How many Americans are still buying vinyl records?

Jamie BallardData Journalist
April 12, 2019, 2:00 PM GMT+0

People who prefer buying records/CDs are more likely to say they like seeing their favorite artists live

Record Store Day is happening Saturday, April 13. Although some consider vinyl records to be a thing of the past, data from YouGov Plan and Track finds that three in ten (31%) US adults say they’re willing to pay for music on vinyl records.

Baby boomers (36%) are the most likely age group to indicate that they’re willing to pay for music on vinyl records, while one-third (33%) of Gen Xers, 28% of millennials, and 26% of Gen Zers say the same.

Although streaming apps and digital music have become increasingly common, close to half (46%) of all Americans say they like to buy physical copies (vinyls or CDs) of their music. Baby boomers (47%), Gen Xers (48%), millennials (48%), and Gen Zers (45%) are all nearly equally likely to agree with this statement.

People who like to buy physical copies of their music are more likely to say they’re both happy to spend money to support their favorite musical artists (72% vs 53% of the total population) and enjoy seeing their favorite artists live (76% vs 59%).

Artists including Green Day, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, and Peter Gabriel are all set to release special copies of their records at participating record stores for this year’s Record Store Day.

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Learn more about YouGov Profiles and sign up to be a panelist here.

Methodology: Total weighted sample sizes were 33,955 US adults for the statement about willingness to pay for vinyl records and 78,411 US adults for all other statements about music/media. YouGov Profiles uses digital tracking technology and daily online surveys to collect a variety of opinions, attitudes and behaviors. Interviews were conducted online.

Image: Getty

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