Why is vinyl making a comeback?

Photo by Emma Johnson, Staff Photographer

It wasn't until 1948 that Columbia Records started producing Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) records that could hold more music. Fast forward to the late 1960s and early 1970s, when over 300 million PVC records were sold yearly, filling homes with the sounds of Simon & Garfunkel and Elton John. 

Today, we have thousands of technology-based music streaming services, such as Spotify and Apple Music. While you would think this makes vinyl seem like old news, there has been a reemergence of the use of vinyl records. The question arises of whether this is purely for the aesthetic, people living out their inner 70s soul? Or is the quality of sound unique compared to online music streaming services?

Current Chapman journalism professor and former editor-in-chief of The Panther Newspaper, Angelina Hicks, shared that collecting vinyl records is an interactive way for her to support her favorite artists through owning a physical copy of the album. She shared how she enjoys the routine of putting a record on a turntable and playing an album. 

“It elevates my listening experience and can make me appreciate the music more than streaming online,” Hicks shared. 

Junior strategic and corporate communication major Tessa Garner further shared that the quality of sound on a record player creates a nostalgic feeling. 

“The small hiss of the needle and the sound quality is something you just can’t feel when you’re streaming music,” Garner shared. 

Other students shared how their relationship with vinyl sparked from records being passed down from family members. 

Health sciences major Livia Jadwin and political science and strategic and corporate communication double major Serena Park, both seniors at Chapman, shared their love for listening to vinyl stems from old records being passed down from their mothers. 

“I got my first record player when I was a sophomore in high school after my mom asked if I wanted her old vinyls,” Jadwin shared, emphasizing how the quality of sound differs on vinyl compared to using her phone or a speaker.

In addition to the difference in sound, Jadwin shared that vinyl allows listeners to hear the whole album in chronological order instead of using the “shuffle” feature on streaming services. This allows listeners to hear the story that comes with the album in the order the artist had intended to put it in.

Current vinyl collectors also emphasize the intense feelings of nostalgia associated with the experience. Park shared that when she was younger, she loved flipping through the boxes filled with records her mom passed on to her when she was older, which kickstarted her love for a broad range of music. 

Garner shared how her love for vinyl originates from her father's experience in the music industry and the various records that filled her childhood home. When Garner was gifted her own record player, she took her father's old records and played them, a moment she cherishes. 

“For me, the sound of records is automatically nostalgic for me, even if it’s a new song, it makes me think of my dad's records on my player,” Garner shared when listening to vinyl. 

In addition to the nostalgia and quality of sound vinyl, collectors have touched on the aesthetic features. Many enjoy hanging them on their wall or having a specific corner dedicated to them on display. 

“I love being able to put on my favorite records in my room, and it’s always a good conversation starter!” said Park. 

Hicks emphasized the aesthetic of vinyl covers since they tend to match the vibe of the album. She shared that the thought and design put into vinyl make the experience more enjoyable, showing the personal touch artists put into vinyl regarding sound, physical and visual aspects. 

While some of the newer art on album covers is more modern, which is unappealing for collectors such as Garner, older album covers more frequently included messages from the artist discussing the context behind the song or album as a whole, creating a more personal experience for the listener. 

To answer the question of why people enjoy collecting vinyl, there appears to be no singular answer but rather a combination of numerous qualities it has. From its association with family and childhood to the personal touches artists include, the aesthetic features of album covers, and the experience itself, vinyl is a unique way to engage with music. The next time you hear of a friend who enjoys vinyl music, hopefully this article will encourage you to try it now that you have a better insight into the experience it provides its listeners.