For the first time since 1986, vinyl record sales surpassed CD sales in the United States. The information was released by the Recording Industry Association of America (via Consequence of Sound ) , which revealed that Americans spent US$232.1 million (R$1.2 billion) on vinyl records in the first half of the year, exceeding the US$129.9 million (R$684 million) spent on CDs.
In the 1970s and 1980s, vinyl was the most popular way for people to listen to music, until it was surpassed by cassette tapes, followed by CDs and, now, by the digital format. Each new format reduced interest in vinyl until the product began to be consumed again by music fans in 2005.
The high-quality sound produced by vinyl on a turntable is incomparable to the sound of compressed files offered by most streaming services, which is why it has regained consumer interest, in addition to, of course, its vintage and nostalgic appeal.
Overall, the music market is undergoing major changes. The pandemic caused a nearly 6% drop in market profits, with profits in the first half of 2020 reaching $5.6 billion, with 85% coming from streaming, as expected. Subscriptions to such services increased by 24%.