Record Store Day shows rise in vinyl sales

Ember Casler
Contributing Writer

The sixth annual Record Store Day inspired music lovers to visit their local record stores on April 20 and relive the days of buying vinyl records.

According to employee Rob Sheley, in the past Record Store Day at music store Plan 9 has received overwhelming support.

“We will have a line down the block,” Sheley said.

Business hasn’t always been easy for independent music stores, including Plan 9. After dealing with financial struggles and reducing their franchise locations from 14 to 2, Plan 9 is now well positioned in a growing niche of the music industry.

Customers who prefer vinyl tend to show their loyalty to independent music stores. These customers accounted for 67 percent of all vinyl sales in 2012.

When Plan 9 recently relocated, it was rumored that they were closing. “People assumed we were closing due to a sign in the window that said ‘for lease,’ but that was only there because the lease was expiring and we planned to move,” Sheley said.

Fans and customers of Plan 9 who were concerned about the future of the business have nothing to fear. “We’re working on a long-term lease with no plans to move again,” Sheley said.

Sheley believes that young music lovers will still collect vinyl and keep the physical music forms alive.

“CDs and vinyl won’t go away because people need to touch something,” Sheley said. “There are far too (many) people with far too much money in it for it to go belly up.”

The music industry has been around for decades but, due to the rise of the digital era, people no longer have to go to the store to buy new music. According to Nielsen Company and Billboard 2012 Mid-Year U.S. Music Industry Report, 2012 marked the first time in history that more albums were sold through digital stores than any other retail format, accounting for 37 percent of all album sales.

VCU student Jason Jones said he thinks CDs and vinyl records will eventually disappear.

“It’s more convenient and quicker to just download music straight to your computer or cell phone than to go out and buy a CD. You’re eventually going to transfer to your phone or computer anyways,” Jones said.

His opinion is consistent with the overall trend in the music industry showing that physical sales are declining. However, one physical music product is very much on the rise: vinyl.

Vinyl sales have increased in each of the last five years, reaching a record high of 4.6 million in 2012, compared to 3.9 million in 2011.

Sheley said vinyl sales have come full circle and a new generation of kids are interested in records.

“Old customers bring their kids in who want a record player and vinyl for their birthday or Christmas,” he said.