Vinyl Records are back, and how. The total number of units sold in the U.S. last year were 14.3 million and, in the U.K., the comparative figure was 4.1 million - which were up 20% over sales in 2016 - the respective totals being the highest ever since 1991!
And, in case anyone believed that these figures were a mere aberration, think again, moreso keeping in mind that digital downloads had fallen yet again! In June 2017, as a premonition to these record sales [pun intended], Sony Music - one of the world's major record labels - announced that, from March 2018, it would be producing vinyl records in-house for the first time since ceasing their production in 1989.
Run The Jewels brand ambassadors
The culmination of the continuing success — and, needless to say, the resurgence — of the physical format is that April 21 marks the eleventh annual celebration of Record Store Day, an event celebrated across the world. India is chipping in with its very own celebrations too, with Mumbai-based Adagio, essentially a guitar-teaching school, announcing a talk/discussion about music evolution and the playing back of a documentary, When Albums Ruled The World, whereas The Revolver Club, an outlet where you can buy everything from vinyls to turntables, is celebrating the day with live performances, imports of several albums being globally launched on this particular day, and the sale of Indian-designed, limited edition autographed posters by the faces of this year's Record Store Day, Run The Jewels, of whom more later.
Celebrating Record Store Day in India this year has a little more significance as the brick-and-mortar stores of the past no longer exist. The last of the popular bastions fell two years ago when Mumbai's popular Rhythm House downed its shutters on February 29, 2016. However, there is an ongoing movement initiated by Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra to purchase the Kala Ghoda-located outlet currently owned by tainted diamond merchant Nirav Modi, who had bought it from previous owners Curmallys. In March this year, Mahindra proposed - through twitter - that a crowd-funded proposal be initiated for the acquisition and restoration of Rhythm House and have it converted into a live performance venue. While this suggestion has found several takers, there is still a due process of law that needs completion before Mahindra and like-minded supporters receive an opportunity of attempting to purchase the property but, one thing is certain, the initiative has begun! For those who do not remember, it would be appropriate to reminisce that Music World was an earlier example of a retail chain selling physical content being shut, followed by Planet M and Landmark but, even those select retail chains that continue to exist - the aforementioned The Revolver Club, and Music Circle owned by Pilakbhai Bhatt - both having accepted that the physical format is certainly catering to a niche audience.
Nevertheless, Record Store Day celebrates the once popular brick-and-mortar stores that still exist, supported not only by consumers but, more importantly, labels releasing products exclusively on this memorable day, as well as having artistes making special appearances, holding live gigs at pubs/clubs, and initiating meet-and-greets with fans. Run The Jewels are stepping into the role of this year's global ambassadors. Also known by their initials RTJ, the American hip hop duo consists of producer El-P and rapper Killer Mike, both with long histories supporting record stores by hanging out at these outlets since they were young. In topical band news, in June 2017, their track, "Legend Has It", was featured in the trailer for Marvel's 'Black Panther' and thereafter, in September 2017, Run The Jewels released "Mean Demeanour", a track created for football video game 'FIFA 18'.
Meanwhile, Legacy Recordings, the catalogue arm of Sony Music, announced titles it is releasing for this year's 'Record Store Day', the most number of albums the label has issued in the 11 years since Record Store Day started.
For instance, Pink Floyd are reissuing their debut, 'The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn', on mono vinyl for the first time in 50 years, Springsteen will see his 1995 'Greatest Hits' compilation issued on individually numbered red vinyl, while AC/DC's 'Back In Black' will be sold on cassette. The document of the 1987 tour by Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead, 'Dylan & The Dead', will be sold on red and blue tie-dye vinyl. So wherever you may be, please remember that Record Store Day 2018 is on 21st April, and do join the celebrations of the vinyl format revival that once suffered from slipped disc.
The writer has been part of the media and entertainment business for over 23 years. He continues to pursue his hobby and earns an income out of it.
