Vinyl Revenue Overtakes CDs For The First Time Since 1986

Author Lauren Hoffman

March 3rd, 2021 10:30 AM

You might be looking at that box of old vinyl’s in the attic and thinking that it’s time to get rid of them, well we’re here to tell you…don’t!

According to MRC data, vinyl’s seem to be making a comeback based on their increase in revenue.

This is the first time since 1986 that records had more sales than CDs. In 2020, vinyl sales were at $626 million and CD sales were at $483 million.

Records Are Made At The Vinyl Factory In Hayes
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HAYES, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Factory worker Arek Grzeda places a master copy of a vinyl record in place ready to be submerged into nickel plating solution before being ready to press records at The Vinyl Factory on January 11, 2017 in Hayes, England. The Vinyl Factory is the largest vinyl pressing plant in the United Kingdom and produces up to 1.4 million records a year. The factory was founded in 2001 and has seen a 20% increase in sales and production year on year with clients including Warner Music, Universal Music, Bjork's label and their own label. Sales of vinyl records reached a 25 year high in 2016 when more than 3.2 million LPs were sold, a rise of 53% on the previous year.
Michael Jackson Is Remembered In New York City
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NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Michael Jackson albums are displayed inside A-1 Records on June 26, 2009 in New York, New York. Michael Jackson, a musical pop icon, died yesterday in Los Angeles, California. Record stores across the country have been wittnessing a surge in sales of Jackson records.
Sales Of Vinyl Records And CD’s Pass Digital Download Sale, As Result Of Streaming Services Popularity
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 05: Vinyl records are displayed in a store on March 05, 2019 in New York City. A new report by the Recording Industry Association of America revealed that more people in 2018 bought compact discs and vinyl records as opposed to purchasing song downloads. Total download sales dropped almost 30%, to a little more than $1 billion as streaming options like Spotify and Apple Music continue to cut into download sales.
Records Are Made At The Vinyl Factory In Hayes
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HAYES, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Factory worker Martin Frings 'centers' a finished master copy of a vinyl record to check it is usable and looking at the grooves through microscope before being copied and going to press at The Vinyl Factory on January 11, 2017 in Hayes, England. The Vinyl Factory is the largest vinyl pressing plant in the United Kingdom and produces up to 1.4 million records a year. The factory was founded in 2001 and has seen a 20% increase in sales and production year on year with clients including Warner Music, Universal Music, Bjork's label and their own label. Sales of vinyl records reached a 25 year high in 2016 when more than 3.2 million LPs were sold, a rise of 53% on the previous year.
Mark Ronson And The Business Intl In-Store Appearance
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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Mark Ronson attends an in-store appearance to promote his new album 'Record Collection' at Rough Trade West on September 29, 2010 in London, England.