VINYL HEADS (is it alright if I call you that?), ready for another encouraging but slightly misleading statistic attesting to the continually rising popularity of vinyl records? Don’t worry. It’s only misleading in the context of music sales as a whole, because they really aren’t a huge percentage of that number, but considered on its own, it’s fun to highlight this sub-source of reigning enthusiasm, whereas otherwise, all the talk surrounds an increasingly dull digital-this and digital-that. Setting aside the convenience of its availability (which shouldn’t be understated), a mildly depressing tale lies in the rampant impersonalization of music-listening via digitization.
Sorry to say, though, that digitization may account for at least some of those vinyl sales, if that makes any sense (which it obviously doesn’t, because I haven’t ventured to explain it yet). Over here, it’s been reported that vinyl sales on Amazon are up 745% since 2008. Allow me to offer a few (not mutually exclusive) explanations for this somewhat absurd percentage increase:
1. Vinyl sales everywhere have been increasing, though at least according to this graph, not to same extent as when you focus on sales made through Amazon specifically.
2. Amazon has further cemented itself as a creepy, yet prosperous, global seller of everything during this period.
3. AutoRip-enabled vinyl records, which offer free downloadable MP3 versions alongside the physical product, are reportedly selling at a “62% higher volume than non-AutoRip albums.”
4. Mix thoroughly. Set oven to 350 degrees. Bake for about half an hour.
Mmmm, cake.
