One of the glories of the modern day is the instant access to millions of pieces of music at the touch of a button. With recent advancements in technology one would think the entertainment mediums of the past would have been long lost to time. Regardless of the “archaic-ness” of these ways of listening, things like cassettes, CDs, and especially vinyl records have seen a massive comeback in the past few years.
Since 1877 with Edison’s Phonograph cylinder, we’ve been experimenting with how audio can best be captured and replayed. Before the digital streaming of present day, over 30 music formats have come and gone to further this technology. In 1887 the first “vinyl-adjacent” music medium, the flat disc record was invented by Emilie Berliner. These sounded almost identical to Edisons invention ten years prior, but was the first time that music was etched into a disc much like we know today. In 1948 Columbia Records introduced the vinyl record we all know and love, although it did go through many revisions of size and material before reaching its modern form.
This technology held strong for about 20 years before we saw the rise of more portable formats, these include the cassette tape of 63’, 8-tracks of 64’ and compact discs, or CDs, of 82’. By the time digital streaming came around in 2004 , vinyl records accounted for only 0.2% of total sales revenue for music formats. Just recently in 2025, the year end report from the Recording Industry Association of America shows not only the 19th consecutive year of growth for the medium, but also a record high in the market since 1983. The numbers undoubtedly show an increase in sales, but what was the catalyst for this change?
Looking at both economic and social trends, it seems that the reason for change boils down to 4 main things, the aesthetic, artist support, sound quality, and the tangibility of the medium.
Starting with the aesthetic, this change lies mostly in younger generations. One of the main selling points for records aside from the music itself is the visual appeal. Going from unique pressings to intricate album art, the medium has become a statement piece as much as it is a way to listen to your favorite songs. Many people create intricate setups to proudly display their collection. Popular TikTok creator @erinrdavila has gone viral on many occasions showcasing how she and her husband curate a display of records to match the seasons. When looking at the trend from a decor standpoint, you can see that the incredible album covers are being used as a type of affordable artwork. This is no surprise as throughout the years, world famous artists like Salvador Dali and Banksy have been creating album art for artists.
In the age of streaming, artists are being paid much less for their works than they were in the past. Spotify Data shows that the “per-stream-rate" for artists can range from $.003 to $.005 per stream. This number can fluctuate based on listening location, if the listener has a premium subscription or not, and the artists own agreement with labels. When dealing with tens of millions of streams, the small price point adds up rather quickly and can bring large earnings to the large labels and artists. This rate is especially harmful for smaller independent artists. On the other hand, record sales can bring in much more livable wages for artists. When looking at large labels, artists tend to make between 5% and 35% percent of the wholesale price. Independent artists selling directly to fans, can see up to %90 percent revenue per sale. This has incentivized many people to purchase physical albums as opposed to or in addition to streaming to support their favorite artists directly.
Now the sound quality is the most divisive of the supposed benefits. The main difference between analog and digital sound, is that analog makes an exact copy of the input, while digital can only make an approximation. The approximation it makes is very accurate, but it does miss out on some of the highs and lows in the sound. This is due to file compression meant to increase volume and optimize storage ability. The downside of this practice is a reduced range in frequencies and definition. The divisiveness comes from the quality of the turntable and equipment the record is played on. To really get the improved sound quality, it’s helpful to have a more advanced turntable and wired speakers. When you get into suitcase turntables or those with Bluetooth output, you lose the quality that is preserved from being pressed on vinyl.
With the transition into digital mediums, one fear that has come into the public eye is the lack of ownership of any media we enjoy. It is more than common for movie and tv show streaming services to take down beloved shows with little to no warning. Although it is less common for platforms to remove music, it is an increasingly possible turn of events that many people worry about. Outside of the companies, it is also not unheard of for artists to withdraw from streaming services. Recently rock band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard took all of their music from Spotify in protest against the CEOs' investments in Ai military technology. Having a tangible way to listen to music protects people from losing their favorite songs to the wills of company higher-ups.
The comeback of records has also rekindled a sense of community lost in the digital age. Alongside this comeback came the resurgence of record stores. Although they were never completely gone, the figureheads of the market shutdown as vinyl sales dwindled, which has now set the stage for independently owned stores to take the spotlight. These indie stores also have begun to serve as a third space for people in the community, a space to meet and hang out with people aside from work/school, and one's house. This sentiment was shared by local record store 10,000Hz Records owner Russ Baggett when we discussed the community aspects of the rise of the medium. We went further on to discuss the specific events that the store holds, such as various listening parties and record store day.
As of recently, 10,000hz has been hosting listening parties for major album releases, ranging from many different genres and demographics. These events serve as ways for people all around Auburn and Opelika to come together, enjoy music and get some free goodies from the labels. At the start of the month, 10,000hz held a listening party for Harry Styles’ new album “Kiss All the Time, Disco Occasionally”. This event had such a large turnout that they had to relocate to the neighboring indie theater BOXCAR. This piqued my interest seeing the interaction between local businesses, which Russ then elaborated on saying he and his wife were good friends with the owners of BOXCAR, and that they wish to collaborate more in the future. Earlier this month, the two businesses also collaborated for their first in-house concert. Russ reminisced about his time in bands when he was younger, and we both agreed that this could be a great opportunity to open up the music scene to everyone and expand Auburn’s already growing local scene.
They have also participated in the long-running tradition of Record Store Day. This biannual event started in 2007 serves to celebrate vinyl, collectors, and store owners. Since their opening they have expanded far past the space available. Because of this they have collaborated with local businesses Sneak & Dawdle to house the RSD stock during the event. This collaboration has made Record Store Day possible for 10,000hz and has brought massive crowds to the event.
Although the growth of the market has slowed in recent years, support and engagement hasn’t wavered. It seems that as many say, history has repeated itself this time for the better and brought many people together for their love of music. One can only wonder what medium will come back in style next. Come 20 years, maybe we’ll all be kicking it old school like Eddison displaying our vast collection of wax cylinders.
