapes and cassettes appeared in 70s. Thank you for your comments and thank you for watching
Great video. I think the RIAA need to change the categories now for music sales. They need to split up vinyl into two categories. One for analogue vinyl and one for digital vinyl which would certainly show a more true sales picture of analogue ( vinyl ) vs digital vinyl, streaming, digital download and cd ( digital) then I think you would certainly see who really comes out on top. Cheers
Those are good points. Maybe send an email to the RIAA. Thank you for your comments and thank you for watching
Vinyl LPs are like friends... it's impossible to have hundreds and appreciate them. You can have hundreds of acquaintances for sure... but the reality is, you only need a few good close friends. Therefore, i only keep about 50 of my favourite albums on Vinyl. If i go 12 months without playing a record... i sell it! I'm only interested in keeping LPs i play regularly.
What's the point in having vinyl on the shelf that others could be spinning?
Interesting point and well said. After all, you probably get to know a select few LPs really well and truly understand the artist’s lyrics and intent. Thank you for your comments. I have an older video entitled: “Quantity or Quality…” which you might find interesting. Thank you for watching
I can be very weird with vinyl. There are records that I absolutely love and commit to buying on vinyl. Then there are LPs that I mostly like...with certain songs I'd like to skip in order to listen to the ones I really enjoy. It's hard for me to commit to purchase them in these instances ...but sometimes a decent album cover will win me over lol. I like collecting and it's in these cases that I'd wish I'd started collecting CD's instead. Used selections are still pretty decently priced in certain stores.
@@Frichilsasta08 Lol, i know the collecting thing can get out of control. I collect used and worn out stylus, but only ones i have worn out myself. I have a collection that goes back 45 years, all dated and catalogued.
@@AllAboutAlbums i just watched it.... fantastic!
I just started getting into 8 tracks only to listen in my 72 Cadillac. I love records, but they really are an inconvenience and I don’t get nearly as much volume out of a record as I do with a CD. I have a ton of cassette tapes that I listen to the most. Vinyl is more for when I have a day off of work to enjoy. Cassettes are what I play the most and cds obviously sound the best and there is no argument at all with that. Physical media is just cool to have in any format!
Amen. Well said. Thank you for watching
I've gone back to CDs now. Been buying alot of them in the last 3 years.
There are a lot of viewers who agree with you. Thank you for watching
Alex I love your shirt!!! Where did you get it? I agree with you about the "Boomers" dying off and even the new kids coming in they cannot make up for their loss! You've got many points here! Kind of depressing! Dont know the first unknown album but the second is Poco!!!
T-shirt is Classic Rock Records by thingswelove. Correct on Poco. It’s their album “Legend “. Thank you for watching
I understand that the boomers downsizing might be an issue but for me it sounds like a like more stuff being resold lol. More for me I guess.
@The Terrence Reardon Podcast Wtf?
I love vinyl! But I also tend to listen to less popular indie artists. I worry that if the popularity dies, the tinier record labels won't bother pressing them when (I'm assuming) CDs are easier to make and sell. I still really love holding a CD in my hand. They're great. Collecting music in general is nice but I can't beat the feel and ritual of vinyl.
I totally agree. I worry as well. Some artists who I absolutely love their new release I find is not available in physical media. It’s funny. I don’t feel as close to these artists.
We may be forced to stream music in the future. Only time will tell. Thank you for watching
Concerning Concern 5: The availability of CD players is still pretty good. I don´t know about US, but here in Europe hifi-stores are selling players from 345 to 15990€ (one particular store). This includes only dedicated players. Additionally there are still combos like boomboxes and all-in-ones available. My local department store sells some for just 40€. And then there is the used market. No problems finding these here.
Even the big chains stores here may have a boom box but most music lovers would prefer a dedicated CD player. Thank you for watching
Phillips have ceased making their optics for cd players
CD players are very readily available from Bose. I bought one for $600! It plays like a dream!
That’s great. Now that CD sales are up for the first time in years, both Marantz and Rotel have recently released new CD players. Thank you for your comments and thank you for watching
@@AllAboutAlbums That sounds great!
The one and only reason to use vinyl is if that's the only medium where a particular piece of music exists. Otherwise ... vinyl sucks ROYALLY -
Ticks, pops, turn table rumble, scratches, less than 45 minutes per side, etc.
Maybe lots of photos and album notes? That's a plus. Yeah, the one and ONLY.
Who among you loves to turn over a few vinyl discs to listen to the ENTIRE 9th symphony of Beethoven? Don't count me among them -
Oh, and how does that turntable work inside your car?
Many viewers agree with you. I think that Elvis may have had a turntable in his car. Thank you for watching
Streaming prices are already moving up. Where will they be in ten years. Even if I buy only one vinyl a month for the next ten years that gives me 120 albums by 2032. which will cover most of the music I like so after ten years I can get rid of streaming subs.
An interesting way to go about purchases and keep costs low. Thank you for your comments and thank you for watching
Baby boomer here... I started buying CDs again over the concern they may not be around long term or maybe limited. I do not play them on a CD player. I rip them to FLAC and play them from my server. That might be good solution for dealing with finding a reasonably priced CD player.
Very true. Something we didn’t really discuss. Thank you for your comments and thank you for watching
I think you forgot CD players play as well on DVD players and Blu Ray and they cheap enough to buy 5 of them silly question on CD not having anywhere to play on players. I had a pretty good CD player on high end Amp and Speakers. The laser died i used a Panasonic DVD player played as good as well as the CD player same as the Yamaha CD C600 5-Disc Carousel that unfortunately now is out of stock but was best carousel out their. I think only Denon only have them now but are not very good in my opinion.
This is certainly true. However with the popularity of Netflix and other streaming services fewer people are purchasing DVDs. This may lead to fewer DVD players being made. We will have to wait and see. Thank you for your comments and thank you for watching
@@AllAboutAlbums This is true i have a huge library of bought DVD box set and DVD single Movies and Music some going 20 years region 2.3 and few music DVD Japan region.. The CD are going 32 years most look as the day they bought same as DVD. I cant be certain unlike CD if DVD 'will still play fine although even though they only been played once and look the same minus some that had that Milky Appearance.
I bought a few DVD players to store and found a cheap small size brand Laser Multi Region blue ray player even cheaper the dvd player version that does a great job what i seen. The cheap unit even plays fine mp3 and mp4 files of a hard drive connected to it not even better brand can do as well. I am not sure the longevity if it last if i played it regular. I have a Panasonic that been used constant decade still no problem with laser.
I remember Kmart sold a unit that finally played end of recordings of a home made DVD R without it skipping towards end . The DVD R in A Panasonic DVD HD Recorder after transferring it from Hard Drive to a DVD R after authorized and finalized to play on other DVD players. I found this cheap Kmart brand Audiosonic that did the job but on certain popular brands failed to play properly minus Panasonic DVD players. The USB socket were rubbish on Audiosonic they were no good playing USB sometimes it worked using a knife.
I think it good to store away some CD, DVD players as like everything will slowly be harder to find or get.I hope they still run the electronics Capacitors etc to last those olden years. I wish i stored a couple of new cassette player at the peak although some good seconds out their. It be hard to find one that doesn't destroy the tapes i kept.
We boomers are (and will be) providing used record stores with treasure troves of 60's-90's LPs and CDs for the 11% that still want them.
I do not stream at all but I've only purchased maybe 12 LPs and 25 CDs over the last 2.5 years because I'm still minimizing time in stores (Covid) and because I'm one of those old boomers who's looking at downsizing to smaller digs. I'm afraid I'm not saving the record industry.
I do have one nephew who discovered the joys of vinyl about 3 years ago on his own and is going gangbusters in building a collection of used records and vintage gear. I gave him all of my Warner Bros 60's and 70's Loss Leader samplers so he could check out their eclectic mix of songs.
This is a normal course of events. First we accumulate and later in life we want to simplify and do away with material items. My point exactly. I’m glad your nephew is enjoying this hobby of ours. Thank you for watching
LOL Still worried about the sniffles so you sit in your house.
I think you make a good point about the impact of the declining boomer population on sales. If manufacturers aren't careful and too aggressively ramp-up production in response to the current level of demand, they risk ending up with excess idle capacity, and that's what sinks ships.
Simple supply and demand. I think this is a similar reason why so much stereo equipment that is being manufactured is expensive equipment. Manufacturers are trying to cash in on boomers with disposable income. Thank you for watching
There has never been as many turntables for sale at any time in the history of vinyl playback. In the last two weeks I have watched videos on this platform announcing three brand new CD players from established players, despite doomsayers claiming that CD was dying. Finally, Mobile Fidelity has just announced the opening of a new pressing plant for vinyl records. I take these as indicators that physical media is going nowhere for the time being.
I saw that news recently as a press release. All good news. Thank you for watching
I just found out IKEA will debut a turntable made by Swedish House Mafia this Fall. Maybe vinyl sales are just starting to warm up?
Interesting video. But don't forget that DVD players can play CDs as well. And there are still loads of DVD players around - some brand new for as low as $50. Buy a few as spare for the future, and your ability-to-play-CDs should easily outlast your lifespan.
Very good point. Another viewer had mentioned that to me as well. I am lucky to still own a DVD player. Thank you for your comments and thank you for watching
Dear Alex,
As usual thanks for the insights into the future of vinyl. Who is going to take up my own vinyl collection in the future remains a big challenge to me. Anyway, the two albums are: The Kinks: Lola vs the Powerman and the Moneyground, Part 1 and Poco's Legend.
Look forward to your next episode.
You got them both correct and are the first to do so. Thank you for watching
Yes. Most of Poco's are pretty well mixed and mastered.
new vinyl seems way overpriced. I checked an inflation calculator and an album that cost 3.98 in 1965 should be around 30 now so that's keeping it at the same price ratio but still $30 seems like a lot. btw I see albums that were a 2 sided single disc when originally released years ago are now put out over discs with the same songs, nothing new added. that's weird to me
I agree. A lot of recycled stuff which may be good for those who didn’t buy the album the first time around. However, it’s tying up the pressing plants from new titles. Thank you for your comments and thank you for watching
We must also end the rant cd vs vinil. Both must live for the market to thrive. So keep that discussion to yourselves. Also, don’t rant about streaming, guys. As said in the video, sometimes and for younger people listening on streaming is a first and buying comes right after
Exactly. Couldn’t have said it better. Thank you for watching
Luckily I have 2 CD players that work and 1 Sony turn table and over 1,000 vinyl albums and 2 milk crates of cd’s. I m set!
Great for the long haul. Enjoy your music. Thank you for watching
This isn’t the case in the U.K.! Vinyl interest is at breaking point and old copies of things are near impossible to find in some parts of Britain, so much so that second hand dealers of vinyl are having to get suppliers involved to get mostly new pressings of classic LP’s, cos they can’t get the old vintage stock anymore because they are now heavily valued by people, when at one time in the 90’s and 00’s they were throwing them at dealers for peanuts! And charity shops (thrift stores to you) were brimming with old vinyl, but are now getting all the stuff no one cares about instead of rock and pop classics like they used to! That is the current state of affairs regarding vinyl in the U.K.!!!!
Wow! I was told by my son that they are predicting that the next big collectible item will be vinyl, just like card collecting in the States is now. We will have to wait and see. Thank you for your comments and thank you for watching
You seem like you'd be fun at parties...
Another difference to 1999: Better music was coming out!
Baby boomers worry too much... :) I'm not worried at all, but that isn't to say that you don't have many valid points! Physical media is still a niche, and I don't think it will ever become mainstream, especially since it's so connected to boomers and those who grew up with physical media. But, for me as a record collector, the best years has been when the hobby has been in decline. In the 90s I bought vinyl for next to nothing, and got donated a lot of collections. Same happened in the 2010s when all my friends and relatives donated me their CD and DVD collections. Even if the marked for new physical media dries up, there will be a used marked for many decades to come, and most of us will still be able to buy more music than we can ever have the time to fully listen to. And I really don't expect CD players to be as hard to come buy as cassette decks are these days. For CDs you can use both DVD and Blu-Ray players.
Yes. You’re probably right about CD players. Since sales are way up, CD players may make a comeback as well. Thank you for your comments and thank you for watching
I want this but don’t pay 110.00 for it. LADY GAGA The Fame 2LP on GLACIER BLUE VINYL New SEALED North American Exclusive if anyone in the record community can a deal on it me let me know.
Unknown covers: Iggy pop, or stooges, second one Poco.
Poco is correct. The other is The Kinks. Lola vs the Powerman and the Moneygoround. Thank you for watching
Cd sales aren’t really up. I don’t know why people keep saying that
The data from RIAA music revenue supports the increase in CD units sales as compared to the prior year. Thank you for watching
@@AllAboutAlbums read why cd sales went up. It was a fluke.
Kinks & Poco.
Nicely done! Thank you for watching
I don't understand the point of all this hand wringing and brow furrowing. 😄 There's nothing any of us can do to ensure vinyl's long-term survival that we aren't already doing. Just go with the flow and enjoy the medium.
You are probably right. At least I hope so. Thank you for watching
Enjoy the hobby... stop complaining about the prices. We'll be back to square 1 soon.
Hope they become more affordable. Thank you for watching
You are comparing apples with bananas with your billion dollar sales figure for vinyl. To achieve a billion dollar sales figure back in the eighties, you would have needed to shift a lot more units than today. Even further back in time, it wasn't uncommon for big acts to have advanced orders of way over a million units. It's the numbers you should be counting, not the revenue, it's nonsensical.
These are the RIAA figures. But you are correct. CD unit sales were more than vinyl unit sales in 2021. I will mention this on my next video. Thank you for your comments and thank you for watching