In my case, I never put a record on the shelf if haven't listened to it, my brain doesn't allow me to do it 😂😂 It's true that sometimes I buy so many records at the same time that it takes time to go through all of them and my personal "new arrivals" grows to much😂😂 But in the end, I listen to all of them
same! no matter what, my records don't get put with the rest until i've listened the entire thing. i bought 8 from a used bargain crate last week and every record sat on my "not listened to yet" shelf until they were spun 😂
I personally think it's insane to buy records with no intention of listening to them. That's why artists put them out to be enjoyed. I listen to everything I buy. Cheers man.
I own a record store and some people just collect the albums for the cover art, but most of my customers do own some sort of a Turntable. I own a lot of vinyl, but have a lot that are still sealed. Usually it's because I simply don't have as much time as I'd like to listen to my records at home. I do intend to open all of them at some point in time.. I'm just happy that people are getting into buying physical formats again. CDs are selling better now days as are cassettes and even 8-Tracks! Different strokes.. ✌️
There's a huge difference between half of record buyers not having a turntable and half of records going unplayed. I'd bet the half of buyers that do have a turntable buy a lot more records than the half of buyers who don't have a turntable. The people who buy records despite not having a turntable probably only buy a very few records that are particularly important to them. And of the people who buy records despite not having a turntable, some of those will be buying the records as a gift for someone who does have a turntable.
Exactly my thoughts. Also, those people who buy one or two records without owning one might buy a turntable in the future, and then they have something to play when they get it set up.
@@ErikIversen might, sure, but a large part of it is buying stuff as means to affirm that they're a fan. also a lot of these are the records that get sold in big numbers, like say as an example daft punks random access memories. a lot of smaller indie stuff probably gets played more as percantage of the total number of records out there.
Nope, the people who don't own a table and buy records, buy them by the box full, not one or two at a time. It's called ripping others off by flipping at huge markups and lying about condition and provenance. The people that own turntables that buy records are the ones who buy two or three at a time. (Today, that is not even possible anymore, sadly unless you have money to burn).
@@ericelliott227 Even if that were true, the flippers are then largely selling to people with turntables and the records are being played. I'd say a very small percentage of buyers without turntables are flippers.
When CDs were still new and sexy I bought some discs before I bought the player. Seemed logical to me. Same might be true of anyone entering the vinyl world now.
If Abigail is an big Olivia Rodrigo fan, and grandma buys her an OR album for her birthday but doesn't own a player herself, that would count as a record bough with no turntable at home. If Abigail does have one then it will (probably) still be listened to. And even if she doesn't have a turntable, she probably likes having a piece of her favorite artist to display. As for me, I try to listen to every single album I own. However, I work in a place that sells used vinyl and my eyes are bigger than my stomach so to speak. I have a spreadsheet on my phone where is keep track of what I have and what I've listened to, so that does help at least.
This past month i’ve been unsealing a lot of my records and playing them for the first time. Sometimes almost 5 years after the original purchase! Figured it was time to play them
I love my collection and definitely listen to all my records, eventually. I really don't care how rare they are or how much it cost I buy them to listen to them. I really enjoy listening to vinyl more than any other media format.
Working at the shop I can say there are A LOT of people who buy lps and don't have turntables. We have one guy who bought almost 100 records before ever getting a turntable. Had a want list and everything. I think there are two factors. 1. They actually think/plan on getting a turntable at some point. 2. Like the guy who bought the 100....for him it was that He LOVED coming into the record store. Hanging out, talking with the guys, talking music, etc. He listened to the radio a lot and was always asking about songs he heard that week on the radio and then would buy the albums. Even myself...I know I bought about 10-15 albums and had them for almost a year before I got my first table I remember seeing some artist I love in a dollar bin when shopping for cds and I thought it would be SO COOL to own those records and just grabbed them.
I am currently in the category. There were a lot of records i want in my collection that i had an oppurtunity to buy, or a lot of new represses etc that i wanted. I have been collecting 3 months and have 10 records now, but havent decided what player i want. Basically torn between a more lifestyle type or audiophile type in the 300 400 UK pound category. Considering planar 1, lp120x lp5x but not really sure on either.... I will end up with a player, but dont have one yet, and im not in a major rush as moving house soon :)
You raised a good point about whether record manufacturers, armed with the idea that half of the records won't even be listened to, will care about quality control. My experience is that new records from the big three record companies are a crapshoot and often will be poor quality. I'd say about 95% of the records I buy via Bandcamp - smaller bands, smaller runs - are defect-free. I hpe all is well! Cheers, Tom
I've definitely notice that to. If you want good quality vinyl listen to metal of some sorts. If you want low to downright shitty quality then buy the popular, oversaturated, b.s.
You beat me to it. I was about to post that about 50% of vinyl records have a fault of some kind, sometimes multiple faults. As long as you don't mind paying 3 times what you'd pay for the CD and you don't mind the hassle of sending LPs back over and over again!. Agh! But at least vinyl is COOL eh? Because that's what really matters isn't it?
In 2006, I moved abroad and for a number of years, always had one-year contracts. So, I never really knew how long I'd be in one place, and therefore tried hard not to accumulate a lot of stuff. Most of my listening was on my iPod, and I definitely did not have a turntable with me. But, I still went to DIY punk rock shows and wanted to support bands. In those days, it was common to have download codes included (becoming less common now, I guess). So, I would often pick up a record and use the download code. Fair to say, I didn't add that many records to the shelf over a few years though. About 7 years ago now, my employment changed and my girlfriend bought me a turntable because she didn't understand having records but not playing them...but she probably wish she hadn't done that because I'm back into collecting and have more than made up for the time spent as a minimalist.
I am a dj and obviously I have to play digital music a lot because of the singles that don’t get press on vinyl but I still buy vinyl and I do play them and owning vinyl gives you the feeling that you own something or the song, enjoy the art, pictures and so much more from the LP. You appreciate vinyl when you own it.
I do. I have some still in shrinkwrap however they will get a spin when I am feeling it. The whole point of buying physical media is to LISTEN TO IT!!!😜👍✨
I own several hundred records, but don't own a record player. I clean em all and sleeve em as soon as I buy them. I fully intend to listen to them all one day, but just can't settle on the right turntable. Don't wanna waste money on an entry level one, but don't quite have $800-$1000 laying around to drop on an entire proper setup. For now, I support the Artists behind the music I enjoy. Then maybe, hopefully one day, I'll be able to spin that vinyl🤘😃
i buy a ton of records, usually spend several hundred dollars a month. with the increasing price of records, i absolutely buy to flip (i couldn’t afford it otherwise). this helps fund my sickness. every record i buy i have the intentions to listen to, but with how many i have - that doesn’t always go as planned…..
I have a long explanation as to why I do what I do, so I will keep it concise. I do not own a turntable any longer but I am an avid vinyl collector. I sold my first collection years ago and when I started collecting again, I only purchase quality pressings of records I used to own or was never able to afford. I have more music on my computer than I could ever own physically, so the vinyl is my way of collecting a medium that I grew up with and love. I thrive on the hunt for vinyl and to me, it will always be my go to for collecting.
I'm fifty years old I don't own a turntable, but I do own a few records that I have purchased in the last few years. The records I own are just for nostalgia reasons because I listened to them in my youth. I listen to streaming are CDs now.
I interpreted the survey to mean, "do you collect vinyl that you don't play, or do you intend to play your vinyl." I generally play all my vinyl, so I answered it that way. I probably buy vinyl at a rate that causes some of them to not get played as often as they should be. Jeff's comment below about pre-orders applies to me as well. I'm looking at a stack of RSD records as I'm typing this that I'm kind of working my way through, but I also have new records that have come in the mail that are waiting to be played, too. One girl that I work with who is probably a Gen Z, is a huge Lana Del Rey and Lady Gaga fan. She has a turntable, but she admits it needs to be upgraded. She collects every single variant of releases by LDR so she isn't playing all of them, but she does have player copies. A woman I know has two boys who have vinyl records on their wall for musicians they like (Top 40 hip hop) but they don't have a turntable, nor do they want one. She texted me a while ago asking about the best way to display records as they were falling off of the wall. LOL. Another person I work with had vinyl records that she'd been buying at merch tables for bands that came through town. She had intended to buy a turntable, but never took the plunge until she met me. This last RSD she spent more money on records than I did! She approached the RSD list by listening to pretty much every record on it not knowing anything about the bands. She showed me that I should be more open-minded about some of the releases on RSD than I had been. Though, admittedly, I was trying to focus on the essential records I wanted for my collection which was more than enough to fill my budget!
I watch a lot of sports car videos and the truth is a LOT of sports cars are NOT driven very much at all. I bet the average milage on a $400,000 Lamborghini or Ferrari is probably less than 5,000 miles. Think about that. Most of their life, they never get driven that much, yet all this research and development, time building and making them perfect…only to mostly never get used. It seems crazy to me as well… Kinda like records. PLAY EM! Enjoy them! Use them for what they are built for.
when i bought my first record i didn't have a turntable (i have since acquired one, and play it frequently), but i bought it because of the musics sentimental value to me, and because of my love for the record. I felt, and still do feel, that i OWNED that music, that I can hold it in my hand and see it. when a certain album means that much to a person, playing isn't a priority. i felt so close to the artists, almost like meeting the people who made it (and especially for classic rock fans who will never get to this their favourite bands live, this means a lot). so i can definitely see why somebody wouldn't find it important to buy a turntable to play a record.
@McBeat Records, yeah they should be enjoyed and listened - by those who bought it ;) 'not everyone understand HOUSE music'-especially vinyl records music. too many scratch bastard that come and go.
I’m one of the collectors that doesn’t own a turntable… yet. 😂 The reason for that is because it’s harder to find a particular variant that sold out at retail price, and I’ve had to buy them as quickly as possible before the price skyrocketed. On the flipside, it’s easier to buy a turntable at retail price, and it doesn’t seem like it’ll go away anytime soon. And on top of that, in my current situation, I don’t have the luxury or space to have a vinyl room set up. So it’s easier to store away my vinyl records in a crate, in a ventilated storage room. I currently own about 70 rare vinyl records. This includes first pressings, and limited edition numbered variants that are reissued.
I always listen to the ones I purchase. I have an inbox shelf, and the album does not get put away into the collection until it has been listened to. But I agree with you. If you buy albums to never play, just collect, there's nothing wrong with that. You're supporting the artist and the record industry. It's no different than a poster or shirt that has nothing but anesthetic use. Keep those sales up, and the companies will keep producing. Hopefully, they will keep the sound and album quality for the listeners and the collectors
hi, person who has several records and no turntable here! I plan on getting one soon, sadly at the moment I live with my parents and cannot listen to music out loud often, which is a huge reason why I don't have a turntable. Several of my friends have one though, so they're getting played! A big reason why I keep buying is for the love of record store culture, finding your favorite artist in some random store outside of St. Louis is a feeling that can't be matched. And being able to support your favorite artist is an amazing feeling as well. 😊
I think this is actually a good question to ask people in the VC. When I started collecting vinyl at around age 10, I would always listen to everything I bought, often multiple times, as I had a lot of free time and not much cash to buy tons of albums. Now I am 54 and I have thousands of records, and I somehow always manage to still find more records that I "need," so my time is in short supply, but the vinyl is abounding. Sometimes records just end up getting filed away, and at other times I make a concerted effort to play what I have purchased most recently. Same goes for CDs. i like the flexibility of playing what I want, when I want, and I don't have any problems with a person buying records to flip, or not to play at all. As long as they paid for the items, they can do what they want to with them. While personally I always intend to play what I buy, I have found situations where a record I bought sealed five or six years ago is now worth several hundred dollars, and when that happens, I am likely to just keep it sealed. This was a really interesting video, and one last thing that springs to mind is that for me, this is probably the golden age of record collecting. Having all of those unplayed records floating around out there in the market means that we collectors will never run out of options to purchase the records we want.
I haven’t listened to half my collection and a good chunk is sealed. It grew faster than I could keep up, it was easier to buy them than find the time to listen. The good news is that I plan on listening to them all (or so I say lol). The only ones I won’t open are the ones that got stupid expensive after I bought it.
My father designed preamps in multitrack reel to reel recorders and also used to service them. I grew up with reel to reel and cassettes because Dad hated vinyl. He hated the cracks and pops, the warp, the rumble, the skips hahaha. Prerecorded compact cassettes are definitely inferior to vinyl but reel to reel is plain awesome. So as a teenager I was at a disadvantage because loads of the more niche metal bands in the 80s didnt release stuff on compact cassette. I also like classical music and I loved the Deutsche Grammophon album covers. So I started collecting DG vinyl as a teenager. Didnt own a record player. Built up a decent collection before I eventually bought a turntable. So prior to owning a turntable I would admire the cover art, look at the photos of the artists and read the notes. Decades later, the collection is in the garage. I have no space for a turntable in the home. Plus the cat loves to terrorise the turntable. I hope at some point before I die to listen to them all again. Would I buy new vinyl today? No. I'm here cos of the algorithm. The algorithm started giving me recommendations involving small class D hifi amps. So I've learnt a lot about those and I do need a physcially smaller amp now to match up with the SACD player. Decided these new class D amps are fine for my bass combo and even for the band PA but not for my living room. Algorithm, I've bought myself a slightly smaller 26 year old denon integrated amplifier off eBay for £16 instead. It will do. No more class D hifi stuff, do you hear me?!?!
I don't buy a lot of records these days, but I do own a turntable. I have many records that I've never played -- some because I never found the time or motivation to do it; others because I have the same content on a CD and/or in iTunes. Years ago I made the big transition from vinyl to CD, and got to the point where I had 20 albums or so left to go. One day I started flipping through them and realized how much I actually enjoyed owning records. So I started collecting vinyl again! Fortunately this was ca. 2005 when records were really cheap. In light of this, I wonder how many people buy records simply because they can be fun and enjoyable to collect. I also wonder how many do it in the hopes that their friends and acquaintances will flip through their records looking for artist overlap -- "Oh, you like this band? Me too!" I make a point of looking through other people's collections whenever I have the rare opportunity.
I listen to my purchased records, but I do have a few ideas about this 50% number. My thoughts are flippers, collectors and lastly gifters. Giving music as a gift, used to be a nice present among friends and family. So if Nana or Auntie Millie find out you are into vinyl records, a new record may be coming yer way?? Have a good week, Frank.
I haven't played a vinyl record for about 20 years. I've got 3 shelves of albums i bought in the 80s and 90s which i never play. Because of this I haven't started buying vinyl again, which is probably a good thing, considering the cost. However, i did go to RSD for the first time ever this year and I'm finally going to set up my turntable again.
About a year ago i picked up a few records at a local flea market. The clerk asked me if i was going to listen to them. I said well yes of course. Not realizing at that moment it occurred to me on my drive home that ppl buy records just to collect or re-sell. I will admit i have a few just to collect but 90% are to be listened to
I have a very good friend that has thousands of vinyl albums and cd's, pretty much all the ones from when we were kids. He told me he hasn't bought physical music in 3 years, streams everything. It shocked me. I still like to have cd's and love vinyl.
My “in box” is never empty. I’m a boomer who never really totally gave up on vinyl as a format, even during the CD era, though circumstances have caused a couple of purges of my collections. Since the “comeback” I seldom, but not never, buy in other formats. I tried streaming early on, but do not regularly do that. I do, more than occasionally find songs I want to hear immediately or research or remember, on UA-cam. Part of this behavior is motivated by the fact that music listening is almost never unintentional. It’s an activity unto itself. Never “time shared” as background. I find either I do the task, or I actually listen to what I’m listening to. Can’t seem to manage both simultaneously. So, though I’m not a “flipper”, I have a rather appalling amount of media I have actually never listened to, including new sealed albums (and not just on vinyl) that I heard, liked, acquired and have not yet “gotten around to”. I hear the song in passing on the radio, or even as background music in an eating establishment, use modern means to identify it, listen on UA-cam, and if I like it, intentionally go acquire it, mostly on an album, more likely used, sometimes very used as in 45 or 78 single depending on age and original issue format, sometimes on CD if it’s of that era and not available in another format, occasionally on open reel, cassette or even 8Track, but those are often additional copies if I really love an older album and want to hear what it sounded like in other formats, so the “other formats” vary with era. Then there are always the used records bought on speculation that I might enjoy them from local stores. This is why my “in box” will never be empty, and my house is full.
I just went through my whole collection last weekend for like the 20th, plus I just got a few more I got at a rummage sale I need to go through. I love sitting at home and listening to my records.
Frank, the problem is Luminate itself - this company, which now provides stats to most major music sources around the world, are just completely bogus in my opinion. I honestly think the wording of the question in the poll is the issue; I would bet that a lot of the supposed 50% of people buying records without owning a turntable are actually not sitting on them - they're getting them as gifts for people who DO own a turntable - i would bet that NINETY percent of that 50 percent fall into that one category. It's all how Luminate works their poll. And I don't trust their stats, because so many sources out there say they're skewed by a number of different factors. And as for listening to my records, I have purchased so much over the last three years, that I'm still catching up, but everything WILL get played eventually...heh heh heh....great video!
I keep an "In" box. Sometimes too many to listen to depending on how I get them. But as I clear the box and add them to the catalogue they are played. There is something still special about spinning vinyl.
I only buy records from the artists that I'm going to play. As of right now I don't own a turntable, but I'm saving up for the turntable. I didn't want a cheap victrola or anything that was going to mess my records up. I admit it started off with my wife giving me a record for Christmas, and it was part of a volume, and I just needed all the volumes. When I finally bought all the volumes, I just continued buying. I'll admit I did get carried away but I have every intention of playing everything I have bought. I even cataloged my collection on Discogs, and after seeing how many records I had accumulated, I was shocked. So I slowed down, and if there's a record I really want from a artist I know I'm gonna want later, I just buy it right away. So I wouldn't consider myself a collector, just because I have every intention on playing all my records I have. 76 in total in 2 years in case anybody is curious lol
I used to have a set up in my room where I could listen to my CDs, vinyl, and play guitar. This was when I was fresh out of high school going to community college and single. Now I'm graduated and engaged. Don't have room at the moment to have a set up. Got back into music recently. Still collecting vinyl, but I'm only displaying at the moment, not playing.
I work in a record store, I think in a lot of cases with the young people, they're buying the records but listening to downloads or streaming. We also sell frames for them, so I think they're basically buying them as a poster. I personally do listen to them...eventually. I tend to buy a lot of records so I don't always get to them all straight away. I think some of those people who don't play them will eventually buy a record player, just out of curiosity to see what they're missing out on. But I think you are right about wanting to support artists. Artists make more money from physical media than streaming.
Cheers from Saskatchewan Channel 33 RPM, i buy vinyl constantly and i listen to all my records, i rarely use streaming or youtube im always spinning vinyl, especially when we are paying an arm and a leg for vinyl today you better play them.
You looked so young on the flashback video, and cool glasses now and then too! I normally play my newly bought records as soon as I get home for two main reasons: to make sure there are no defects (warping, excessive surface noise, skipping, bad mastering, etc) and because I love music so much and enjoy this format so much that I can't wait to play them. Having said that, sometimes it may take me a couple of days to play a particular record depending on some factors (if it's a new record bought online and it includes the autorip/download, I may listen to that right away and then listen to the record when it is delivered; if it's a used record and it looks in very good condition and I am very familiar with the music on it, or if my input bin is not empty). Great video and great question! Keep 'em spinning 😉
I'm guilty of not playing most of my records but there's a surprising reason as to why. I still live with family and get noise complaints when I decide to use the turntable, and have no idea how to wire up my studio headphones to my setup.
When I do listen to a record instead of streaming, I treat it like a special occasion to indulge in, as a result. Its like a glass of wine or a bath-bomb.
I make a point of immediately playing at least one side of an acquired new/used vinyl record. The exceptions are when a record obviously needs a deep cleaning or I inherit a bunch of records. But I eventually listen to them.
I started collecting records months before a I got a turntable. By the time I got a working setup I have over 50 albums. Although this may seem backwards to most people, it was so good to have a load of records to listen to from the moment I setup my system.
6 years ago I started collecting after not having records since the early 90s. I must admit I didn't have a stereo for almost 2 years. Then, when I did get a stereo I amassed a collection of around 700 records. I also admit that many rarely, or never got played. Time and mood were the causes. Either I didn't have time, or wasn't feeling like spinning. I found myself playing my favorites over and over while many got no love. I became more of a collector and enjoyed finding variants, oddities, original pressings and cool stuff in the bargain bins. Rarely bought new. Unfortunately I no longer have the collection. Now the prices of records have doubled, at least. Bargain bins are gone, or just pure junk. I currently have like 20 records, and a Crossley I got for a gift by a well meaning sibling. I don't use it. So currently I'm without a stereo and rarely go looking for records due to my budget. I still love the hobby but I know I'll never have the cool stuff I used to have. It's a tough subject for me I've just had to accept. My record collection has been replaced by UA-cam Music Premium and my playlists. I do enjoy the process of finding songs and discovering new music for my "collection". Not as cool as owning the vinyl or blasting on a stereo, but still fun. It is what it is...
I once was among those who would be buying records despite not owning a record player. But now there's not a single record on my shelf that I have not listened to. However,when watching videos and looking at pictures from collectors with tens of thousands of records I often wonder, how many of those records get not ever played? There's only so many time in a day!
I consider myself a hi-fi enthusiast at this point and listen to all my records! But when I was a young man I had a very small collection of classic rock records and no turntable… I just liked the connection to the past.
We're an indie band with a mostly Gen Z audience and we sell a lot of LPs at our shows and online. We've long suspected that a large portion of our records serve primarily as dorm-room wall art, and that doesn't bother us at all! It's not like the music isn't getting listened to - these fans have each streamed our music hundreds of times and the records have become an important enough part of their life that they want some physical keepsake to embody that. We put a lot of effort in making the vinyl pressing sound as best as it can given our small DIY budget, and I do believe that when our fans grow older and put down their roots that the records will be played! My only negative feeling about it comes from the environmental implications of manufacturing; if the records truly never get played, then the album sleeves alone could have served the same purpose!
Back in the day, when I bought something great, I'd tape it, and wear that out instead. When I buy a record from bandcamp, it comes with a digital download, which is a little like taping it before it arrives. There are some vinyl Lp's I haven't played yet because of this.
I known a lot of people like that, they want to have the records of their favorites artist, but they don't care about the sound, they only like to have them just like a collectible.
I also collect comic books and nit reading them is rampant among collectors. Can't wrap my head around it. I listen to all my records and read all my comics. Rock on!
Another reason that I know of is to buy albums for the cover art work. The album is framed and put on the wall as art in and of itself. I have seen this mostly with GenX.
That makes some sense. Collectors are getting them as investments. It’s the same deal with buying guitars and sticking them in display cases. When I buy I listen as soon as I can. It is the reward after the hunt for the record.
I have a friend who collects records from ONE band and doesn't own a record player. I have given him a hard time about it... He displays them on his wall. For him, it's a combination of supporting the band and the collectability of the releases. I try to open my purchases shortly after purchasing them, though I have a few things that haven't been opened... With those, they were bands I was supporting and just wanted to buy extras directly to get money in the bands' pockets and doubt they'll ever be worth anything. My most valuable records have been played a lot of times. \m/
Yes I listen to all my new purchases going through my collection A to Z, for space reasons I buy as many albums on pre-recorded cassette and mini disc if I can find them
I think that one of the obvious reasons for buying LP's when you don't have a turntable would be as gifts for someone with a turntable. I have multiple family members that have purchased albums for me and they do not own turntables. I find asking for specific LP's one of the easiest gift ideas I can offer.
I had a small collection of records by the time I picked up my first turntable. The record was the impulse buy that I could afford. It took me a while to research, save up, and find the right turntable for me
I spent the last few months buying records, and didnt have a turntable. I thought it would be odd to have a turntable but only one or two records to listen to. Anyhow, I've had my turntable for the last two days and I am working my way through a stack of records and loving it!
That was my method with my 1st CD player. It was a pretty good strategy in the days when most were imports & no guarantee how long they'd be available. Now we have a similar issue with anniversary & other special editions.
Similarly, I started buying CDs in 1988. It would be another 6 years before I ever owned a CD player as I couldn't afford one. In the meantime I used friends and families equipment to listen to them and record them on to cassette. These days I own a couple of thousand and an even larger number of vinyl. I think there's about 5 or 6 that are still sealed I've never heard. I eventually intend to crack a couple of them open as I do want to hear them, the others may end up getting sold on. It's very rare I would ever buy anything I have no intention of listening too but I can understand the reason if you collect a certain favourite artist.
Hi there! I been buying records for 30 years, probably brought around 6,000, but currently own over 3,200 , my collecting has been zero profit but pure enjoyment! All been played over and over, I don’t buy records for resale, just turn them over to create more space or if I’m over them, good show, interesting, enjoy the music
I wash/clean every new or used record I buy regardless of where they came from. I also have kind of an in-box area I put them in and I will play them all....both sides before putting them on the shelf.
I bought a record once with no intention to listen to it, but it was that purchase that got me back into vinyl. I loved the artwork on the cover of Vokonis' Odyssey and wanted to get a print from the artist if possible. I tried to contact said artist, but no luck. I instead bought the album, even though I'd already bought the digital version on Bandcamp. I didn't even have a turntable. I just displayed the album on a wall using one of those little ledges for records (also bought the t-shirt, fwiw). So, I just thought to myself: hmm, what the hell, maybe I should buy a turntable so I can actually listen to this. The rest is history. I'm back into vinyl after ditching it back in the 80s.
So I’ve bought a few cheap turntables that need some work as I was getting into this hobby I now have a very good condition vintage technics !! So I saw this article and mentioned it to the family I believe i said “why would you buy records and not have a record player?” My 13 year old immediately say’s “ because YOU have them all “ lol
It is obvious to me that the record companies are creating visually attractive records(color vinyl, picture discs, etc.). I can see people buying a record for the way they look and not being concerned with playing or hearing them. In the 1,000's of records I have, most of them I have listened to, soon after I buy them. I do display many of my records if they have an eye-catching value. One in particular is Dave Mason's first solo album "Alone Together" of 1970. The original albums were on the Blue Thumb label, but what makes them special is that they were pressed on marble-effect vinyl. They were totally random and no 2 are alike. They were quality pressings and if you only listened to the album, you couldn't tell the difference between the marble-effect vinyl and the next pressing run on black vinyl. When this album came out, there was the old-guard of people pressing the records, and they knew how to press records. A few years back, Friday Music re-issued the album and tried to do the marble-effect. It was a dismal failure, but it did sound OK. Although I have never flipped records or even sold any of my personal collection, but I have traded some. Basically, when they are mine, they are mine, forever. I have bought 100's of records as investments(still sealed in a climate controlled environment). It's better than money in the bank. Back, not that many years ago, when record prices were still reasonable, I would often buy 2 or more copies(if the price was right), one to play and the others as an investment. One in particular which has done very well is the Beatles' Mono LP boxed set. EMI made more than they should have as many sat in warehouse distributors on shelves collecting dust for years, so it is likely that they WON'T be re-issued. Others who weren't interested at first, maybe hoping the price would go down, totally missed the boat. Now they are scrambling to find copies at all and are paying huge prices. Sure, if a person is knowledgeable about phonographs, if asked if they have "record players", I probably would have answered no. I do have some record players in my collection, but I rarely use them. Since the 1970's I have only used turntables and separate components. Many years ago, when I was buying used records and entire collections on eBay, I found it hilarious when the sellers didn't have a record player or anything to test them on, but instead offered that they did a close inspection under a 100W light bulb. Give me a break! I can't tell you how many records I received which were warped or radio station copies which were cue-burned. Most of the sellers would refund your money and most didn't want the records back. Going back to pressing records, so many of them just decided one day to start pressing records. They usually had no experience and they bought old worn-out equipment. They can do all the repairs and updates, but with mechanical equipment, they are new only once! My latest bad experience was a recently re-issued LP, "Witches Brew" by The New Symphony Orchestra of London. It was produced by Analogue Productions and pressed at their QRP. I ordered the LP and an SACD from Acoustic Sounds. Well, the LP didn't sound right and it had lots of ticks and pops, which couldn't be rectified through cleaning it on my VPI RCM. AS sent me another copy and it was actually worse. I sent both copies back! I had been happy with the SACD and still have it. Then, I acquired a sealed copy which was issued by Classic Records on their propriety "Clarity" vinyl. I couldn't believe the difference! The CR "Clarity" vinyl version was so great that it was then that I realized that the remastered version must have been made from a worn/damaged master or a secondary source. Drop-outs were obvious on the SACD and listening to the CR record, there was actual sound on the record where the drop-outs were on the SACD. The Classic Records version was re-mastered by Bernie Grundman and the AP version was re-mastered by someone I'd never heard of before. Remember, Chad Kassem bought out Classic Records, which included their inventory of master discs and stampers. Chad Kassem HAS/HAD the same CR masters that CR used on their own versions. He chose to have the album remastered while he has been sitting on a pile of gold! There are also 45 rpm masters! He claims to A/B records on his two Technics $5K turntables using Shure M97xe cartridges. Had he actually A/B'd his new re-issued AP version with a CR one, even a hearing impaired person like me could tell the difference ! CR also put out a pre-SACD CD version and there was also one from DCC on a gold CD.
The in box is a great idea the only time I don’t listen to a new record is because I bought a few mixed them into my collection and then forgot to listen to it but it’s always a nice surprise when I find it and listen to it months later usually thanks great channel
I own 4 turntables and I don't listen to all the records I buy.... Right away. I buy, get busy and forget about them. And when I find them years later I normally just set it aside again. There are exceptions but 10% of the vinyl I buy just gets added to my 5000+ records I own.
You're exactly right. I buy albums to give money to the artists I like and to support local shops. If I can I'll buy at gigs and mainly I go gigs by smaller artists so people who are less likely to have a decent income from streaming and to maximise the money that the artist gets. It's much more convenient to stream from Spotify. So I find myself buying albums and stacking them in the boxes but rarely and sometimes never playing them.
I’m new to the game, so I don’t quite have all the gear to properly listen to my vinyl. This is mostly because I lack cleaning materials and I don’t want to contaminate my needle or damage the grooves.
When I seen that poll, I also thought of scalpers and people hoarding for investments. I'm sure there are people that buy them to support the artist or because they like colored vinyls. I personally listen to them the week I buy them or receive them in the mail. My stance is that I could pass tomorrow, so why not enjoy the things that I have.
I was talking to a mastering engineer several months ago who at the time was lecturing in audio engineering... he had a class of about 50 students ... all young 'cool kids' and he asked them who had bought vinyl... almost everyone put their hand up... when he asked them who also played the vinyl, only 3 students still had their hand up.... we're both in our 50s and wet our pants laughing :-)
I haven't played the last 20 albums I have bought but that is just because I need to sort out the location of my turntable at home. Will get around to it someday. Have streamed most of them to have a listen. Many of the albums that I bought in the early 1980s have only ever been played once or twice. I habitually used to record the first play of the record onto cassette, the portable streaming service of the day and play them on my car stereo or walkman. Could carry 2 full albums. Also bought pre-recorded cassettes but ironically have now replaced most of my old cassette collection with vinyl records.
I believe it has to do with some people viewing them more as a collectible like a Funko pop or Hot Wheel. Especially now with how may color variants and limited edition versions get released of the same album. That and they look cool just being displayed on your wall or framed up.
I think it's more about having a physical copy of your favourite album, something tangible to represent your love for the album. I personally don't do that merely because I feel like I need to get my money's worth, but if I had unlimited access to cash, I would 1000% buy records just to have a copy of them, with no intention to listen besides right after buying.
This is the 1st time I've watched one of your videos. It just came up in my watch list. I find the idea of people buying records who do not even own a turntable quite curious. I was born in the mid nineteen sixties. I have always loved records. Back around 1990 I did purchase a CD player but only used it for about a year and then went back to records.I have never looked back. I am an audiophile and have gone to great lengths for quality playback. I have a fascination with record changers and enjoy collecting them but never use them because I don't have any records I'm willing to play on them. As for the subject of supporting the artist, I am afraid I fail there. My record collections spans about 100 years from about 1905 up to around 2005 and the majority of them I have purchased used. Anyways, that's enough about me.
I have good intentions to listen to all the records I buy, but doesn’t always happen right away. I do on a turntable and do not buy records just to keep them sealed are sitting on a shelf.
There’s another rank of people who buy records and don’t listen to them, and I’m not alone in this one; Collectors who buy, in some cases far faster, records and find little time to listen to them. But that’s due to commitments to the “rat race” of jobs, family, chores and personal pursuits that don’t include records. And as a result, we can have boxes of vinyl, CDs and even cassettes that pile up. It’s somewhat embarrassing, but I’m certainly being honest with you here!
i got asked a few days ago by a friend who downloads eveything witch is fine if i was going to keep a limited edition record sealed so i asked why and was told it maybe it be worth more one day so i just ripped the plastic off pulled out the record and put it on the turntable and played it loud
I listen to the records I buy. Not necessarily often but I do. I bought my favorite Beatles album, Revolver last weekend and listened to it once so far to check it. I will definitely spin it again.
I don't play my records as much as I'd like to - where I have my setup means I only really put on a record occasionally, I'd love to rearrange things to make my turntable a little more accessible.
I was at Newbury comics, local record store and overheard a girl ask her boyfriend why he buying a record if he doesn't have a player and he said "nobody plays these there just cool items to have". I just shook my head and went to another section.
I listen to a new album as soon as I get it. I try to listen to at least one side of an album every day, when possible. I do not intend to get rid of my records but I do take good care of them. When I'm gone, I want to pass them down to my kids and grand kids to enjoy.
I do have some duplicates of records I know I’m going to play a lot so bought spares for when the quality has deteriorated, so these are still sealed. But they’re definitely mine, I have no interest in flipping them even though they’ve increased in value to around £300 from the £20 when I bought them new. Otherwise, I’m like you, all my new records go in a pile until I can play them
I agree with you. I think a lot of young consumers are buying records of their favorite artists. They'll still stream the songs with their phones, but they like having the records on their shelves, as pieces of memorabilia. It's not what records are made for, but I understand it. There must also be a lot of hipsters out there who like to collect vinyl just for the object (which is beautiful, we can all agree): in that case, a vinyl record works as a piece of art that you can admire the same way you would contemplate an old drawing or a photograph.
Great video Frank! I haven't listened to most of the records that I have bought the last few years. Back in the good old days (70s and beyond) we didn't clean our records right away. We just cracked them open and played them. But nowadays it seems that everyone is saying that you should clean them first before playing. So I have a inbox of Lps that are waiting to be cleaned. I hope that I can get around to it sooner rather than later. Keep on spinning Frank 👍
Right now I've three new albums I've bought recently that I have not yet listened to. I've decided not to buy anymore until all three see the turntable. I listen to every single album I buy, even when its an alternate pressing of an album I've already got.
Back in the day I'd buy an album and immediately record it onto cassette and only play it. For car and home use. Today most of my records only have a few plays, keeping them fresh.
I do listen & watch every music recording & movie i buy. My only problem is making time for them. My "in box" or "still waiting box" gets full due to work or family responsibilities & issues that occupy my life. Maybe when i retire it won't be a problem anymore.
WOW! 50%!! I'm planning to start up a record label and this is interesting news to me. As for the question of quality control I'm all about quality over quantity, but then again I'm not one of the "major" labels. LOL
In my case, I never put a record on the shelf if haven't listened to it, my brain doesn't allow me to do it 😂😂 It's true that sometimes I buy so many records at the same time that it takes time to go through all of them and my personal "new arrivals" grows to much😂😂 But in the end, I listen to all of them
Agreed, nothing gets put away until I listen to a record. I have thousands and made this rule when I began collecting.
Something fun and exciting about getting that record home and giving it a spin. Just gives me a great feeling
My system too
same! no matter what, my records don't get put with the rest until i've listened the entire thing. i bought 8 from a used bargain crate last week and every record sat on my "not listened to yet" shelf until they were spun 😂
I do the same lol😂
I listen to every record I buy,new or used. I guess I'm a Unicorn! 😂
Me too. What‘s the point of keeping it if it could be faulty?
Im with you , I open and play every album or CD or DVD I buy no matter how rare it might be.
Many people buy records, the way people collect stamps and baseball cards
I always do, I don’t trust that there’s not something wrong with it! Even the new ones
@@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox probably some people hold on to them in the hope one day they will buy a record player
I personally think it's insane to buy records with no intention of listening to them. That's why artists put them out to be enjoyed. I listen to everything I buy. Cheers man.
It's literally like THX 1138
I agree with Bill Reis.
@@robertniemski9411 thanks man
I own a record store and some people just collect the albums for the cover art, but most of my customers do own some sort of a Turntable. I own a lot of vinyl, but have a lot that are still sealed. Usually it's because I simply don't have as much time as I'd like to listen to my records at home. I do intend to open all of them at some point in time.. I'm just happy that people are getting into buying physical formats again. CDs are selling better now days as are cassettes and even 8-Tracks! Different strokes.. ✌️
There's a huge difference between half of record buyers not having a turntable and half of records going unplayed. I'd bet the half of buyers that do have a turntable buy a lot more records than the half of buyers who don't have a turntable. The people who buy records despite not having a turntable probably only buy a very few records that are particularly important to them. And of the people who buy records despite not having a turntable, some of those will be buying the records as a gift for someone who does have a turntable.
Exactly my thoughts. Also, those people who buy one or two records without owning one might buy a turntable in the future, and then they have something to play when they get it set up.
@@ErikIversen might, sure, but a large part of it is buying stuff as means to affirm that they're a fan.
also a lot of these are the records that get sold in big numbers, like say as an example daft punks random access memories.
a lot of smaller indie stuff probably gets played more as percantage of the total number of records out there.
Nope, the people who don't own a table and buy records, buy them by the box full, not one or two at a time. It's called ripping others off by flipping at huge markups and lying about condition and provenance.
The people that own turntables that buy records are the ones who buy two or three at a time. (Today, that is not even possible anymore, sadly unless you have money to burn).
@@ericelliott227 Even if that were true, the flippers are then largely selling to people with turntables and the records are being played. I'd say a very small percentage of buyers without turntables are flippers.
When CDs were still new and sexy I bought some discs before I bought the player. Seemed logical to me. Same might be true of anyone entering the vinyl world now.
If Abigail is an big Olivia Rodrigo fan, and grandma buys her an OR album for her birthday but doesn't own a player herself, that would count as a record bough with no turntable at home. If Abigail does have one then it will (probably) still be listened to. And even if she doesn't have a turntable, she probably likes having a piece of her favorite artist to display.
As for me, I try to listen to every single album I own. However, I work in a place that sells used vinyl and my eyes are bigger than my stomach so to speak. I have a spreadsheet on my phone where is keep track of what I have and what I've listened to, so that does help at least.
This past month i’ve been unsealing a lot of my records and playing them for the first time. Sometimes almost 5 years after the original purchase! Figured it was time to play them
I love my collection and definitely listen to all my records, eventually. I really don't care how rare they are or how much it cost I buy them to listen to them. I really enjoy listening to vinyl more than any other media format.
Working at the shop I can say there are A LOT of people who buy lps and don't have turntables. We have one guy who bought almost 100 records before ever getting a turntable. Had a want list and everything. I think there are two factors. 1. They actually think/plan on getting a turntable at some point. 2. Like the guy who bought the 100....for him it was that He LOVED coming into the record store. Hanging out, talking with the guys, talking music, etc. He listened to the radio a lot and was always asking about songs he heard that week on the radio and then would buy the albums. Even myself...I know I bought about 10-15 albums and had them for almost a year before I got my first table I remember seeing some artist I love in a dollar bin when shopping for cds and I thought it would be SO COOL to own those records and just grabbed them.
I bought about 10 records or so before I got myself a turn table. for 2 years I would have been in the "own records but not a table" category.
This is a great take, I too collected a few dozen and THEN bought a turntable in the late 90's.
I am currently in the category. There were a lot of records i want in my collection that i had an oppurtunity to buy, or a lot of new represses etc that i wanted.
I have been collecting 3 months and have 10 records now, but havent decided what player i want. Basically torn between a more lifestyle type or audiophile type in the 300 400 UK pound category. Considering planar 1, lp120x lp5x but not really sure on either....
I will end up with a player, but dont have one yet, and im not in a major rush as moving house soon :)
You raised a good point about whether record manufacturers, armed with the idea that half of the records won't even be listened to, will care about quality control. My experience is that new records from the big three record companies are a crapshoot and often will be poor quality. I'd say about 95% of the records I buy via Bandcamp - smaller bands, smaller runs - are defect-free. I hpe all is well!
Cheers, Tom
I've definitely notice that to. If you want good quality vinyl listen to metal of some sorts. If you want low to downright shitty quality then buy the popular, oversaturated, b.s.
You beat me to it. I was about to post that about 50% of vinyl records have a fault of some kind, sometimes multiple faults.
As long as you don't mind paying 3 times what you'd pay for the CD and you don't mind the hassle of sending LPs back over and over again!. Agh!
But at least vinyl is COOL eh? Because that's what really matters isn't it?
@@legrandmaitre7112 LOL...I agree. For new releases I tend to buy the CD version.
In 2006, I moved abroad and for a number of years, always had one-year contracts. So, I never really knew how long I'd be in one place, and therefore tried hard not to accumulate a lot of stuff. Most of my listening was on my iPod, and I definitely did not have a turntable with me.
But, I still went to DIY punk rock shows and wanted to support bands. In those days, it was common to have download codes included (becoming less common now, I guess). So, I would often pick up a record and use the download code. Fair to say, I didn't add that many records to the shelf over a few years though.
About 7 years ago now, my employment changed and my girlfriend bought me a turntable because she didn't understand having records but not playing them...but she probably wish she hadn't done that because I'm back into collecting and have more than made up for the time spent as a minimalist.
I am a dj and obviously I have to play digital music a lot because of the singles that don’t get press on vinyl but I still buy vinyl and I do play them and owning vinyl gives you the feeling that you own something or the song, enjoy the art, pictures and so much more from the LP. You appreciate vinyl when you own it.
I do. I have some still in shrinkwrap however they will get a spin when I am feeling it. The whole point of buying physical media is to LISTEN TO IT!!!😜👍✨
I own several hundred records, but don't own a record player. I clean em all and sleeve em as soon as I buy them.
I fully intend to listen to them all one day, but just can't settle on the right turntable. Don't wanna waste money on an entry level one, but don't quite have $800-$1000 laying around to drop on an entire proper setup.
For now, I support the Artists behind the music I enjoy. Then maybe, hopefully one day, I'll be able to spin that vinyl🤘😃
i buy a ton of records, usually spend several hundred dollars a month. with the increasing price of records, i absolutely buy to flip (i couldn’t afford it otherwise). this helps fund my sickness. every record i buy i have the intentions to listen to, but with how many i have - that doesn’t always go as planned…..
I have a long explanation as to why I do what I do, so I will keep it concise.
I do not own a turntable any longer but I am an avid vinyl collector.
I sold my first collection years ago and when I started collecting again, I only purchase quality pressings of records I used to own or was never able to afford.
I have more music on my computer than I could ever own physically, so the vinyl is my way of collecting a medium that I grew up with and love. I thrive on the hunt for vinyl and to me, it will always be my go to for collecting.
Cool. How do you know if the record you buy id even the correct pressing? Is it off center? Warped? Skipps?
I dig picture discs and do not even open 'em. Just really cool to have them in my collection🎸
I'm fifty years old I don't own a turntable, but I do own a few records that I have purchased in the last few years. The records I own are just for nostalgia reasons because I listened to them in my youth. I listen to streaming are CDs now.
I interpreted the survey to mean, "do you collect vinyl that you don't play, or do you intend to play your vinyl." I generally play all my vinyl, so I answered it that way. I probably buy vinyl at a rate that causes some of them to not get played as often as they should be. Jeff's comment below about pre-orders applies to me as well. I'm looking at a stack of RSD records as I'm typing this that I'm kind of working my way through, but I also have new records that have come in the mail that are waiting to be played, too.
One girl that I work with who is probably a Gen Z, is a huge Lana Del Rey and Lady Gaga fan. She has a turntable, but she admits it needs to be upgraded. She collects every single variant of releases by LDR so she isn't playing all of them, but she does have player copies.
A woman I know has two boys who have vinyl records on their wall for musicians they like (Top 40 hip hop) but they don't have a turntable, nor do they want one. She texted me a while ago asking about the best way to display records as they were falling off of the wall. LOL.
Another person I work with had vinyl records that she'd been buying at merch tables for bands that came through town. She had intended to buy a turntable, but never took the plunge until she met me. This last RSD she spent more money on records than I did! She approached the RSD list by listening to pretty much every record on it not knowing anything about the bands. She showed me that I should be more open-minded about some of the releases on RSD than I had been. Though, admittedly, I was trying to focus on the essential records I wanted for my collection which was more than enough to fill my budget!
I watch a lot of sports car videos and the truth is a LOT of sports cars are NOT driven very much at all. I bet the average milage on a $400,000 Lamborghini or Ferrari is probably less than 5,000 miles. Think about that. Most of their life, they never get driven that much, yet all this research and development, time building and making them perfect…only to mostly never get used. It seems crazy to me as well… Kinda like records. PLAY EM! Enjoy them! Use them for what they are built for.
when i bought my first record i didn't have a turntable (i have since acquired one, and play it frequently), but i bought it because of the musics sentimental value to me, and because of my love for the record. I felt, and still do feel, that i OWNED that music, that I can hold it in my hand and see it. when a certain album means that much to a person, playing isn't a priority. i felt so close to the artists, almost like meeting the people who made it (and especially for classic rock fans who will never get to this their favourite bands live, this means a lot). so i can definitely see why somebody wouldn't find it important to buy a turntable to play a record.
I listen to every record I purchase.
I even open up and spin high dollar "collectible" records. They were created to be listened to and enjoyed!
"They were created to be listened to and enjoyed!" Precisely!!
@McBeat Records, yeah they should be enjoyed and listened -
by those who bought it ;)
'not everyone understand
HOUSE music'-especially vinyl records music.
too many scratch bastard that come and go.
I’m one of the collectors that doesn’t own a turntable… yet. 😂 The reason for that is because it’s harder to find a particular variant that sold out at retail price, and I’ve had to buy them as quickly as possible before the price skyrocketed. On the flipside, it’s easier to buy a turntable at retail price, and it doesn’t seem like it’ll go away anytime soon. And on top of that, in my current situation, I don’t have the luxury or space to have a vinyl room set up. So it’s easier to store away my vinyl records in a crate, in a ventilated storage room. I currently own about 70 rare vinyl records. This includes first pressings, and limited edition numbered variants that are reissued.
I always listen to the ones I purchase. I have an inbox shelf, and the album does not get put away into the collection until it has been listened to. But I agree with you. If you buy albums to never play, just collect, there's nothing wrong with that. You're supporting the artist and the record industry. It's no different than a poster or shirt that has nothing but anesthetic use. Keep those sales up, and the companies will keep producing. Hopefully, they will keep the sound and album quality for the listeners and the collectors
hi, person who has several records and no turntable here! I plan on getting one soon, sadly at the moment I live with my parents and cannot listen to music out loud often, which is a huge reason why I don't have a turntable. Several of my friends have one though, so they're getting played! A big reason why I keep buying is for the love of record store culture, finding your favorite artist in some random store outside of St. Louis is a feeling that can't be matched. And being able to support your favorite artist is an amazing feeling as well. 😊
I think this is actually a good question to ask people in the VC. When I started collecting vinyl at around age 10, I would always listen to everything I bought, often multiple times, as I had a lot of free time and not much cash to buy tons of albums. Now I am 54 and I have thousands of records, and I somehow always manage to still find more records that I "need," so my time is in short supply, but the vinyl is abounding. Sometimes records just end up getting filed away, and at other times I make a concerted effort to play what I have purchased most recently. Same goes for CDs. i like the flexibility of playing what I want, when I want, and I don't have any problems with a person buying records to flip, or not to play at all. As long as they paid for the items, they can do what they want to with them. While personally I always intend to play what I buy, I have found situations where a record I bought sealed five or six years ago is now worth several hundred dollars, and when that happens, I am likely to just keep it sealed. This was a really interesting video, and one last thing that springs to mind is that for me, this is probably the golden age of record collecting. Having all of those unplayed records floating around out there in the market means that we collectors will never run out of options to purchase the records we want.
I haven’t listened to half my collection and a good chunk is sealed. It grew faster than I could keep up, it was easier to buy them than find the time to listen. The good news is that I plan on listening to them all (or so I say lol). The only ones I won’t open are the ones that got stupid expensive after I bought it.
My father designed preamps in multitrack reel to reel recorders and also used to service them.
I grew up with reel to reel and cassettes because Dad hated vinyl. He hated the cracks and pops, the warp, the rumble, the skips hahaha. Prerecorded compact cassettes are definitely inferior to vinyl but reel to reel is plain awesome.
So as a teenager I was at a disadvantage because loads of the more niche metal bands in the 80s didnt release stuff on compact cassette.
I also like classical music and I loved the Deutsche Grammophon album covers. So I started collecting DG vinyl as a teenager. Didnt own a record player. Built up a decent collection before I eventually bought a turntable.
So prior to owning a turntable I would admire the cover art, look at the photos of the artists and read the notes.
Decades later, the collection is in the garage. I have no space for a turntable in the home. Plus the cat loves to terrorise the turntable. I hope at some point before I die to listen to them all again.
Would I buy new vinyl today? No. I'm here cos of the algorithm.
The algorithm started giving me recommendations involving small class D hifi amps. So I've learnt a lot about those and I do need a physcially smaller amp now to match up with the SACD player. Decided these new class D amps are fine for my bass combo and even for the band PA but not for my living room.
Algorithm, I've bought myself a slightly smaller 26 year old denon integrated amplifier off eBay for £16 instead. It will do.
No more class D hifi stuff, do you hear me?!?!
I don't buy a lot of records these days, but I do own a turntable. I have many records that I've never played -- some because I never found the time or motivation to do it; others because I have the same content on a CD and/or in iTunes. Years ago I made the big transition from vinyl to CD, and got to the point where I had 20 albums or so left to go. One day I started flipping through them and realized how much I actually enjoyed owning records. So I started collecting vinyl again! Fortunately this was ca. 2005 when records were really cheap. In light of this, I wonder how many people buy records simply because they can be fun and enjoyable to collect. I also wonder how many do it in the hopes that their friends and acquaintances will flip through their records looking for artist overlap -- "Oh, you like this band? Me too!" I make a point of looking through other people's collections whenever I have the rare opportunity.
I listen to my purchased records, but I do have a few ideas about this 50% number. My thoughts are flippers, collectors and lastly gifters. Giving music as a gift, used to be a nice present among friends and family. So if Nana or Auntie Millie find out you are into vinyl records, a new record may be coming yer way?? Have a good week, Frank.
I haven't played a vinyl record for about 20 years. I've got 3 shelves of albums i bought in the 80s and 90s which i never play. Because of this I haven't started buying vinyl again, which is probably a good thing, considering the cost. However, i did go to RSD for the first time ever this year and I'm finally going to set up my turntable again.
About a year ago i picked up a few records at a local flea market. The clerk asked me if i was going to listen to them. I said well yes of course. Not realizing at that moment it occurred to me on my drive home that ppl buy records just to collect or re-sell.
I will admit i have a few just to collect but 90% are to be listened to
I have a very good friend that has thousands of vinyl albums and cd's, pretty much all the ones from when we were kids. He told me he hasn't bought physical music in 3 years, streams everything. It shocked me. I still like to have cd's and love vinyl.
My “in box” is never empty. I’m a boomer who never really totally gave up on vinyl as a format, even during the CD era, though circumstances have caused a couple of purges of my collections. Since the “comeback” I seldom, but not never, buy in other formats. I tried streaming early on, but do not regularly do that. I do, more than occasionally find songs I want to hear immediately or research or remember, on UA-cam. Part of this behavior is motivated by the fact that music listening is almost never unintentional. It’s an activity unto itself. Never “time shared” as background. I find either I do the task, or I actually listen to what I’m listening to. Can’t seem to manage both simultaneously.
So, though I’m not a “flipper”, I have a rather appalling amount of media I have actually never listened to, including new sealed albums (and not just on vinyl) that I heard, liked, acquired and have not yet “gotten around to”. I hear the song in passing on the radio, or even as background music in an eating establishment, use modern means to identify it, listen on UA-cam, and if I like it, intentionally go acquire it, mostly on an album, more likely used, sometimes very used as in 45 or 78 single depending on age and original issue format, sometimes on CD if it’s of that era and not available in another format, occasionally on open reel, cassette or even 8Track, but those are often additional copies if I really love an older album and want to hear what it sounded like in other formats, so the “other formats” vary with era. Then there are always the used records bought on speculation that I might enjoy them from local stores. This is why my “in box” will never be empty, and my house is full.
Surely some of the 50% are also people who bought a gift for someone from the other 50%?
I sometimes buy 2. One to play and one to display. The border at the top of my music room is an ever changing display of cool album art.
I just went through my whole collection last weekend for like the 20th, plus I just got a few more I got at a rummage sale I need to go through. I love sitting at home and listening to my records.
Frank, the problem is Luminate itself - this company, which now provides stats to most major music sources around the world, are just completely bogus in my opinion. I honestly think the wording of the question in the poll is the issue; I would bet that a lot of the supposed 50% of people buying records without owning a turntable are actually not sitting on them - they're getting them as gifts for people who DO own a turntable - i would bet that NINETY percent of that 50 percent fall into that one category. It's all how Luminate works their poll. And I don't trust their stats, because so many sources out there say they're skewed by a number of different factors. And as for listening to my records, I have purchased so much over the last three years, that I'm still catching up, but everything WILL get played eventually...heh heh heh....great video!
I keep an "In" box. Sometimes too many to listen to depending on how I get them. But as I clear the box and add them to the catalogue they are played. There is something still special about spinning vinyl.
Birds gotta fly
Fish gotta swim
Records gotta spin
I only buy records from the artists that I'm going to play. As of right now I don't own a turntable, but I'm saving up for the turntable. I didn't want a cheap victrola or anything that was going to mess my records up. I admit it started off with my wife giving me a record for Christmas, and it was part of a volume, and I just needed all the volumes. When I finally bought all the volumes, I just continued buying. I'll admit I did get carried away but I have every intention of playing everything I have bought. I even cataloged my collection on Discogs, and after seeing how many records I had accumulated, I was shocked. So I slowed down, and if there's a record I really want from a artist I know I'm gonna want later, I just buy it right away. So I wouldn't consider myself a collector, just because I have every intention on playing all my records I have. 76 in total in 2 years in case anybody is curious lol
I used to have a set up in my room where I could listen to my CDs, vinyl, and play guitar. This was when I was fresh out of high school going to community college and single. Now I'm graduated and engaged. Don't have room at the moment to have a set up. Got back into music recently. Still collecting vinyl, but I'm only displaying at the moment, not playing.
I work in a record store, I think in a lot of cases with the young people, they're buying the records but listening to downloads or streaming. We also sell frames for them, so I think they're basically buying them as a poster. I personally do listen to them...eventually. I tend to buy a lot of records so I don't always get to them all straight away. I think some of those people who don't play them will eventually buy a record player, just out of curiosity to see what they're missing out on. But I think you are right about wanting to support artists. Artists make more money from physical media than streaming.
Cheers from Saskatchewan Channel 33 RPM, i buy vinyl constantly and i listen to all my records, i rarely use streaming or youtube im always spinning vinyl, especially when we are paying an arm and a leg for vinyl today you better play them.
You looked so young on the flashback video, and cool glasses now and then too! I normally play my newly bought records as soon as I get home for two main reasons: to make sure there are no defects (warping, excessive surface noise, skipping, bad mastering, etc) and because I love music so much and enjoy this format so much that I can't wait to play them. Having said that, sometimes it may take me a couple of days to play a particular record depending on some factors (if it's a new record bought online and it includes the autorip/download, I may listen to that right away and then listen to the record when it is delivered; if it's a used record and it looks in very good condition and I am very familiar with the music on it, or if my input bin is not empty).
Great video and great question! Keep 'em spinning 😉
I'm guilty of not playing most of my records but there's a surprising reason as to why. I still live with family and get noise complaints when I decide to use the turntable, and have no idea how to wire up my studio headphones to my setup.
When I do listen to a record instead of streaming, I treat it like a special occasion to indulge in, as a result. Its like a glass of wine or a bath-bomb.
Also I'm 24 years old and am part of the queer community, for statistical context.
I make a point of immediately playing at least one side of an acquired new/used vinyl record. The exceptions are when a record obviously needs a deep cleaning or I inherit a bunch of records. But I eventually listen to them.
I started collecting records months before a I got a turntable. By the time I got a working setup I have over 50 albums. Although this may seem backwards to most people, it was so good to have a load of records to listen to from the moment I setup my system.
Yes, I listen to the records I buy. But it can take 5 days for me to listen to it...or 5 months or even 5 years. But yes, I do...sooner or later.
6 years ago I started collecting after not having records since the early 90s. I must admit I didn't have a stereo for almost 2 years. Then, when I did get a stereo I amassed a collection of around 700 records. I also admit that many rarely, or never got played. Time and mood were the causes. Either I didn't have time, or wasn't feeling like spinning. I found myself playing my favorites over and over while many got no love.
I became more of a collector and enjoyed finding variants, oddities, original pressings and cool stuff in the bargain bins. Rarely bought new. Unfortunately I no longer have the collection. Now the prices of records have doubled, at least. Bargain bins are gone, or just pure junk.
I currently have like 20 records, and a Crossley I got for a gift by a well meaning sibling. I don't use it. So currently I'm without a stereo and rarely go looking for records due to my budget. I still love the hobby but I know I'll never have the cool stuff I used to have. It's a tough subject for me I've just had to accept.
My record collection has been replaced by UA-cam Music Premium and my playlists. I do enjoy the process of finding songs and discovering new music for my "collection". Not as cool as owning the vinyl or blasting on a stereo, but still fun. It is what it is...
I once was among those who would be buying records despite not owning a record player. But now there's not a single record on my shelf that I have not listened to. However,when watching videos and looking at pictures from collectors with tens of thousands of records I often wonder, how many of those records get not ever played? There's only so many time in a day!
In the queue on record store day I spoke to quite a few kids who didn't own a record players but either their friends or dad did.
I consider myself a hi-fi enthusiast at this point and listen to all my records!
But when I was a young man I had a very small collection of classic rock records and no turntable… I just liked the connection to the past.
We're an indie band with a mostly Gen Z audience and we sell a lot of LPs at our shows and online. We've long suspected that a large portion of our records serve primarily as dorm-room wall art, and that doesn't bother us at all! It's not like the music isn't getting listened to - these fans have each streamed our music hundreds of times and the records have become an important enough part of their life that they want some physical keepsake to embody that. We put a lot of effort in making the vinyl pressing sound as best as it can given our small DIY budget, and I do believe that when our fans grow older and put down their roots that the records will be played!
My only negative feeling about it comes from the environmental implications of manufacturing; if the records truly never get played, then the album sleeves alone could have served the same purpose!
Back in the day, when I bought something great, I'd tape it, and wear that out instead. When I buy a record from bandcamp, it comes with a digital download, which is a little like taping it before it arrives. There are some vinyl Lp's I haven't played yet because of this.
I known a lot of people like that, they want to have the records of their favorites artist, but they don't care about the sound, they only like to have them just like a collectible.
I also collect comic books and nit reading them is rampant among collectors. Can't wrap my head around it. I listen to all my records and read all my comics.
Rock on!
Another reason that I know of is to buy albums for the cover art work. The album is framed and put on the wall as art in and of itself. I have seen this mostly with GenX.
That makes some sense. Collectors are getting them as investments. It’s the same deal with buying guitars and sticking them in display cases. When I buy I listen as soon as I can. It is the reward after the hunt for the record.
I have a friend who collects records from ONE band and doesn't own a record player. I have given him a hard time about it... He displays them on his wall. For him, it's a combination of supporting the band and the collectability of the releases. I try to open my purchases shortly after purchasing them, though I have a few things that haven't been opened... With those, they were bands I was supporting and just wanted to buy extras directly to get money in the bands' pockets and doubt they'll ever be worth anything. My most valuable records have been played a lot of times. \m/
Yes I listen to all my new purchases going through my collection A to Z, for space reasons I buy as many albums on pre-recorded cassette and mini disc if I can find them
I think that one of the obvious reasons for buying LP's when you don't have a turntable would be as gifts for someone with a turntable. I have multiple family members that have purchased albums for me and they do not own turntables. I find asking for specific LP's one of the easiest gift ideas I can offer.
I had a small collection of records by the time I picked up my first turntable. The record was the impulse buy that I could afford. It took me a while to research, save up, and find the right turntable for me
I spent the last few months buying records, and didnt have a turntable.
I thought it would be odd to have a turntable but only one or two records to listen to. Anyhow, I've had my turntable for the last two days and I am working my way through a stack of records and loving it!
That was my method with my 1st CD player. It was a pretty good strategy in the days when most were imports & no guarantee how long they'd be available. Now we have a similar issue with anniversary & other special editions.
Similarly, I started buying CDs in 1988. It would be another 6 years before I ever owned a CD player as I couldn't afford one. In the meantime I used friends and families equipment to listen to them and record them on to cassette.
These days I own a couple of thousand and an even larger number of vinyl. I think there's about 5 or 6 that are still sealed I've never heard. I eventually intend to crack a couple of them open as I do want to hear them, the others may end up getting sold on. It's very rare I would ever buy anything I have no intention of listening too but I can understand the reason if you collect a certain favourite artist.
Yup I listen to the records I buy but sometimes it just takes me a while to get round to it.
Hi there! I been buying records for 30 years, probably brought around 6,000, but currently own over 3,200 , my collecting has been zero profit but pure enjoyment! All been played over and over, I don’t buy records for resale, just turn them over to create more space or if I’m over them, good show, interesting, enjoy the music
I wash/clean every new or used record I buy regardless of where they came from. I also have kind of an in-box area I put them in and I will play them all....both sides before putting them on the shelf.
I bought a record once with no intention to listen to it, but it was that purchase that got me back into vinyl. I loved the artwork on the cover of Vokonis' Odyssey and wanted to get a print from the artist if possible. I tried to contact said artist, but no luck. I instead bought the album, even though I'd already bought the digital version on Bandcamp. I didn't even have a turntable. I just displayed the album on a wall using one of those little ledges for records (also bought the t-shirt, fwiw). So, I just thought to myself: hmm, what the hell, maybe I should buy a turntable so I can actually listen to this. The rest is history. I'm back into vinyl after ditching it back in the 80s.
So I’ve bought a few cheap turntables that need some work as I was getting into this hobby I now have a very good condition vintage technics !! So I saw this article and mentioned it to the family I believe i said “why would you buy records and not have a record player?” My 13 year old immediately say’s “ because YOU have them all “ lol
It is obvious to me that the record companies are creating visually attractive records(color vinyl, picture discs, etc.). I can see people buying a record for the way they look and not being concerned with playing or hearing them. In the 1,000's of records I have, most of them I have listened to, soon after I buy them. I do display many of my records if they have an eye-catching value. One in particular is Dave Mason's first solo album "Alone Together" of 1970. The original albums were on the Blue Thumb label, but what makes them special is that they were pressed on marble-effect vinyl. They were totally random and no 2 are alike. They were quality pressings and if you only listened to the album, you couldn't tell the difference between the marble-effect vinyl and the next pressing run on black vinyl. When this album came out, there was the old-guard of people pressing the records, and they knew how to press records. A few years back, Friday Music re-issued the album and tried to do the marble-effect. It was a dismal failure, but it did sound OK.
Although I have never flipped records or even sold any of my personal collection, but I have traded some. Basically, when they are mine, they are mine, forever.
I have bought 100's of records as investments(still sealed in a climate controlled environment). It's better than money in the bank. Back, not that many years ago, when record prices were still reasonable, I would often buy 2 or more copies(if the price was right), one to play and the others as an investment. One in particular which has done very well is the Beatles' Mono LP boxed set. EMI made more than they should have as many sat in warehouse distributors on shelves collecting dust for years, so it is likely that they WON'T be re-issued. Others who weren't interested at first, maybe hoping the price would go down, totally missed the boat. Now they are scrambling to find copies at all and are paying huge prices.
Sure, if a person is knowledgeable about phonographs, if asked if they have "record players", I probably would have answered no. I do have some record players in my collection, but I rarely use them. Since the 1970's I have only used turntables and separate components.
Many years ago, when I was buying used records and entire collections on eBay, I found it hilarious when the sellers didn't have a record player or anything to test them on, but instead offered that they did a close inspection under a 100W light bulb. Give me a break! I can't tell you how many records I received which were warped or radio station copies which were cue-burned. Most of the sellers would refund your money and most didn't want the records back.
Going back to pressing records, so many of them just decided one day to start pressing records. They usually had no experience and they bought old worn-out equipment. They can do all the repairs and updates, but with mechanical equipment, they are new only once!
My latest bad experience was a recently re-issued LP, "Witches Brew" by The New Symphony Orchestra of London. It was produced by Analogue Productions and pressed at their QRP. I ordered the LP and an SACD from Acoustic Sounds. Well, the LP didn't sound right and it had lots of ticks and pops, which couldn't be rectified through cleaning it on my VPI RCM. AS sent me another copy and it was actually worse. I sent both copies back! I had been happy with the SACD and still have it. Then, I acquired a sealed copy which was issued by Classic Records on their propriety "Clarity" vinyl. I couldn't believe the difference! The CR "Clarity" vinyl version was so great that it was then that I realized that the remastered version must have been made from a worn/damaged master or a secondary source. Drop-outs were obvious on the SACD and listening to the CR record, there was actual sound on the record where the drop-outs were on the SACD.
The Classic Records version was re-mastered by Bernie Grundman and the AP version was re-mastered by someone I'd never heard of before. Remember, Chad Kassem bought out Classic Records, which included their inventory of master discs and stampers. Chad Kassem HAS/HAD the same CR masters that CR used on their own versions. He chose to have the album remastered while he has been sitting on a pile of gold! There are also 45 rpm masters! He claims to A/B records on his two Technics $5K turntables using Shure M97xe cartridges. Had he actually A/B'd his new re-issued AP version with a CR one, even a hearing impaired person like me could tell the difference ! CR also put out a pre-SACD CD version and there was also one from DCC on a gold CD.
I just picked up a little turntable yesterday for £5 from a thrift shop gonna start collecting for sampling I used to have thousands of vinyl
The in box is a great idea the only time I don’t listen to a new record is because I bought a few mixed them into my collection and then forgot to listen to it but it’s always a nice surprise when I find it and listen to it months later usually thanks great channel
I own 4 turntables and I don't listen to all the records I buy.... Right away. I buy, get busy and forget about them. And when I find them years later I normally just set it aside again.
There are exceptions but 10% of the vinyl I buy just gets added to my 5000+ records I own.
You're exactly right. I buy albums to give money to the artists I like and to support local shops. If I can I'll buy at gigs and mainly I go gigs by smaller artists so people who are less likely to have a decent income from streaming and to maximise the money that the artist gets. It's much more convenient to stream from Spotify. So I find myself buying albums and stacking them in the boxes but rarely and sometimes never playing them.
I’m new to the game, so I don’t quite have all the gear to properly listen to my vinyl. This is mostly because I lack cleaning materials and I don’t want to contaminate my needle or damage the grooves.
When I seen that poll, I also thought of scalpers and people hoarding for investments. I'm sure there are people that buy them to support the artist or because they like colored vinyls. I personally listen to them the week I buy them or receive them in the mail. My stance is that I could pass tomorrow, so why not enjoy the things that I have.
I was talking to a mastering engineer several months ago who at the time was lecturing in audio engineering... he had a class of about 50 students ... all young 'cool kids' and he asked them who had bought vinyl... almost everyone put their hand up... when he asked them who also played the vinyl, only 3 students still had their hand up.... we're both in our 50s and wet our pants laughing :-)
I haven't played the last 20 albums I have bought but that is just because I need to sort out the location of my turntable at home. Will get around to it someday. Have streamed most of them to have a listen. Many of the albums that I bought in the early 1980s have only ever been played once or twice. I habitually used to record the first play of the record onto cassette, the portable streaming service of the day and play them on my car stereo or walkman. Could carry 2 full albums. Also bought pre-recorded cassettes but ironically have now replaced most of my old cassette collection with vinyl records.
I believe it has to do with some people viewing them more as a collectible like a Funko pop or Hot Wheel. Especially now with how may color variants and limited edition versions get released of the same album. That and they look cool just being displayed on your wall or framed up.
I think it's more about having a physical copy of your favourite album, something tangible to represent your love for the album. I personally don't do that merely because I feel like I need to get my money's worth, but if I had unlimited access to cash, I would 1000% buy records just to have a copy of them, with no intention to listen besides right after buying.
This is the 1st time I've watched one of your videos. It just came up in my watch list. I find the idea of people buying records who do not even own a turntable quite curious. I was born in the mid nineteen sixties. I have always loved records. Back around 1990 I did purchase a CD player but only used it for about a year and then went back to records.I have never looked back. I am an audiophile and have gone to great lengths for quality playback. I have a fascination with record changers and enjoy collecting them but never use them because I don't have any records I'm willing to play on them.
As for the subject of supporting the artist, I am afraid I fail there. My record collections spans about 100 years from about 1905 up to around 2005 and the majority of them I have purchased used. Anyways, that's enough about me.
I have good intentions to listen to all the records I buy, but doesn’t always happen right away. I do on a turntable and do not buy records just to keep them sealed are sitting on a shelf.
I highly appreciate the comeback of the channel 33 rpm theme song.
Same here
I think you nailed it by saying some people treat records as merchandise. Fascinating.
There’s another rank of people who buy records and don’t listen to them, and I’m not alone in this one; Collectors who buy, in some cases far faster, records and find little time to listen to them. But that’s due to commitments to the “rat race” of jobs, family, chores and personal pursuits that don’t include records. And as a result, we can have boxes of vinyl, CDs and even cassettes that pile up. It’s somewhat embarrassing, but I’m certainly being honest with you here!
That's me.
i got asked a few days ago by a friend who downloads eveything witch is fine if i was going to keep a limited edition record sealed so i asked why and was told it maybe it be worth more one day so i just ripped the plastic off pulled out the record and put it on the turntable and played it loud
I listen to the records I buy. Not necessarily often but I do. I bought my favorite Beatles album, Revolver last weekend and listened to it once so far to check it. I will definitely spin it again.
Listen to every single vinyl. Working my way through 2 big boxsets at the moment but it will all be listened to for sure.
I don't play my records as much as I'd like to - where I have my setup means I only really put on a record occasionally, I'd love to rearrange things to make my turntable a little more accessible.
Yeah mate the manager of my local record shop in Sydney told me that 90% of his vinyl buying customers don't play the records.
I was at Newbury comics, local record store and overheard a girl ask her boyfriend why he buying a record if he doesn't have a player and he said "nobody plays these there just cool items to have". I just shook my head and went to another section.
I listen to a new album as soon as I get it. I try to listen to at least one side of an album every day, when possible. I do not intend to get rid of my records but I do take good care of them. When I'm gone, I want to pass them down to my kids and grand kids to enjoy.
I do have some duplicates of records I know I’m going to play a lot so bought spares for when the quality has deteriorated, so these are still sealed. But they’re definitely mine, I have no interest in flipping them even though they’ve increased in value to around £300 from the £20 when I bought them new. Otherwise, I’m like you, all my new records go in a pile until I can play them
I agree with you. I think a lot of young consumers are buying records of their favorite artists. They'll still stream the songs with their phones, but they like having the records on their shelves, as pieces of memorabilia. It's not what records are made for, but I understand it. There must also be a lot of hipsters out there who like to collect vinyl just for the object (which is beautiful, we can all agree): in that case, a vinyl record works as a piece of art that you can admire the same way you would contemplate an old drawing or a photograph.
Great video Frank!
I haven't listened to most of the records that I have bought the last few years.
Back in the good old days (70s and beyond) we didn't clean our records right away. We just cracked them open and played them. But nowadays it seems that everyone is saying that you should clean them first before playing. So I have a inbox of Lps that are waiting to be cleaned. I hope that I can get around to it sooner rather than later.
Keep on spinning Frank 👍
Right now I've three new albums I've bought recently that I have not yet listened to. I've decided not to buy anymore until all three see the turntable. I listen to every single album I buy, even when its an alternate pressing of an album I've already got.
Back in the day I'd buy an album and immediately record it onto cassette and only play it. For car and home use. Today most of my records only have a few plays, keeping them fresh.
I do listen & watch every music recording & movie i buy. My only problem is making time for them. My "in box" or "still waiting box" gets full due to work or family responsibilities & issues that occupy my life. Maybe when i retire it won't be a problem anymore.
WOW! 50%!! I'm planning to start up a record label and this is interesting news to me. As for the question of quality control I'm all about quality over quantity, but then again I'm not one of the "major" labels. LOL