Key Points:

  • Vinyl records set to outsell CDs for the first time in 30+ years
  • Vinyl sales increased by 18.5% between 2016 and 2017
  • RCA Victor introduced the vinyl record in 1930

It's been said that what is old is new again.  It happens in fashion, retro automobile design, and how we buy recorded music.

KSFY reports that according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), vinyl records are pacing to outsell CDs for the first time in over three decades.

Crosstown Vinyl owner Steve Zastrow says, "Vinyl is making a strong comeback. When CDs first came out, a majority of people just dumped their records and started buying CDs."

"People have been getting more into them lately. But my wife and I, we've always loved vinyl and there is always a market for it.", said Total Drag owner Dan Nissen.

According to KSFY, CDs sales dropped by 34% at the end of 2018 while vinyl records sales increased 18.5.% between 2016 and 2017.

"It's just having something tangible, from the artwork to just the fun of getting a brand-new vinyl record, and throw it on your turn-table," said Nissen.

CDs debuted in 1982 and sales of vinyl records began a steady decline.  20 years later, the iPod made music portable and CDs sales cratered.

"When you get home at the end of the day and do some real serious listening, vinyl is the best sounding format. It's arguable, but a lot of people say it does sound the best. You're not just pushing a button and a song starts playing." said Zastrow.

RCA Victor launched the first vinyl records in 1930, calling them 'program transcription' discs.

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