An interview with DJ, music producer and undergraduate of composition for film, games and other media. Louie Butcher talks on the impact of the growth in vinyl sales over the COVID-19 pandemic and the future of music.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen some businesses soar, whilst others entirely crash. The vinyl industry, however, has seen the highest amount of sales since the 1990s. According to the British Phonographic Association, “vinyl sales rose by 11pc in 2021… overall music consumption in the UK increased for a seventh year running with a rise of 2.5pc”. So, what is all the fuss about?

 

1.Do you believe the increase in vinyl sales to be a good thing?

“I’d say so. For bands I think it is a good thing because it means more people spending money on their albums. With vinyl, you’re paying for something that will last and something that encourages you to listen to it all the way through. I think its quite rewarding for people if they start to build a collection of vinyl as it shows physically what they like.”

2.What effects will this have on smaller bands and artists?

“It shows good character. If you’re printing vinyl, you’ll usually get it sold, people like trophies. Bands can aid this by making some of their vinyl limited edition through different coloured vinyl or posters inside the sleeve.  For example “BlankBanshee” who only released his music on cassette as this is where his samples were from at the time.”

3.Who will benefit from this most?

“Vinyl printing companies because they’d have the least income out of all music production companies. Small record shops definitely also, as smaller bands are represented on record store days that started in 2007, where artists can almost be celebrated.”

4.Why do you think this has happened?

“Speaking from experience it is a nice thing to own a physical 

copy of something vinyl as being an ‘age old thing’ and whether it sounds better. CDs can recreate recording much better than vinyl, but vinyl has imperfections when printed like a crackle which builds to the whole aesthetic of it being retro and the warmth that comes from the sound and it is definitely more full. It’s pleasant to hold a record of loaded tracks.

In the industry and underground scenes, from experience, there’s a lot of respect for people who can DJ using vinyl, which opens up another avenue as it’s considered harder. This means buying single tracks on vinyl, which costs you less money but you buy more of them. I’ve met a lot more DJs recently, who have been playing using vinyl.”

5.Do you believe vinyl will ever take over streaming platforms?

“It won’t. But it’s a good way to start bringing culture back and phonographic music. It’s a big time period that vinyl takes up. It would be a good idea for vinyl to make its resurgence, as this would help bring more time and attention into music. Be it the price of physically buying an album, or the amount of attention it takes to listen through the whole album.”

6.What do you see for the future of music?

“I think it has always been evolving and it won’t stop. In terms of genre, the way we listen to them will change. There is a cycle of music and how it evolves, we jazz it up and brand it something else. Which is not a bad thing, but neither are all the older platforms of music. For example spotify compared to browsing in your local music shop, which is usually a very nice environment to be in. I remember going to my local record store. It’s nice to see people just as interested in music as you are. You get talking about the music.

If you have a record player lying around or some spare cashola, maybe think about buying your favourite album on vinyl and see if you prefer it.”

-Louie Butcher.