The vinyl record is still on the rise. For 15 years now the trend has been upwards in Germany and in the UK vinyl has now even overtaken PlayStation games as the second best physical entertainment format.
Vinyl is overtaking PlayStation games
As reported by Complete Music Update, the UK’s Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) has determined that sales of vinyl records generate more revenue than sales of PlayStation 4 and 5 games in physical formats combined. Only Nintendo Switch game sales have brought in more revenue than vinyl so far in 2022.
With more than 19 million vinyl records sold in the US alone in July 2022 and a 30-year high in UK record sales last year, the report is a clear indication of the format’s ongoing resurgence. According to ERA, sales of vinyl records have brought in £80.9million so far this year – a figure up from £72.1million last year. Sales of PlayStation 4 and 5 games also increased, but only slightly, from £74.7m to £79.6m.
In a statement said Kim BayleyCEO of ERA:
“The rise of vinyl seems unstoppable. For a 74 year old analogue format to eclipse the technology of the digital age of gaming platforms is quite extraordinary. Ten years after its long rise back into the public eye, the vinyl revival is definitely unstoppable.”
The report also shows that vinyl continues to outperform CDs, with the latter fetching £68.9m in 2022 so far – down 8.1% on the previous year. This follows eight months after it was announced that 2021 US vinyl sales would surpass CD sales for the first time in 30 years.
Photo: Roman Power