hi there Cecil,
I think you’ve got it slightly wrong with regards to the death of the vinyl record. OK, you didn’t say death; I think it was “decline”.
My dear father runs a record pressing plant here in the UK and I must assure you that this is far from the case. I’d respectfully ask you to consider the following viewpoint.
Many folk nowadays are producing electronic (and even analog) music, at home on their computers (I’m not dismissing “real” musicians at here). Naturally, once the said piece of musical genius is complete, it is very simply copied down to CD.
Well Cecil, what of this CD? Do these “artists” all make multiple copies and send them off to promoters and radio stations? Cecil, my earnest and learned friend, they all certainly don’t. Some of course, do.
In fact, there has been a gradual increase in the use of vinyl and quite naturally, has the technology to play the vinyl!
Why is this? Well, this is only my view, but it seems to me that there is a comparison to be made historically. When I was a young dreamer, I wanted to play drums.
Back then, being in a band was the ultimate dream for me. In modern reference to the current UK ‘scene’, the idols of the present day are in fact the DJ’s (still not disbarring the real players). These people that play the music of others are worshipped! Bizarre indeed but factually correct.
So, I guess that the aspirations of the eager youthful masses are quite probably more bent on being a successful DJ than acquiring the skill to play an instrument. I mean, you just need a PC, the right software, perhaps some musical skill and hey presto! You can go and get it cut to vinyl AND play it down the local club to 1500 (allegedly)drug crazed young allnighters. Brilliant and altogether simple.
Getting back to dear old father, he really cannot keep up with demand. Factories have closed yet demand increases (mathematically obvious but pertinent). The kids want their tunes on vinyl. CD is OK but the majority definitely want vinyl. ANYONE can show of their latest creation on CDr but not everyone can show it off on 12" vinyl.
I put it to you that the kudos attached to vinyl and it’s skill in matching beats and putting lengthy “sets” together will see an even larger increase in the next few years, as has been the case since 1974 (see Larry Levan for details).
best regards
Stef
mistercuts
UK