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By Marisa Thomas
For the first time since 1987, vinyl records outsold CD’s in the us. There were 41 million vinyl albums and 33 million CD’s sold last year.
Back in the early nineties, when CD’s were the more popular trend, Michael Graham, owner and operator of Graham’s records, was buying vinyl albums with the belief that they would make their way back.
“I really felt for how many decades vinyl was the primary source of people’s music, I just didn’t think it was going to — poof —evaporate with CD’s,” Graham said.
Record sales have steadily increased for 16 years straight, something that has definitely helped business for Graham Records.
“It’s certainty has been beneficial. It’s been a steady slow growth. Probably for 12 years, I’ve heard people say. ‘oh, I heard vinyl is coming back,'” Graham said.
While the resurgence itself Graham expected, how it came back was more surprising.
“What I did not expect however was a rebirth of vinyl, and that would be millennial and younger era people kind of being drawn to it, and it really caught fire with them, just as much as it became a nostalgic throwback to people that maybe had collected earlier in their life, and wanted to come back around,” Graham said.
For those who love music, so to have something tangible that represents their affinity for it, is timeless.
“I’ve seen plenty of people that once it get’s under their skin, they just can’t shake it. So, that’s why I think it’s hear to stay, that’s why the physical format needs to exist,” Graham said.
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