Why Do Music Lovers Still Prefer To Buy Records

In the late 1940's, the 45-RPM record replaced the 78-RPM
record. The 45 was smaller, less breakable and could be
made and sold more cheaply. Despite these advantages, it
took ten years before the 78 became obsolete, and in the
meantime, record companies sold their product in both
formats. In 1982, the major record companies introduced
the compact disc, which offered a smaller size, "perfect"
sound, and less likelihood of damage in day to day use.
As the compact disc offered a much larger profit margin
than did the long-play record album (LP) the record
companies were eager to rid store shelves of records
once and for all. Given that the 78 lasted ten years
after the introduction of the 45, it seemed likely that
the LP would be gone from the market by 1990. The
expected disappearance of the LP never happened.
Despite the efforts of the music industry, music fans
and collectors not only continue to buy records today,
but sales of records and record-playing equipment are
on the rise.

Each year in January, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
is held in Las Vegas. At this event, audio and video
manufacturers show off the latest and greatest in their
product lines. An unusual sight this year was not the
large number of cutting-edge compact disc players, but
the largest number of record turntables that had been
seen at the event in years! Sales of both new and used
records are hot, and equipment manufacturers are eager
to reintroduce the turntables they quit making years
ago. Why are record sales increasing when compact
discs are supposed to provide perfect sound in an
unbreakable format? There are several reasons:

# Price. Price is always a factor when consumers buy anything
and the prices of new and used record albums are less than the
prices of new and used compact discs, respectively. Used CDs
may sell for $5-8; used record albums sell for $3-5

# Physical size. A lot of people prefer the larger size of
record albums. They don't store as easily as compact discs,

but the covers and lyrics are easier to read, and the
product feels more substantial. Buyers feel like they're
getting "more" for their money, even if it's just extra
weight.

# Sound. The digital sound of compact discs has a certain
cleanness and purity to it, but many listeners find the
sound of compact discs to be "artificial" or "metallic",
lacking the "warmth" of the sound of a record. Arguments
have been going on for years, and fans of compact discs
claim that there really is no difference in sound, but
millions of record fans would probably disagree.

# Nostalgia. A lot of Baby Boomers grew up listening to
records, and records have a fond familiarity to them
that listeners like.

New record albums continue to be released every day. Aided
by artists who are still recording who demand that their
albums be released as both records and compact discs, such
as Diana Krall, Pink Floyd, and Metallica, record album
sales continue to thrive. Despite industry efforts to kill
the format back in the 1980's, It appears that the record
album will continue to live on, well into the twenty-first
century, and music fans couldn't be happier about it.

phil fischer - phil fischer - phil fischer