Vinyl records and turntables
Before MP3s, CDs, and streaming services were available, individuals used vinyl long-playing records, or LPs, to bring their music home. The albums were created by the musicians, and in the 1970s album rock became a new radio genre. It became a routine to polish the record before placing the stylus on the groove with the tone arm when listening to albums.
Turntables, a component of the audiophile's audio system, were accompanied by kits that contained the tools for cleaning records and styli. When compact discs first came out, their portability and small size greatly influenced how quickly they gained popularity. Although many of the historic analog LPs that were converted to digital were enhanced as part of the process, listeners reported being astounded by the clarity of the sound. As digital recordings took over the music industry, LP sales fell.
A vocal minority objected, pointing to the softer audio produced by vinyl Records when played on a quality turntable. When both products' sales declined for more than 20 years, a resurgence started and is now gaining traction. Turntable and LP sales hit a low point in 2006. They have climbed every year since, including by almost 46% between 2019 and 2020.
In the latter year, LPs represented 27% of record sales, showing they are still very much alive and well, contrary to what was anticipated in the 1990s. Vinyl records and turntables might once again overtake streaming as customers' favorite method of obtaining music, becoming the primary source for musical amusement at home.
