In UK, Taylor Swift tops vinyl sales for first time in 35 years

Singer Taylor Swift continues to rock British pop. Thanks to the success of his latest album, “Midnights”, released in October, global vinyl sales have surpassed CD sales in the United Kingdom, a phenomenon not seen for thirty-five years, according to the “Guardian”.

The star’s new opus became the best-selling vinyl album of the century in just two months across the channel, securing the 33-year-old singer a huge fan base. According to the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), fans have already purchased 80,000 copies.

Vinyls, wind in its sails

Around 5.5 million vinyls have been sold in the UK this year, a total that exceeds sales of CDs by £20 million. In 2021, vinyl sales increased by 23% to £136 million, while CD sales fell by 4% to £150 million.

CD sales have been on a clear downward trend in recent years, both in the UK and beyond. They peaked at 2.45 billion units sold worldwide in 2000. Before that, the “compact disc” superseded vinyl in 1988 and audiocassette in 1991.

The return of retro

A time that seems far away today, most music lovers now use digital platforms to listen to songs on streaming. However, vinyl has enjoyed a renaissance over the years. Among the British, sales have been steadily increasing for fifteen years.

It’s not just fans of collector’s albums who buy vinyl today, but also young people like Taylor Swift fans. Of the ten best-selling vinyl albums in the UK this year, eight were released in 2022. Retro is definitely back and appeals to many generations. The health crisis contributed to this trend: Music fans were able to redirect their spending from canceled concerts to listening media.