Is the Record Album Dead? Not by a Long Shot

In 1982, Sony and Philips introduced the compact disc, a digital music playback format that used a laser to read the disc. The compact disc was expected to quickly replace the long play record album (LP) that Columbia had introduced in 1949. The product took off quickly, even at a retail price that was nearly double that of a record album, and sales of record albums plummeted. The CD, as compact discs quickly became known, offered what audio magazines called "perfect sound forever" while offering immunity to the effects of the wear and tear that often left records noisy. The record companies reduced the price of manufacture through improved production methods, and the cost of manufacturing a CD soon fell below that of manufacturing a record. Even so, compact discs continued to sell well at the higher price, making the CD quite a profitable product, indeed.

In order to maximize their profits, the record companies decided to phase out the phonograph record. They told their retailers that they would no longer accept returns on defective albums. This caused many retailers to stop stocking records altogether, and the record album had more or less disappeared from the market by 1990. And then something strange happened. The record began to make a comeback. Sparked by a few artists that demanded that their record companies issue their product in record form, the LP never quite went away. New albums by bands such as Pink Floyd and Metallica were issued in the mid-1990's in LP form, and those releases not only sold out, but now command a hefty premium on the collector's market. A number of independent bands that were signed by small record companies began to issue records in addition to CDs, partly just to be "different" and partly because the band members just liked listening to records. In some cases, in order to spur sales of the record, artists would include an extra song or two on the record that was not included on the compact disc of the same album. Throughout the 1990's and to the present day, several million record albums have been sold every year.

Granted, records are harder to find in stores than they were fifteen years ago, and an interested buyer might have to seek out a collector's shop or buy them online. But new albums by major and minor artists, along with older, "classic" albums, continue to be released in the LP format. Last year, in Japan, EMI Records issued every album by the Beatles in LP form as limited edition items. They sold out quickly, even at nearly $500 for the set. The market for records is smaller than it used to be, but the record album still thrives.

©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing.

Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm that operates several retail Websites, including AluminumChristmasTrees.net, a site devoted to vintage aluminum Christmas trees and accessories, and RarePinkFloyd.com, a site devoted to rare records, compact discs and memorabilia by the band Pink Floyd.

---

These MIDI Tools Are Music To My Ears

Curious about MIDI? Want to find out what tools are... Read More

Jazzing Up Your Leadership Style

I met New York jazzman Tim Armacost in college almost... Read More

How Much of Your Potential Will You Release?

Do you ever feel there is an inner voice speaking... Read More

Performance and Gigs

"For optimum amp tone onstage, plug your amp into your... Read More

Solid-Bodied Gretsch Corvette Guitar

The Solid-bodied Corvette (not to be confused with the Corvette... Read More

10 Music Download Legal Points

Everybody's doing it: downloading music and sharing files. People who... Read More

How To Make a Fortune Teaching Piano (or Guitar, or Drums, or Singing, or?) To Beginners

"But I'm not in it for the money" you say.Me... Read More

How to Get Past Creative Blocks

When I first began playing the piano and improvising, there... Read More

How To Play Guitar Like a Pro!

Having taught the guitar for many years, I see the... Read More

Eminem: A Social Commentator

In an interview given to Musik Magazine in 2000, Eminem... Read More

Piano Lessons Can be Fun!

There are essentially two ways to learn piano - note... Read More

Avoid These 3 Common Mistakes - When Improvising

Mistake #1 - Thinking about what you're going to playA... Read More

The Irish Harp

The harp that once through Tara's halls the soul of... Read More

Right-Hand Techniques for New Age Piano

Recently, I had a student ask me to offer some... Read More

Flaming Guitars! Minarik Fuels The Excitement of a New Generation of Musicians

From the Telecaster to the Flying V to the Iceman... Read More

Growing and Keeping Loyal Fan Support

Fan support for musicians is a two way street. You... Read More

Be An Organized Church Pianist

Playing in front of a congregation each Sunday is no... Read More

How to Play Piano Using a Few Chords

How many chords do you need to create a piece... Read More

All About Eminem

Marshall Mathers, was born October 17, 72, and could be... Read More

The Art Of Practicing - How To See Real Results

I have always believed that success, in practically any subject... Read More

New Age Music - How Its Made

Different styles of music have different "sounds." We can all... Read More

The Revolution of Electric Guitars

Sometime during the 1930's electric guitars were introduced onto the... Read More

Guitar Facts: A Glossary of Terms

It is said that the forerunner of the guitar, the... Read More

Home Run Gigs

Are you still playing your heart out to small audiences... Read More

Do you really need college to learn to play music?

Music courses are a great way to learn about virtually... Read More

The Case Against Traditional Piano Lessons

How would you like to spend 4 years in a... Read More

To Record or Not To Record - At Home, That Is

I will be honest. I am addicted to music recording.... Read More

Taps; Piping Military Honors: A Ceremonial Guide for Highland Bagpipers

It has become increasingly popular for U.S. military veterans and... Read More

How To Write A Song

Did you ever wish that it was your song playing... Read More

Canadian Stars: The Marble Index and the Waking Eyes

Canadian Indie bands are dominating the music scene and it... Read More

Music Licensing

Music licensing can be a very confusing subject. My... Read More

Creating Your Own Unique Music

Have you ever dreamed of penning your own compositions? Writing... Read More

Writing Hit Songs

There are a lot of factors to writing a hit... Read More