back to the the resurgence of vinyl
Vinyl records used to be the only way to listen to the music that an individual enjoyed, giving them agency over what they listened to and the ability to build their own unique music tastes. Forms of music have rapidly changed over the last few decades, moving from vinyl to cassettes to CD, and now streaming. However people are now returning to vinyl despite living in a time when everything seems to be going digital. Written by Gabrielle Sanchez Photos by Caleb Guadarrama Even 10 years ago, vinyl records were something that only hardcore collectors or our parents owned. But, in recent years, vinyl records have made a trendy comeback, making their reappearance as coveted items in retail stores and aesthetic decor in the homes and bedrooms of young people. According to a 2016 study by Music analytics service BuzzAngle Music, vinyl records sales increased by 26 percent. Furthermore, an article published in 66
the Washington Post stated that vinyls even outsold digital copies during one week last year. Even with endless quantities of digital content from a variety of sources, people are increasingly drawn back to the large, black, petroleum disks. Vinyl has served many purposes throughout its almost 70-year history. For awhile it was the only way to get any media of choice into a personal setting like a home or office, which is why odd sounds such as whale noises, or karate and exercise lessons can be found on vinyl. As other formats such as cassettes and CDs began to enter the marketplace, vinyl offered an avenue to get music from genres that often weren’t available in these formats, such as punk rock. Furthermore, vinyl has always played an important role in DJing and hip-hop music, which started in the ‘70s. Until the laptop came around, if an artist wanted a sample from a song, it had to be from a record, making it a cornerstone in the production of much of the hip-hop music we have today. What makes vinyl records truly special for listeners and sets them apart from other media formats is the physicality of the entire experience. It’s one
