Because of Harry I Bought a Record Player

At the start of 2020, I knew that vinyl records were making a comeback, but with having an Apple music subscription already, I didn't think much of them. Vinyls are expensive and if I already had the music, why pay for the vinyls? Oh has my opinion changed now.

In Fall of 2020 I took a college communications class. One of the discussions was on forms of music. We were talking about how music has progressed from being on brown wax cylinders to 78 rpm records and 45 rpm records to cassettes, CDs and then now on streaming platforms. Music has progressed quite a bit, but this generation is obsessed with obtaining music in vinyl record format which was first introduced in 1948. I asked my professor why everyone wants records so much. As you can see from the chart below, records are selling like crazy! In fact, record sales are almost surpassing digital downloads.

After talking to my professor, we determined that owning records and a record player is for the physical nostalgia. We want something that we can physically touch. We want to hold that CD or that vinyl, open it up and look at the pictures. We want to physically open the record player, put the record on and start it. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased this want, or dare I say, need. We cannot go to concerts, so what do we do? We buy the vinyl records. Not only do they provide arguable a better sound quality, but they are something physical that we can hold on to.

Something interesting that I found is that 41% of record player owners, don't even use it. I think that people just want that physical presence of music in their room. Some people boy the records for room decor or just to support their favorite artist with probably no intention of even playing them.

Now, how does Harry Styles play into all this? I bought a record player because of Harry. I saw everyone talking about the pretty records and thought that I kind of want that too! I want something physical that I can hold that represents Harry. So I bought a record player and started my record collection and I am obsessed! I thought that I would maybe buy one or two, but now I have a whole collection from Shawn Mendes, One Direction, Taylor Swift and more! To be honest, I don't play the records as much as I should because I do stream the music first, but there is just something about owning a limited edition record and the feeling of opening up the turntable and starting the record yourself. Nothing can beat that feeling.

If you would told me last year that I would own a record player and several records, I would have thought you were crazy. With popular artists making limited edition vinyls (like the infamous Watermelon Sugar or Coke Green Fine Line Vinyls) collecting them is fun! The artists know that we like vinyls so they are making more and more! Take Taylor Swift for example. For her Folklore album she released 8 variant vinyls for people to collect. Now most of us cannot obviously afford to purchase all 8, but you can see how by doing that she is engaging her audience and it makes fans want to own the vinyls.

I own the Target Exclusive Fine Line Vinyl and am waiting on my Coke Green Vinyl to be delivered from Harry. Nothing beats playing that speckled vinyl and watching it spin as Fine Line plays.

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Do you own a record player? If so, what is your favorite record that you own and do you play your records or use them as decor?

Keep an eye our for a blog post coming in the near future about where to find and purchase vinyls! (including hard to find One Direction vinyls!)