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What awaits audio cassettes
According to the British Association of Phonogram Manufacturers (British Phonographic Industry, BPI) for the first 2019, 35 thousand cassettes were sold in the country. Analysts expect another 75,000 records to be sold in the second half of the year. In the USA, in 2017, sales of audio tapes grew by 136%.
The cassettes featured Prodigy, Twenty One Pilots, Gorillaz, Wu-Tang Clan and other artists.
Obviously, the format is experiencing a surge in popularity, but it is worth recognizing that there is no question of a full-fledged revival. According to Official Charts, cassette sales account for 1% of the music market in England. A similar picture is in the USA. Although sales in 2017 increased by 136%, over the past year, growth slowed sharply - it amounted to only 19%.
Some musicians release albums on cassettes in small editions (several dozen pieces). For the most part, they play the role of souvenirs for loyal fans.
It seems to be more about nostalgia for the 80s. And this also applies to young people who also show interest in the format. But for them, only the media image of that decade becomes a source of inspiration. It is supported by various films and series - for example, “13 Reasons Why,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” and others.
Vinyl is another niche format
In 2018, 16.8 million records were sold in the United States. This is 14.6% more compared to 2017. According to the American Association of Recording Companies (RIAA), by the end of the year, revenues from the sale of records will even surpass the performance of CDs.
But there is an opinion that these figures do not reflect the true state of things poorly. Although sales are growing, vinyl remains a niche format. He owns just over 13% of the physical media market. And this is without taking into account streaming platforms and digital music.
Another sign of the renaissance of vinyl is the boom in the construction of press factories. In 2017, less than 30 plants were opened in the United States, and today their number has grown to 72.
Photo Daniel von Appen / Unsplash
But this figure is also misleading. Factories do not print old releases that are interesting to the nostalgic public. Therefore, a significant part of the vinyl market is made up of used records that people buy from their own hands or in specialized stores. Top sellers include jobs such as Michael Jackson's Thriller and The Beatles' Abbey Road.
Like floppy disks
Flexible plates first appeared in the middle of the 20th century. At various times, the Beatles, David Bowie, and the ABBA group recorded their albums on them. But, like traditional vinyl, this type of drive practically went into oblivion by the beginning of the zero. But the media write that interest in flexible records is gradually reviving. Since 2010, the company Pirates Press has been engaged in production.
They make records for labels and musicians, including Foo Fighters and Jack White. In the fall of 2017, Australian rock band Tame Impala released a limited edition album, “Currents,” while labels Joyful Noise and Third Man Records also began offering “flexible releases.”
Photo Piotrm00 / PD
But despite the exceptions, musicians for the most part use this medium for marketing purposes, offering only individual tracks for listening. This is due to the lack of flexible records - they are fragile and can be “jammed” with a needle when listening to them. Therefore, if the format has a chance of a revival, then only partial - in the format of an interesting addition.
It is difficult to say how much the trend for the revival of retro-formats will continue in the future. Among enthusiasts , interest in digital cassettes ( DCC ) has already reappeared. The first album in a long time was even released on media. They also release music on bobbins. But such media will remain, albeit an interesting, but still a niche product.
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