It’s estimated that vinyl record sales will reach $1 billion this year, about half of it sold in the United States. It may not be a coincidence that CD sales are at their lowest point since 2001. As for downloads? The downward trend is clear. Downloading music peaked in 2012 and has been declining ever since. Vinyl enthusiasts like Ronald Phillips New York will tell you the reason for this comeback.

This trend has been positively attributed to the high quality of sound that comes from vinyl records and the fact that it’s a tangible object. Digital songs are subject to damage or loss due to crashes or even technical issues with your computer. Expecting people to pay for songs that they can’t possibly access is not a safe bet. The thrill of digging through crates of albums is another reason people return to records, especially in New York, where it’s easy to find treasures with popular shops like Other Music and Academy Records.

6 Reasons People Prefer Vinyl

1. The feel of a record, the cover art, and sleeve notes

People enjoy collecting albums because it gives them a sense of ownership. They can hold and even smell the album, and they can read the liner notes and look at pictures of who made it. Watching DJs spin records is also an experience in itself – most people would agree that watching someone create a song on the fly is way more fun than scrolling through songs on your computer.

2. The crackle of a record

There’s an audible difference between listening to a vinyl record and digital songs online or with Bluetooth technology. Whenever you play a vinyl record, you get the crackle of old-fashioned sounds that remind us of concerts from the 60s. Many young adults have experienced listening to records. At the same time, their parents or grandparents play them – this is often a way of remembering their past and seeing what life was like before technology became so advanced.

3. The thrill of finding a rare vinyl record

You’ve probably heard people say that they prefer digital music because of the convenience of having every song they want on their phones. But what about the thrill of digging through crates full of records to find that one gem?

4. The feeling of nostalgia

More people are listening to vinyl because it allows them to go back in time and listen to an album as if they’re experiencing it for the first time – with all the excitement, anticipation, and wonder of a child.

5. Feeling closer to the artists you love when you buy their album on vinyl rather than digital

We’ve been conditioned to think that buying music only comes from having a credit card in our pockets or money in our accounts. However, vinyl records allow us to go back in time and support musicians through a method that is not as easy as simply clicking on a song.

6. The visual experience of owning an album

In the same way that you have to put more thought into what DVD to buy when there are two versions with different features, albums come in many shapes and sizes. You can choose a classic square record or a jazzy 3D album that you can open up. One of my favorites is the Moody Blues vinyl record with an impressive die-cut cover, allowing you to see different images on either side of the record.