Vinyl Records: The Black Gold Rush

Are vinyl records making a comeback? The press has been talking about it for several years. A needle gliding across an ebony disc, bins full of musical treasures and record shop walls covered with colourful jackets are certainly more photogenic than real estate prices, executives’ salaries or freemasonry. The figures justify this media (over)exposure: 3.9 million vinyl records were sold in France in 2019, up from 1.8 million in 2016. Independent record shops have been reopening (300 in 2020, 50% more than 10 years ago) and a new generation of customers is rising: one-third of buyers are under 30. The coronavirus crisis will surely cause a sales slump in 2020, but the popularity of vinyl records will not be affected. Yet, despite the bright outlook, all is not well in the vinyl realm. The first to benefit from vinyl’s comeback are the major record labels, which are re-releasing their back catalogues with strong marketing support. "There’s going to be talk about re-mastering, collectors, numbered…