As demand for vinyl continues to increase, Daddy Kool Records has adjusted inventory to account for the change. While half the store was dedicated to vinyl ten years ago, LPs now make up 75 percent of its inventory.
Vinyl LPs turn the tables on digital music.
Vinyl records are practical by no means. They’re large, fragile, costly and can only be played on turntables that are far from portable.
Regardless of the format’s lack of convenience, the LP has seen record growth in popularity in recent years.
As the system continues to grow in popularity, record stores are forced to expand LP selection to keep up with demand. Daddy Kool Records, a St. Petersburg music store on Central Avenue, was forced to cut back on new CD selection and completely stopped buying or selling used discs.
Thanks to the growth vinyl has seen, record stores around the country have reported significant increases in business. Although some owners had to close their doors in years past, the vinyl comeback has been so significant that several new record stores have opened.
Many credit “Record Store Day,” which falls on the third Saturday of April each year, with the format’s comeback. The day’s festivities include sales, special releases, promotional products and artist appearances at record stores across the country. Another factor in vinyl’s survival is the community involvement most record stores aim to generate by putting on special events throughout the year.
Though plenty of older enthusiasts buy records for the sake of nostalgia, Kristin Stigaard, former Daddy Kool employee and USFSP graduate, stresses that a sizable portion of the store’s customers are under 25.
“Kids as young as 15 are buying records,” Stigaard said. “We get a lot of high school kids in here.”
At 666 Central Ave., Daddy Kool Records has been serving the Tampa Bay area since 1985. Stop by the shop Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to
8 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
While many see the comeback as a fleeting fad, Benny Normal, IT specialist and sales associate at Daddy Kool, argues that the signs show just the opposite.
“Interest in vinyl started to increase dramatically in 2008,” said Normal. “There is no indication of this growth being fad-based, as interest does not seem to be waning.”
In a digital world where convenience is key, many fail to understand the appeal that LPs offer. Collectors attribute the attraction of vinyl to the platform’s unique sound quality, collectability and overall experience.
“It’s music you can actually hold in your hands,” said Sam Chaffman, USFSP senior. “Artwork-wise, there are picture discs, colored vinyl, splatter discs and even ones cut into cool shapes like hearts and pentagrams.”
In addition to the artistic freedom discussed by Chaffman, Normal emphasized the audio quality that LPs are able to deliver.
“Vinyl has something to offer that no other formats do,” said Normal. “It is still the highest fidelity physical music format available, and when paired with good equipment, is the closest thing to having the artist right in front of you. Rather than being background noise while checking Facebook or driving to work, listening to a record gives you a sense of involvement.”
Unlike digital downloads, LPs give artists more room for creativity. Rather than only being able to express themselves through their music, vinyl allows them to choose colors, designs and artwork that digital formats simply cannot offer.
Record sales in 2014 hit a high of 9.2 million copies – a 52 percent increase from 2013 sales. If vinyl record sales continue to rise as projected, more than a billion records will be produced before the end of the year.
There are only 15 pressing plants nationwide that remain in operation today. If each plant were to produce an equal amount, that would mean each would bear the burden of producing roughly 67 million records this year.
Due to the cost of the materials required to press records, the likelihood of any plants investing in expansion is slim.
The supply issue, however, only adds to the product’s already high level of appeal.
