Why are we collecting vinyl in 2026?

In the early 2000s, vinyl seemed dead and buried, lost behind CDs, downloads, and streaming. Now physical media – primarily vinyl – is experiencing a revival. With US vinyl revenue having grown by almost 3000% between 2008 and 2025, and vinyl’s profits growing for 16 consecutive years in the UK, the resurgence of this well-trodden medium is remarkable.  

I discussed this with Chris Heard, owner of Carnival Records – a thriving local record shop in the town of Malvern, recently named among the best in the world by The Financial Times. He emphasised the pandemic as the turning point for the ‘vinyl revival’. While nostalgia is undoubtedly a factor in this comeback, Heard feels that young people are the main drivers of the revival, estimating around 70% of the shop’s customers to be Generation Z.   

One of the only ways to reliably listen to the music you value is to own it

What else is it that draws people to these records? In an age of streaming, where everything is at our fingertips, what would cause young people to spend their money to buy music they can access online for free? One factor is the desire of listeners to own their favourite records. Especially with more and more musicians pulling their work from streaming services, one of the only ways to reliably listen to the music you value is to own it.  

But why vinyl? Why not a cheaper format such as CDs or digital downloads? While endless debates rage over each format’s listening quality, listeners are consistently drawn to the magic of vinyl. Heard described the “intangible, metaphysical warmth” of listening to vinyl, and I believe this speaks to the core of its resurgence. It is not just the sound of the music which is ‘warm’, but the whole experience too. The ritual of vinyl compels attention and enforces community. The turning over of a record and the necessary intentionality of sitting down and listening to an entire album, as well as the fire-like crackle of the vinyl itself, is what vinyl is.  

Vinyl provides a refuge, not just for our ears, but for our souls

In a world where music is increasingly becoming background noise, vinyl forces us to sit down and just listen, to take in the music and pay attention. The vinyl revival isn’t as simple as sound quality, ownership, and cost. It’s about how we live, and how we can find a respite from the digital landscape which can feel all-consuming. In an age of constant distraction, vinyl provides a refuge, not just for our ears, but for our souls.