Vinyl Sales Surpass CD Sales For The First Time Since 1986

[Sam08861]

Somehow, I thought this had happened already, thought this was interesting...

https://alt1053.radio.com/blogs/dallas/vinyl-sales-surpass-cd-sales-first-time-since-1986

https://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mid-Year-2020-RIAA-Revenue-Statistics.pdf

From the article....

"Despite part of the first half of 2020 including a worldwide pandemic, the music industry actually saw a 5.6% bump in revenue overall. Vinyl sales were up ($232.1 million) while CD sales (down a staggering 48%) and digital downloads saw decreases in sales.

Streaming remains king as it accounted for 85% of the industry's revenue with subscriptions increasing by 24% in the first half of the year.

2020 has also seen cassette sales double & guitar brands like Fender & Gibson see record sales #'s."

From the RIAA report, it appears streaming is king.

 

[spark1]

Interestingly, vinyl units were down (very slightly) year over year, but revenues were up. I assume this means that revenue per unit (price) is higher.

On a unit basis, CD continues to outsell vinyl, but at a much lower revenue per unit. In other words, CDs are much cheaper than vinyl. That's why I'm buying so many CDs...especially jazz releases from the 60s and 70's, to supplement my vinyl collection. Many of these are quite difficult to find on vinyl, or are very expensive.

EDIT: I use a hi-res streaming service as well, but still like to "own" the music that I particularly enjoy. CD prices are such that they are generally cheaper than CD-quality downloads. Still, even if I keep buying CDs at my current clip, it will take years to have as many of them as I do vinyl LPs!

 

[Sam08861]

Great observation on the $ales figures vs. Units.

My experience is the same as yours spark1. In addition, I buy lots of thrift CDs and Vinyl and sometimes get lucky and there's an SACD or DVDA in the bunch. With newer stuff that I like more than 2-3 songs per album, I'll splurge on the Vinyl. For one offs, I'll try to purchase the digital individual tracks in hi-res if possible.

And because I'm weird, I make hi-res mix tapes on my 15 ips 1/2 track RTR from the downloaded DSD files, SACDs, BluRay Audio etc, when I'm not listening to my versions of lo-fi! (vinyl, CDs, Youtube, Spotify, etc.)

 

[twiiii]

Cd's have pretty much become obsolete. Lp's would too if they can figure how to force analog sound thru a piece of digital gear. Why doesn't some one make a DAC that adds what ever is necessary to make digital sound more like analog. There are pieces of professional equipment I am told that can do that.

 

[reddodge053]

Being that cd's are on the downside,thinking they will become as collectible as lps soon. Go out now and buy as many as you can!!!

 

[RunOutGroove]

Yeah, I thought that this would have happened years ago. In my town in recent years there has been a kind of proliferation of record stores that only sell LPs and none left which only sell CDs... and that and the fact that prices for used LPs have gone through the roof where CD prices have gotten down to nearly give away levels all seem to suggest that the market for LPs is doing very well.

I guess that a lot of it (most really) has to do with the nostalgia factor, which surely is what accounts for the increased sales of cassettes. Between the tapes jamming up, the machines breaking down, the expensive of the decent quality blanks and the fact that you can't easily cure them up (like an LP or CD) meant that I was totally ready to be done with those things the moment that I had a computer that could record on CDs... Several years ago a friend on mine in NYC who plays very avant guard improvised music and has a bit of a "label" (a really small batch, unofficial kind of thing) where he puts out music that he's on as well as that of other kindred souls started putting out music on cassette. He seemed to be sending the message that this inscrutable music that he makes should be as obscure as possible and what better way to do that then to put it out on an essential dead medium. Perhaps he knew something though because it seems like it might not be dead yet. I have to wonder if a lot of the folks using that format are part of really tiny insular music scenes like my friend is. That's one way to keep a kind of exclusive feel to the music that you make...

As for CDs becoming obsolete... I feel like though they're declining in popularity that there is still a bit of a market for them. If anything, one could say that all physical media became obsolete as soon as the streaming thing really took off. I still like the whole collecting of physical media and though I have a preference for LPs I like CDs too and like the graphics and liner notes they provide even though they obviously aren't of the size and quality of that on LPs. After doing some upgrades with both my digital and analog signal chains, I find that at least on my system, with my modest budget that both sound very good and I can find examples of certain LPs and CDs that sound excellent. If I have to compare, I'd say that with what I have LPs sound a bit smoother, but the best CDs I own have more detail and fatter sound.

 

[RunOutGroove]

Cd's have pretty much become obsolete. Lp's would too if they can figure how to force analog sound thru a piece of digital gear. Why doesn't some one make a DAC that adds what ever is necessary to make digital sound more like analog. There are pieces of professional equipment I am told that can do that.

There are certainly DACs made in every style at every price point and I'm sure that some of them do sound more analog than others. I've been using a pretty inexpensive one, a Topping d50s, which doesn't sound exactly like the kind of sound that I get from my turntable, but sounds very good. Good enough that I like the sound about as much as what I'm getting from that turnable. I can only wonder which I would pick if I had 1-2k to spend on a vinyl setup and a digital one...

 

[Pyrrho]

Cd's have pretty much become obsolete. Lp's would too if they can figure how to force analog sound thru a piece of digital gear. Why doesn't some one make a DAC that adds what ever is necessary to make digital sound more like analog. There are pieces of professional equipment I am told that can do that.

There are people who don't like digital and do not want anything other than an analog source. It does not matter whether they could pick it out in a double blind test, as they are not interested in science or testing anything. They simply want an analog source. Such people would not buy what you are discussing, regardless of whether it worked or not.


By the way, if you want an analog sounding digital file, simply record an analog source with a quality digital recorder. If you record an LP, for example, you will get the effects of the RIAA equalization that is applied to the recording and is used in playing back the LP. You will also get all of the other effects of putting music on an LP.

You might be interested in these links:

http://www.bostonaudiosociety.org/bas_speaker/abx_testing2.htm

https://hometheaterhifi.com/editorial/a-secrets-technical-article63/

https://hometheaterhifi.com/technical/technical-reviews/vinyl-vs-cd-running-commentary-parts-6-9/

Regarding your comment on CDs, I like them and still buy them whenever I want new music. I like owning something, rather than just relying on a streaming service, as I can keep playing the same version instead of being forced to accept whatever remastering has been done (not to mention the fact that things can come and go on a streaming service). Additionally, I want to be able to play my music without an internet connection, anywhere in the world, which can be done with a CD. I also have some pretty obscure things that probably are not on anyone's streaming service, though I have not bothered to check this, which, of course, could change at any time, if a streaming service added or subtracted something from their service.

 

[spark1]

Digital will never really sound like analog simply because it is missing so much information. You can't put back something that was never there. Even though the people building and selling some of these converters will tell you that it's possible. It's like "simulated stereo" was back in the day.

I agree that digital sounds different that vinyl or tape. I disagree as to the reason.

 

[mgosdin]

CD 's are still showing up in droves at the Thrifts here. I've gone from having only 50 CD's to well over 1000 CD's in the past 6 years. Lots of classic Rock, Classical, Jazz & many new-to-me Artists. Most of the CD's look to have been opened & ripped then put away ... to be donated later.

For a time, about 3 years ago, there were a lot of Cassettes showing up in the Thrifts as well. Many of them were mix-tapes or recorded lp copies on high quality tapes, those came home with me and I got good at cleaning cases & blanking the tapes. At about 400 cassettes I've got all I am ever likely to need.

Stores here ( Orlando ) are still selling some CD's & more vinyl. The vinyl is a bit pricey, but I have picked up several albums that I missed back in the day.

Analog vs Digital in the same category as "Cable Discussion!!!!!", best to not touch.

Mark Gosdin

 

[Steven Tate]

I remember going to a large record store around 1986. They were unloading vinyl albums dirt cheap to make room for CD’s. I stocked up on $1.00 albums, and still have some never opened, including some Beatles albums. Probably not much value since they weren’t original pressings. But I just like having them in my collection.

 

[intro6]

I like owning something, rather than just relying on a streaming service, as I can keep playing the same version instead of being forced to accept whatever remastering has been done (not to mention the fact that things can come and go on a streaming service). Additionally, I want to be able to play my music without an internet connection, anywhere in the world, which can be done with a CD. I also have some pretty obscure things that probably are not on anyone's streaming service, though I have not bothered to check this, which, of course, could change at any time, if a streaming service added or subtracted something from their service.

These are pretty much the same issues I have with relying on streaming. I'm especially afraid of some fool remastering the music I love, to create an inferior version compared to the original. Yes, some remasters are great, but unfortunately there are others that degrade the music. As far as streaming goes, I tried it once a while back, and the experience was terrible. It kept serving up music I didn't like and there were regular sound drop outs. Then, on top of that, they seemingly deliberately made it difficult to find where to cancel the service.

2020 has also seen cassette sales double

This confirms what I had sensed about how they were doing. It seems to me that a media type, if it gets established enough in a big way, will have a long "tail" time-wise in it's later period. I would expect the same thing to happen with the CD, since it is such an excellent compromise of various desirable attributes.

 

[turnitup]

Back to the future!

 

[rothwellaudio]

By the way, if you want an analog sounding digital file, simply record an analog source with a quality digital recorder.

Aren't all CDs of music recorded before about 1980 just that? They were analogue recordings, later copied to CD - weren't they?

 

[Pyrrho]

Aren't all CDs of music recorded before about 1980 just that? They were analogue recordings, later copied to CD - weren't they?

No, that is not right, for a couple of reasons. The first is trivial, in that professional digital recording started in the 1970's, so some earlier recordings are pure digital on CD. The second is that CDs are not typically made from copying LPs, so the effects on the sound of the RIAA EQ would not be on the CD. Being mastered from the original tapes, or the original master tape (in most cases), the RIAA EQ that is applied to LPs would not be present on the CDs. So it is not going to sound like an LP, because it has not been processed like an LP. But if you copy your LPs onto CDR, using your typical phono preamp, you will get the effects of the RIAA EQ applied and then your preamp's attempt at undoing it, which is never perfect, and consequently affects the results one gets. Plus one would get the effects of all of the other processing that was done for the LP, which is not on the master tape. Below is more of my post than just what you quoted; the last two links discuss the effects on the sound of putting something on an LP versus putting it on a CD, though you might be interested in the first link as well, as it discusses the issue of the transparency of the CD format.

Listening to an LP is not the same as listening to the master tape from which it was made (in those cases where the original recording was on a tape). If you want a digital copy to sound like an LP, the best way to achieve that will be to copy an LP. Otherwise, the processing and effects of the LP format on the sound will be difficult to reproduce.

By the way, if you want an analog sounding digital file, simply record an analog source with a quality digital recorder. If you record an LP, for example, you will get the effects of the RIAA equalization that is applied to the recording and is used in playing back the LP. You will also get all of the other effects of putting music on an LP.

You might be interested in these links:

http://www.bostonaudiosociety.org/bas_speaker/abx_testing2.htm

https://hometheaterhifi.com/editorial/a-secrets-technical-article63/

https://hometheaterhifi.com/technical/technical-reviews/vinyl-vs-cd-running-commentary-parts-6-9/
.

 

[rothwellaudio]

No, that is not right, for a couple of reasons. The first is trivial, in that professional digital recording started in the 1970's, so some earlier recordings are pure digital on CD. The second is that CDs are not typically made from copying LPs, so the effects on the sound of the RIAA EQ would not be on the CD. Being mastered from the original tapes, or the original master tape (in most cases), the RIAA EQ that is applied to LPs would not be present on the CDs. So it is not going to sound like an LP, because it has not been processed like an LP. But if you copy your LPs onto CDR, using your typical phono preamp, you will get the effects of the RIAA EQ applied and then your preamp's attempt at undoing it, which is never perfect, and consequently affects the results one gets. Plus one would get the effects of all of the other processing that was done for the LP, which is not on the master tape. Below is more of my post than just what you quoted; the last two links discuss the effects on the sound of putting something on an LP versus putting it on a CD, though you might be interested in the first link as well, as it discusses the issue of the transparency of the CD format.

Listening to an LP is not the same as listening to the master tape from which it was made (in those cases where the original recording was on a tape). If you want a digital copy to sound like an LP, the best way to achieve that will be to copy an LP. Otherwise, the processing and effects of the LP format on the sound will be difficult to reproduce.

Yes, but you said "if you want an analog sounding digital file...", not "if you want an LP sounding digital file...". Tapes are analogue too. Recording don't have to be RIAA EQ'd to be analogue.

 

[RunOutGroove]

Yes, but you said "if you want an analog sounding digital file...", not "if you an LP sounding digital file...". Tapes are analogue too. Recording don't have to be RIAA EQ'd to be analogue.

... And I thought that the whole thing with the RIAA curve was that LPs are pressed with a certain EQ curve applied to take into account certain limitations of the format and then are restored when they're played back over a phono preamp which has this RIAA curve that it applies to what it's amplifying. Please correct me if I'm wrong but the whole RIAA thing seems to take out one thing at the step of the pressing and then add what was lost back... and if that's the case then the final product is basically meant to be like the original, the same as if the final product was a CD or whatever other format.

 

[spark1]

... And I thought that the whole thing with the RIAA curve was that LPs are pressed with a certain EQ curve applied to take into account certain limitations of the format and then are restored when they're played back over a phono preamp which has this RIAA curve that it applies to what it's amplifying. Please correct me if I'm wrong but the whole RIAA thing seems to take out one thing at the step of the pressing and then add what was lost back... and if that's the case then the final product is basically meant to be like the original, the same as if the final product was a CD or whatever other format.

Cutting, not pressing.

Purpose is to fit more music in limited space, limit stylus gyrations/groove damage and reduce noise/hiss.

Ideally the signal after "decoding" is identical to the signal before it was "encoded". Actual results have some amount of variance.

 

[Pyrrho]

... And I thought that the whole thing with the RIAA curve was that LPs are pressed with a certain EQ curve applied to take into account certain limitations of the format and then are restored when they're played back over a phono preamp which has this RIAA curve that it applies to what it's amplifying. Please correct me if I'm wrong but the whole RIAA thing seems to take out one thing at the step of the pressing and then add what was lost back... and if that's the case then the final product is basically meant to be like the original, the same as if the final product was a CD or whatever other format.

Yes, it is meant to be like the original, but it isn't. Here you can read a little about this; it is under the #4 heading:

https://hometheaterhifi.com/editorial/a-secrets-technical-article63/

It results in an LP never sounding like the original.

 

[rothwellaudio]

Yes, it is meant to be like the original, but it isn't. Here you can read a little about this; it is under the #4 heading:

https://hometheaterhifi.com/editorial/a-secrets-technical-article63/

It results in an LP never sounding like the original.

I presume you're referring to this bit of the article:

"Now, when the RIAA pre-emphasis curve is applied at recording, and then the de-emphasis curve is applied at playback, the phase shift should cancel out and you end up with a proper phase relationship throughout the audible spectrum. Right? Well, that would be fine if all the recording systems applied the RIAA pre-emphasis curve perfectly, and all our phono stages applied the RIAA de-emphasis curve perfectly.
Guess what? Nothing is perfect out there.
So, we end up with LPs and phono stages that deliver a sound with varying amounts of phase shift in all areas of the audible spectrum, and I feel that this is one of the defining characteristics of the analog LP sound. It delivers a soundstage that is much different than what you would hear from a CD where such EQ curves are not applied."

It shouldn't be too difficult to achieve the RIAA curve to within 1dB. How much phase shift does that leave you with and how much does it matter? In my opinion, a lot less than the author of that article thinks.