A vinyl record shop owner has said the desire to “want something physical” could be the reason for a boost in vinyl sales.
It comes after the sale of vinyl records will be used as an indicator for the rate of inflation for the first time in more than three decades.
It will be included in the 744 items used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to measure inflation each month.
It joins other household goods like eggs, bread, milk and air-fryers.
Sales of vinyls have sky-rocketed this year which is thought to be down to Taylor Swift’s record-breaking 1989 album.
Kellys Records has been at the centre of Cardiff’s vinyl scene since 1969 and is located on the second floor of the Cardiff Market.
James Willicombe works there and believes it is no surprise vinyls have made a return.
“In the last five or six years, vinyls have become more popular”.
“We’ve seen people from the ages of ten years old coming into the store and purchasing their first record”.
The growth of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music has made it easier than ever before to listen to your favourite artist.
But James believes vinyl offers an opportunity to form a unique relationship between artist and listener.
“The want for physical media [of the artist you like] has grown. When you’re buying a vinyl, you’re investing in somebody you’re interested in”.
Vinyl purchases reached 5.9m units in 2023, according to data released by the UK record labels association, the BPI.
The figure hasn’t been that high since 1990 and the owner of Kellys Records, Allun Parkins, believes the good times are here to stay.
“The last six or seven years, vinyl has taken off stupidly. Vinyl [sales] have gone through the roof”.
“It’s not a fad, it’s here to stay”.
Allun Parkins, owner of Kellys Records