The sudden rise in vinyl records that began around 2006 surprised many people in the music industry, as it had declined to near extinction in previous decades. Almost every year since has seen an increase in vinyl sales, proving that it wasn’t just a temporary fad.
On average, people under 35 accounts for over half of the yearly vinyl sales. This may be surprising to some people, as the older generations grew up listening to vinyl records. Still, according to official statistics, around 21% of vinyl record buyers are over 55.
Vinyl records were once the dominant medium for music listening until they were overtaken by the more conveniently designed compact discs and cassette tapes. Despite becoming less and less popular, a new generation of vinyl record lovers emerged, and the craze has continued for over 15 years.
Let’s explore the statistics behind vinyl record sales to determine who’s buying them.
What Age Group Buys The Most Vinyl Records?
According to data from the Statista Research Department, in 2019, the two largest age groups that bought vinyl records in the United States were the over 55s and those aged between 25-34. These age groups each accounted for 21% of the total annual sales.
People aged between 45-54 and 35-44 were tied at 19% of total vinyl record purchases that year, with 18-24s accounting for 14%. 13-17-year-olds only made up a total of 7% of the sales, but this is to be expected as the age bracket is significantly smaller than the others, and most teenagers won’t be in the financial position to buy their own records.
Interestingly, the statistics were quite different from the previous year in 2018. That year, the 55+ age group only bought 12% of the total number of vinyl records sold, meaning this number increased by a massive 9% in 2019.
The rest of the age groups were pretty similar in 2018. However, 45-55-year-olds were the leading age group, accounting for 24% of the total sales.
Then came 35-44-year-olds with 21%, 25-34-year-olds with 19%, 18-24-year-olds with 16%, and once again ranked bottom was 13-17-year-olds with 9% of the total annual purchases.
Interestingly, the difference between the 2018 and 2019 statistics suggests that vinyl record buyers are getting younger each year.
There are many possible reasons for younger people getting interested in vinyl records.
Perhaps the most simple factor is that they are being introduced to the medium more frequently as sales increase and artists and record labels invest more into vinyl promotion to capitalize on its popularity.
| Age Group | Vinyl Record Purchases 2018 (US) | Vinyl Record Purchases 2019 (US) |
| Over 55 | 12% | 21% |
| 45-54 | 24% | 19% |
| 35-44 | 21% | 19% |
| 25-34 | 19% | 21% |
| 18-24 | 16% | 14% |
| 13-17 | 9% | 7% |
Are People Still Buying Vinyl Records?
Many industry experts and music fans believed that the so-called “vinyl revival” was simply a flash in the pan that would last for a few years before the record would inevitably fade out into the shadow of digital audio formats. Oh, how wrong they were!
In 2021, the British Phonographic Industry reported that vinyl record sales were at their highest in over thirty years. Sales topped 5 million in the UK alone, and it was the 14th year in a row that vinyl record sales had increased from the previous year.
While these statistics are certainly eye-opening, another finding from the BPI stands out as remarkable. In 2021, vinyl records accounted for 23% of the total number of sold albums.
With most people consuming music on digital platforms, it’s incredible that the vinyl record has made a significant dent in the total number of album sales in 2021.
Although these statistics only speak for the United Kingdom, countries worldwide have experienced a spike in vinyl record sales, indicating that they aren’t going away anytime soon!
Few could have predicted that vinyl records would overtake CDs in sales twenty years ago. It’s remarkable to consider how quickly they have returned from the brink to become a highly profitable outlet for artists and labels.
There are many people out there who simply love the way that vinyl records sound compared to digital formats.
If you’re interested in learning why audiophiles listen to vinyl records, we’ve written an article that covers this topic in detail.
Does Vinyl Have a Future?
Despite the statistics showing that vinyl is still riding the wave of popularity that began in the mid-2000s, many people are still skeptical about its future. Perhaps this is because we’ve seen vinyl experience such a downturn in popularity before, so there’s a chance it could happen again.
If we look at things from a data-driven perspective, there is nothing to indicate that vinyl sales will decline in the future. According to BPI data, UK vinyl sales were up 8% on the previous year, marking 14 consecutive increases.
As more and more younger people are being introduced to the medium of vinyl, its popularity is likely to continue to increase in the coming years and decades. Vinyl is a contrast to digital streaming, and the physical aspects are what appeals to most people.
Even cassette tapes have increased in sales in recent years, indicating that a younger generation of music lovers are warming to the undeniable charm of analog music.
The only thing that threatens the sales of vinyl records is a worldwide shortage of pressing plants, which has caused a backlog in many countries. There is hope in the industry that major labels will invest in pressing plants to ensure that they can keep up with the increasing demand for vinyl records in the future.
Vinyl records are a great way for artists to profit from their music.
Although streaming platforms pay artists, the rates aren’t very high when you consider the amount of time and money that has to be invested in creating a piece of music.
Selling records is generally more profitable, as fans are willing to pay more to get a physical product and to support their favorite artists.
This has led to many artists promoting their vinyl records more heavily in recent years, which is another reason to believe that the medium won’t be dying out in the near future.