Independent retailers get ‘significant boom’ after banner year for vinyl sales

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By Dave Larsen, Staff Writer Updated 1:48 PM Sunday, January 30, 2011

DAYTON — Vinyl record sales boomed in 2010, and several area independent music retailers are benefitting from the trend.

Vinyl was the fastest-growing music format in an otherwise distressed year, according to data from Nielsen SoundScan. The throwback format increased 14 percent, selling more copies in 2010 than any other year since SoundScan started tracking sales in 1991.

Vinyl sold 2.8 million units last year, led by the reissued Beatles classic “Abbey Road” and Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs.”

“Certainly in this music sales climate, increases of anything in sales are few and far between,” said Jim Donio, president of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers. Total album sales fell nearly 13 percent last year.

Vinyl accounts for a small percentage of overall sales, but has been a “significant boon” to independent retailers, Donio said. Fans bought 71 percent of vinyl albums last year in independent record stores, according to SoundScan.

“Vinyl sales are probably 60 percent of our sales, if not more,” said Alex Staiger, who co-owns Omega Music with his brother, Greg Staiger, and sister, Katy Gottschlich. Omega Music relocated in October to Dayton’s Oregon Arts District. The store sells both new and used CDs and vinyl records.

“The new vinyl is growing every week,” Alex Staiger said. “We are having trouble keeping up.”

New vinyl accounts for 60 percent of sales at Toxic Beauty Record in Yellow Springs, which sells both new and used vinyl records, along with a small number of limited-edition CDs.

Many bands are releasing vinyl records in conjunction with CDs and digital downloads, said Toxic Beauty owner Josh Castleberry.

“Five years ago it was only the real hip bands that were doing it, but now if Dave Matthews or Coldplay puts out a CD they are also putting a vinyl (record) out,” Castleberry said.

Today’s records are pressed on 180 gram audiophile-grade vinyl, which is less prone to warping and has better sound quality than records of the past. New vinyl records range in price from $10 to $30.

Turntables needed to play vinyl albums are available at Toxic Beauty, Omega and other area retailers.

“There is a much warmer sound; there is more depth to the music,” Castleberry said regarding the appeal of vinyl over digital formats.

The majority of vinyl customers at both area stores are in their teens and early 20s, the owners said.

“You’ve got a college audience discovering it, perhaps in some cases for the first time,” Donio said.

Vinyl sales should continue to rise, but the format isn’t likely to rebound to the levels of its heyday, Donio said. “It’s not going to replace the dominant formats of today,” he said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2419 or  dlarsen@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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