Streaming platforms like Spotify racked up a whopping 433 million monthly listeners in 2022, while only a quarter of Americans are choosing to listen to their music the “old-fashioned way.”

The art of the turntable has gone unnoticed and underappreciated by many since the turn of the century due to the convenience of phones. In the United States, the average streamer spends about two hours a day on apps like Spotify, and 58 percent of adults say they would never consider buying a physical album because of the convenience of streaming apps in a study done by Morning Consult.

However, vinyl isn’t going anywhere. 

Vinyl records have been around since the late 1800s. Their peak demand was in the 1960s and 70s, when artists like Marin Gaye, Jefferson Airplane, The Ramones, and Pink Floyd were the big names in the industry. People gravitated towards spinning vinyl because of the experience and quality of sound these albums produced.

“I couldn’t appreciate it when I was younger, but now when I hear the scratch of the needle hit a record, I can understand the special it is. It takes me back. It’s comforting,” College Center Secretary Loren Lee said. 

As a proud owner of a 300-plus record collection, many owners like myself are keeping the industry alive. In 2021, there was a massive resurgence of vinyl with the revenue coming in at around $1 billion dollars according to Texas Public Radio. This summer marked 19.2 million records sold in the United States so far this year. 

Record shops are still around, and fed into the millions of dollars that the industry continues to make. In fact, there’s even a national holiday designated to supporting and celebrating local shops every April 15th with new releases and exclusive records for fans. 

Beyond the earnings of the industry, the passion record collectors possess is arguably unmatched and the sole reason why vinyl records are still in existence. Investing in one album can last a lifetime if well-kept. Collecting vinyl records is just like collecting coins, sneakers, or trading cards. The difference is that vinyls are the gift they keep on giving because music is forever. More than 75 percent of my collection are authentic pressings from the twentieth century, but when listening, one would never know that it was 60-plus years old. 

The digital age may be taking over, but vinyl is here to stay. In a world full of hustle and bustle, records are a great way to be in the moment. Having to physically get up and change from the A side to the B side, or moving the tone arm to a different track is an experience that gives intentional attention to being present, and that cannot be mimicked by clicking the replay or skip icon.

“There’s something nice about sitting around and putting on a record and listening to it. It makes you feel more in the moment and it’s meant to be shared with other people,” Niles North Orchestra and Guitar Director Jennifer Page said. 

To find a record store near you, check out Record Stores Love to start your vinyl journey.