Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music dominate the music industry, but an old-school format is making a serious comeback: vinyl. More and more young people are turning to LPs, CDs, and even cassettes as an alternative to digital music. But is this just a passing trend, or is it here to stay?
To get a better sense of vinyl’s growing popularity, I visited the record shop ‘De Plaatboef’ in Utrecht. “Many people think LPs are a hype, but that is a big misconception. Buying music has always been part of our culture—our parents and grandparents did it, and so do we. In the 2000s, LP sales briefly took a dip with the rise of streaming services, but LP and CD sales never went away. I always like to compare it to McDonald’s; McDonald’s popularity also took a dip for a few years, but we don’t say McDonald’s is hype either.” says Jons, a longtime salesman at ‘De Plaatboef’.
Jons sells a record to a customer. -Photo by Ruben De Greef
“The same applies for CDs: sales had a serious dip for a while, but they have returned to popularity in recent years. CDs are valued for their sound quality, while LPs are appreciated as both a listening experience and a piece of art. Many people nowadays use Spotify first to discover new music and if they like it, they buy a CD or LP of it. Young people have acquired a collecting urge and they want to strengthen their relationship with music. Cassettes are also being sold again more often, but significantly less than LPs and CDs.” Jons adds.
Axel Jans (22) has been collecting LPs for several years and, he says, has even become a bit addicted to them. “It started when I saw my father’s records in the attic. The record covers attracted me and I found it fascinating how music was created by a few grooves in a vinyl record.”
Axel puts on a record. -Photo by Ruben De Greef
“I then started buying records myself from my favourite artists. Unfortunately, vinyl records have become very expensive, so you really have to put your money where your mouth is. I always enjoy showing my record collection to people who visit my house. Through a record collection you also really get to know someone. You can talk about it endlessly.”
“I also notice among friends that LPs are popular. Many people hang them on their bedroom walls, like posters, because it looks cool and they have become a kind of collectible. I also buy them mainly as a collector’s item, because I still listen to Spotify a lot especially.”
LPs never truly disappeared, but their resurgence is stronger than ever. More than just a trend, vinyl represents a deeper connection to music—one that seems set to last.
