Who doesn’t love a comeback story? And over the last few years, it sort of seems like a lot of the old analog favourites are trying to make a comeback in an increasingly digital world. Things like physical books, board and card games, and of course, the humble vinyl record have all enjoyed a little bit of a resurgence, despite being basically obsolete technology.

But why?

Why would someone pay $20, or more, for a second-hand hunk of scratchy, melted, plastic disc that can only be played on an expensive, troublesome turntable, especially when they could stream the same album in glorious digital clarity for a fraction of the price?

“Nostalgia” is the common explanation for this odd phenomenon. Popular wisdom explains that millennials, and their subgroup, “hipsters,” are placing these outdated things up on a pedestal, and repackaging them as current pop culture.

But this popular wisdom can’t explain it all. How can a 15 year old be nostalgic for for a turntable when her parents never owned one? Clearly there is more going on with the current rise in vinyl popularity, but what explains it?

“Retromania”

Part of what has driven vinyl’s resurrection can be explained as a sort of response to what is happening all over pop culture today, a phenomenon music commentator Simon Reynolds calls “retromania.”

Think about what’s going on in music today. Old bands reforming or regrouping, new acts basing and building their acts, style, and stage shows on classic performers, and a general enthusiasm for fashion trends and cultural “things” from the past.

This idea is tied to nostalgia, but it takes the story a little further. In fact, because the demand for vinyl records has become so large in the UK, an official vinyl LP album and single chart was launched back in 2015. Interestingly, and quick significantly, the very first #1 album on the chart was Future Hearts, by the contemporary US pop/punk band, All Time Low. In fact, the majority of the first Top Ten was modern music, with a nod to the old guard in the form of a Van Morrison record cracking the 10 best albums.

And this “retromania” idea can go the other way too, because it’s not just new musicians looking to older formats. As a matter of fact, lately we’ve seen a distinctive fusion of nostalgia with the “new.” Modern artists are taking more cues from the past, with groups like Arctic Monkeys and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Royal Blood mixing with the likes of Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, and Bob Dylan.

But don’t count out the more well established artists. People like Madonna, Daft Punk, and Jack White are also taking part in this resurgence, and are releasing vinyl versions of their albums.

Warm & Fuzzy Sound

One of the most common reasons you’ll get for vinyl’s reappearance if you ask an actual enthusiast is the distinctive lack of audio cleanness and perfection – what vinyl connoisseurs call “warmth.” This unique audio feature is caused by the flaws and imperfections that are unavoidable with analog sound production. Those who love vinyl argue that the sound is more “immersive,” wrapping you up in it like a warm blanket.

With the introduction of compact discs, music listeners were treated to revolutionary design features: the ability to skip tracks and shuffle albums. Vinyl, on the other hand, has always been different. Skipping a track can be tricky, and thanks to the inherent fragility of the vinyl disc, you always run the risk of dropping the stylus and damaging your record. As a direct result of this, vinyl albums are a “track-by-track” experience. What was once a design limitation is now a design feature! This complete album experience can be intended by the artist, and central to the entire listening experience; just think about classic LPs like Dark Side of the Moon. There’s something to be said about this kind of listening experience, and with the return of vinyl, so too has it returned.

Collectables

Human beings love to collect things. Everyone has a collection of something, even if they don’t realize that they are a collector. And it’s this “collect-ability” that has also helped out vinyl’s recent popularity. When the iPod came out, it looked like it would spell the end of record collecting as a traditional past time, but vinyl has an enduring possessive quality that intangible digital downloads lack. In fact, collecting is actually an ingrained part of vinyl’s attraction.

There is an entire ritual associated with getting a new album for your collection. From opening the sleeve for the first time, to handling the disc itself, to the unique artwork of the cover and inner sleeve. It’s an experience that CDs or downloads just can’t match.

Vinyl’s Future

Despite the sudden and impressive re-emergence of vinyl over the last several years, it’s still really not all that significant when compared to music sales in digital formats; it’s still a pretty niche market. And that caused some obstacles, primarily when it comes to actually manufacturing LPs.

Thanks to the fact that they were basically obsolete until recently, the technology needed to actually manufacture vinyl can be hard to get to, given that now only a handful of factories still produce records. There are hardly any presses left in existence at all. In fact, as of 2014, 90% of the raw materials needed for vinyl records were produced by just one company. This has probably improved since then, but not likely by much. This means that the future of vinyl manufacturing will need a lot of investment from record companies in the re-creation of old and expensive technology. And given how many physical brick and mortar record stores have had to close their doors recently, distribution is also a major problem.

Yet despite these troubles, many industry experts agree; something is definitely going on with vinyl. Many music fans are still putting the needle on the record, which is great news for the future of Record Store Day!