Young music lovers are changing their tune
December 1, 2014
Vinyl has become a trend among the younger crowds, but older generations say that it has never left.
Gabe Soria, a Euclid Records employee, said that their customers are people of all ages.
Soria said that what’s different is the younger generations are growing an appreciation for them as well.
Michael Bevis, a long-time employee at Skully’z Recordz said he sees a lot of the 20-somethings who come into the shop looking for vinyl. However, they are not coming in just to be cool.
“They come in and they know what they want,” Bevis said.
He said he has been impressed with the passion coming form the younger vinyl enthusiasts.
“I see just as many kids who are really earnest about it; who want to stay up on what’s current and what’s new, and I didn’t see that in the early 2000s,” Bevis said.
Bevis said that vinyl’s popularity picked up among the younger crowd about five years ago.
“I think it’s past the point of being a fad now. I think that people are actually starting to stay aware and care about this artistic output again,” Bevis said.
According to the Recording Industry Association of America, an organization that works to manufacture and distribute about 85 percent of the music produced and sold in the U.S, vinyl sales increased 43 percent in 2013.
Bevis said that 60 to 65 percent of their sales are vinyl.
I think it’s past the point of being a fad now.
— Michael Bevis
Skully’z Recordz was only one of two record stores that were open post Katrina. Bevis said since then, the number of record stores has tripled.
Robert Bell, an English professor at Loyola University, said he still listens to vinyl and appreciates it. But it’s not because he grew up with it. Bell said the sound quality on vinyl is better and the listening experience is much different.
Bevis said that the bass hits harder, the music sounds “grittier”.
This may be why more and more big, modern artists are trying to get their records released on vinyl. However, many local and underground artists aren’t new to this game.
Soria said that many local artists’ vinyl records can be found at Euclid. He said that the shop carries are a wide variety of music genres.
Euclid Records has everything from the 50s to present day, which makes it a one-stop-shop for many customers.
“The new vinyl movement, if there is a movement at all, is kind of pan-generation,” Soria said.
Soria said he sees all ages, from high school and college students, to parents, folks and collectors.
Bell said that people also like vinyl because of its appearance.
“It’s just more appealing. I mean, they get very creative on album covers than with CDs,” Bell said.
Bell said he enjoys looking at the different designs of these vinyl covers. He also likes that they’re tactile pleasures.
“It’s like buying a piece of art that makes music,” Bevis said.