Fun Vinyl Facts and Figures From U.S., U.K.

Vinyl Up Everywhere

U.S. sales of vinyl albums were estimated at 8.2 million for 2014, up 38% over the previous year and the highest since SOUNDSCAN started counting back in 1991. In the U.K., BPI predicts LP sales will reach 1.2 million by the end of the year, up 54% from 2013, marking the first year to break the 1 million mark since 1996.  In the U.K., 2014 vinyl marketshare is 2%, the highest since 1994. The five top-selling vinyl albums in the U.K. for the year were ARCTIC MONKEYS’ “AM,” JACK WHITE’s “Lazaretto,” PINK FLOYD’s “The Endless River,” “ROYAL BLOOD” and OASIS’ ‘Definitely Maybe.”

The U.S.’ Top 5 Vinyl Retailers by marketshare are AMAZON (12.3%), URBAN OUTFITTERS (8/1%), HASTINGS ENTERTAINMENT (2.8%), HOT TOPIC (2.4%) and TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT (2.2%).

For U.K.’s RECORD STORE DAY, NIRVANA’s “Pennyroyal Tea” was the best-selling vinyl single and TAME IMPALA’s “Live Versions” the best-selling album. Independent labels accounted for 78% of all vinyl sales that day, compared to 22% for major labels, while reissues accounted for 54% with new releases garnering 46%.

Other British RECORD STORE DAY tidbits:  more than 640 exclusive productrs were offered at 245 participating retailers, with total sales at independent stores worldwide increasing by 646% from the week prior, while vinyl sales were boosted by 2,042%  BLACK FRIDAY turned out to be the second biggest week of sales for vinyl (after RECORD STORE DAY) since 1991.
All figures thanks to BPI, BILLBOARD and www.thevinylfactory.com.

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