Teens say they like vinyl records over CDs

[Geoffcin]

A Canadian scientist says teens who used to view CDs as superior to older vinyl records now consider vinyl superior to the newer format.

Full Story;

http://www.physorg.com/news64807495.html

[JoeE SP9]

So do I!

[Bernd]

Me too!

Bernd

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Am I going to listen to the opinion of group of folks who chose MP3 over DVD-A and SACD? Don't think so!

I can understand their objection to what is being offered on CD.

[texlle]

Finally...

My generation gets it...

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Finally...

My generation gets it...

Or not!

[Florian]

Vinyl rules.....and so do i! Muhahahah

[E-Stat]

Finally...

My generation gets it...

Or at least some members do. The passion for music transcends any generation. Nice system!

rw

[Woochifer]

You mean the college crowd has stopped downloading MP3s and started listening to more of their music on turntables than on iPods?

If anything, I've been hearing about this vinyl lovefest among the twentysomethings since at least the early-90s when alternative bands like Soundgarden and Pearl Jam pressured their record companies to put out vinyl releases of their albums. I've just yet to see the proof that it's amounted to anything more than a lot of talk and a few extra albums sold. I mean, has it actually translated into notable gains in market share or changes in actual listening habits? The sales figures for new LPs indicate not, since one hit CD can still outsell all LP titles combined. While vinyl's image has been turned around into this hip and anti-establishment embrace and the DJ market alone will keep the format alive past the next ice age, it's one thing to say that you're a vinyl fan for an academic study and quite another to prove it by actually buying vinyl. (Doesn't sound like the study includes any listening tests either, so it's really more about gauging perceptions and biases than trying to validate anything)

I love my vinyl and still have a turntable plugged into my main system, but these types of studies that talk about how consumer attitudes are so supportive of the vinyl format IMO reflect a lot of wishful thinking. Sure, these teens will SAY that they love vinyl (face it, the CD format is about as exciting as a 20-year old washing machine), but the finding means absolutely nothing if the vast majority of teens continue to download music; use iPods, computers, and car audio systems for most of their listening; and buy far more CDs than LPs. I would love it if vinyl were truly on the rebound, since it means more stores would carry LPs, turntables, and vinyl accessories. But, the evidence of a rebound big enough to make any kind of ripple in the market has been lacking from what I've seen. IMO, vinyl remains a niche market and probably will remain so even after another digital medium (whether high res, or multichannel, or downloading, or on-demand streaming) supplants the CD format.

[audio_dude]

I'm 14 and I love vinyl records, not because they are "hip" but because I love the music and some of it was only released on vinyl, also, I was raises around turntables and audio equipment, we were the first family on the block to have a "home theater". A harmon/kardon receiver, passive sub, celestion mains...ahhh, the joy of 2.1, lol

[texlle]

I just need a phono preamp so I can revive my 1976 B&O Beogram 3000. It works perfectly and looks new. Some kids don't know what good audio is these days...investing in infinity and monster cable. Give em a little dose of The Wall on LP amped by some tubes. Mmmm...doesn't get much better than that.

[emorphien]

I've been meaning to get a copy of The Wall. So far a good sample has eluded me.

[Mr Peabody]

I think the operative adjective in that story is "music enthusiasts". I've had vinyl since childhood and still do but it hasn't inspired my children yet to be vinyl lovers nor any of their friends. Look at the music chains that have died lately. I think it would be the same and the industry was the same when there was records. The majority of teens, I feel are into the downloading of music and sharing music on MP3's or whatever and care less what the sound is like. Well, let me retract that, it has to have some bad ass bass. On the other hand, some one is buying vinyl again. It's obvious that vinyl has made some what of a come back. Whether it's a passing fad remains to be seen. I can't remember the label but one of the big companies have recently reissued several titles on vinyl. So if the big boys are joining in some one smells money.

[PAT.P]

A Canadian scientist says teens who used to view CDs as superior to older vinyl records now consider vinyl superior to the newer format.

Full Story;

http://www.physorg.com/news64807495.html

They dont say if teens were on drugs at time .I know by experience in the 70 after having a few I just sit and round and round the vinyl would go and if there was a great lable it put me in a trance

[texlle]

Well, i just now had a little and i can literally hear the static on my burned copy of red light district, and it's a good copy. Never been able to do that before, haha. And I'm playing it quietly.

[PAT.P]

Well, i just now had a little and i can literally hear the static on my burned copy of red light district, and it's a good copy. Never been able to do that before, haha. And I'm playing it quietly.

Peace Love ,Flower Power and if you cant smoke it dont grow it

[DaHaq]

I view the vinyl resurgence as a direct reaction to the availability of MP3s. I don't believe for a second that the kids are interested in vinyl because of any real improvement they can hear in sound quality. Sure, they've heard that its supposed to sound better, and that becomes part of the appeal, but IMO you need a pretty good rig to hear the difference, and that's something the vast majority of teens do not have. The real reason for the comeback is that kids can download anything on MP3 for free, and then what is a CD but a flimsy five inches of plastic with some artwork you have to squint to see? Much better to buy the LP for its uniqueness and beauty and continue doing most of the actual listening with the MP3s on your iPod. Especially when many new LPs are cheaper than their CD counterparts and used vinyl is even less.

[shokhead]

I say BS. I bet you could take a poll of 100 13-16 year olds and plenty wouldnt even know what a record is,come on.

[JohnMichael]

I have a nephew who is now 17 and when he was young he made fun of my turntable. I think he thought it was for spin art. As he learned to love music and play the guitar all of a sudden turntables were cool. So for his 15th birthday I gave him my Thorens table with AT 440 ML cartridge. He thought that was so much better than the usual cash. He has purchased a lot of new and used vinyl.

[PAT.P]

I have a nephew who is now 17 and when he was young he made fun of my turntable. I think he thought it was for spin art. As he learned to love music and play the guitar all of a sudden turntables were cool. So for his 15th birthday I gave him my Thorens table with AT 440 ML cartridge. He thought that was so much better than the usual cash. He has purchased a lot of new and used vinyl.

JohnMicheal Thanks now I know there another purpose for my 4 turntables none hook-up .I'll call Phono Art,a few blob of paint and let it rip.Any advice for Reel to Reel?

[swwdts]

I was in my pre- teen years when vinyles were just like the older 8 tracks slowly fading away.I listen to old music groups like Ozzy/Black Sabbath & kiss.Their music sounded like sh.. on vinyl.But,when it got re-mastered to cd .It sounds alot better.Although,I hope they start doing more mini cds ( The size of a half dollar coin or a NGC console game)

[dwass5656]

I think certain albums need to be heard on vinyl to really understand how great the music was. (to our childrens children by the Moody Blues comes to mind right away) I am in my mid 20's, have a tiny vinyl collection but have since claimed my fathers massive collection when he passes (hopefully in about 35 years) but I love listening to records, something about the sound just seems to flow better.

dwass



Listen to Fake Tales Of San Francisco (Album Version) by Arctic Monkeys : http://www.napster.com/player/tracks/16351031

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Have any albums sold more than 50,000 copies on vinyl since 2000?
If they want to do a study I can find some teens who prefer the sound of wax cylinder or only listen to music played backwards. The biggest factor is that these people are so rare that it doesn't matter what they think, they can't change an industry that caters to the masses.

[nightflier]

Kexo, R&R Ninja,

You're all focusing too much on sales of new LP's. Most of the vinyl that is being sold is second-hand. The one thing I have noticed is how these have gone up in price over the last three years, both on eBay and at the flea markets. A good-quality LP will sell from $3-5 now, and if it's out of print and not available on CD, the sky's the limit ($30-60?). Now I don't know of many used CD's that sell for that.

I've also noticed that TT prices have gone up online, more so than what could be attributable to inflation. It's not significant in a let's-invest-our-retirement-savings-in-vinyl-sense, but it is interesting from an academic perspective. I would argue that maybe this is more about rebellion than anything else; rebellion against commercialization, high prices, bad music, repetitive playlists, and yes, also bad quality. When we were teens we wanted to belong, right? That's what teens want now, too. They see movies like Forest Gump, Almost Famous, Detroit Rock City, and they are amazed at how much more exciting life was for kids their age 20-30 years ago. Most kids today have never been to a a rock concert (attending the final of American Idol with prompted applause signs doesn't count). Tell them what a Kiss, RunDMC or Cool In The Gang concert was like, and they won't believe you. So they want to wear the same clothes, have the same parties, and listen to the same music. Most of that music is not easily found at Walmart or Circuit City. So they turn to LP's because its a rebellion in the medium as well as the music. It's kuuul, as they say on South Park.

And if in doing so they discover that it sounds a lot better than an MP3 and often better than a CD, what is the harm in that?

[shokhead]

I just bought a remastered Boston for 30 bucks. Worth every penny.