By Nayria Figueroa Colon
In recent years, vinyl records have captured the hearts of many casual listeners and music enthusiasts. To be stuck “in the past” is anything from the truth as analog sound has made many feel nostalgic and the feeling of listening to tangible music that digital formats often lack.
Record stores are booming in sales, as many purchase from small businesses and artists using physical formats as sales rise. There is a desire to want more of the nostalgic feel that comes from physical media. Blending the old with the new has brought a resurgence to the music industry. It brings the warmth and abundance of analog audio and provides a deeper connection between the physical media and the listener. This makes vinyl a part of the contemporary culture of today’s society.
“Vinyl is coming back because people want to hold a tangible product,” said Lily Oberson, a freshman at The University of Tampa. “Artists will be paid more when customers buy vinyl vs. going to DSPs [Digital Service Providers]. When Spotify decided to decrease their artist royalties last year because there was an increase in vinyl purchases.”
Not only have records become a part of our society, but they bring many together as we want to bring back what was lost with the experience of listening to music. Since it is in physical format, there is a deeper connection from when you touch the record to when you put it on the player, and when the needle drops into the grooves, you can hear every speck of dust in the grooves.
“This physical interaction enhances the listener’s connection to the music and the artist, making each album a cherished possession rather than just a file on a device,” said Vinyl.
You are taken aback by why physical media is cherished and what it means to “you.” Not only will you create a deeper meaning to a song, album, or artist but you can go to many places and worlds from the comfort of your home through physical media.
With the connection, “each record becomes a cherished artifact, a testament to one’s unique taste and musical journey. As the digital realm fills with intangible assets, vinyl satisfies the human yearning for something concrete,” said Stozz Audio.
“Vinyl brings nostalgia, and being able to listen to the needle drop and see it spin is very satisfying,” said junior Ariana Fromm. “It also connects you to family members as records were very popular back in the 70s, and my grandfather used to listen to vinyl all the time. It gives a sense of bonding and comfort that digital music differs from.”
Another big part of collecting vinyl records is the visual aspect it brings to the listener. Owning records creates a deeper connection and doubles as artwork in itself. Owning a 12’x12’ piece of artwork creates an illusion of a profound relationship to music and collecting.
“The large cover showcases the artistry in greater detail and often includes liner notes, lyrics, and other tidbits that deepen the connection between the artist and the listener,” said Stozz Audio.
Decorating our rooms and houses not only is something that everyone does, but we also, at times, decorate with posters from our favorite bands/artists or movie/TV show posters. With that in mind, vinyl is another way to bring your favorite artist/album to your home by displaying records on the walls or on your shelves. All pieces of artwork are topics of conversation and when the artwork can become the music that is playing as well as the cover of the jacket, it is something expensive that is not found anywhere else.
“Vinyl is another way you can support artists by buying physical formats of music. It’s more of an experience that can connect you with the artist which differs from digitally streaming music,” said senior Emma DiPietro.
Vinyl is making a comeback, and because it is, we appreciate the simple parts of life. We have to work to get the music playing by physically changing the sides of the record to get it to play more music; it brings a sense of stability and love for music. We are changing the way we view and listen from day to day.
Go to your local record stores today and see how music was one of the only escapes that many took without the digital age.