Vinyl sales in the UK reach their peak since 1990

Sales of vinyl LPs in the UK have reached their highest level since 1990, as the physical music market continues its revival. According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), sales have increased by 11.7% in the first 51 weeks of the year, marking the 16th consecutive year of growth. The best-selling LPs include Taylor Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version) and the Rolling Stones' Hackney Diamonds. Cassette sales have also performed well, surpassing 100,000 units for the fourth year in a row. Although streaming still accounts for the majority of music consumption, vinyl has regained popularity due to its collectability and superior sound quality. The resurgence of independent record stores and the revival of specialist music chain HMV have contributed to the vinyl boom, according to the BPI. The top-selling vinyl albums mainly consist of new releases, with artists such as Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi, and Lana Del Rey featuring in the top 10. Additionally, classic albums and reissues like Fleetwood Mac's Rumors and Pink Floyd's the Dark Side of the Moon (Live At Wembley 1974) also performed well. The BPI stated that cassette sales have also seen a resurgence, after declining in the early 1990s, while the decline in CD sales has begun to level off, stabilizing at around 11 million units in 2023. The top-selling CD of the year is Take That's This Life, and Olivia Rodrigo's Guts led cassette sales. Dr Jo Twist OBE, the BPI's CEO, highlighted that the growing demand for physical music, particularly vinyl, demonstrates the resilience of the UK music market in the face of soaring streaming consumption. Twist also mentioned the stabilization of CD demand and the renewed interest in cassettes, which provides music fans with more choices in how they enjoy their favorite music.