The sound quality differences between vinyl recordings and digital recordings is tested.
The pops, ticks and crackles of vinyl records is the music medium of choice for communication sophomore Jacquelyn Panetta.
“A big part of it is the romance of it — when you have a record player, you can hold an art product in your hand,” Panetta said. “It’s more of an experience than passively downloading things onto an iPod.”
The love Panetta has for vinyl is becoming more common among Americans, according to global information and measurement company Nielsen. In 2011, a report from Nielsen indicated an about 40 percent increase in vinyl sales, with 3.9 million units sold in 2011 compared to 2.8 million in 2010.
Many record stores in the area, and students who love the sound of their record players, hope the upward trend will continue.
There currently are three record stores in downtown East Lansing — Flat, Black & Circular, 541 E. Grand River Ave.; The Record Lounge, 111 Division St.; and East Grand Record Company, 213 E. Grand River Ave.
Although Flat, Black & Circular has been a staple in downtown East Lansing for years, both The Record Lounge and East Grand Record Company opened their doors for business in 2010.
Jon Howard, a manager and buyer at Flat, Black & Circular, said he believes the increase in sales could be attributed in part to a change in music culture.
“We’ve gotten past nostalgia (of records),” Howard said. “People are used to buying records now. … It’s not just a trendy thing anymore.”
Although some link the vinyl music medium to musicians of a different time, many contemporary artists now are releasing vinyl albums in addition to digital and CD options, East Grand Record Company owner Mike Voldeck said.
Voldeck said because of the more mainstream music available in the medium and renewed interest in the genre, more people interested in beginning a record collection have popped up. He said many of his sales have been college students interested in purchasing used record players to begin listening to music on vinyl.
“I think that people need something to collect — it just got too easy to download music online,” Voldeck said. “It’s cool because now the majority of stuff (vinyl) buyers want is available.”
Panetta, who first purchased her record player two years ago, said there’s not a television in her apartment — just her record player. Between the fuller sound and the different experience, Panetta said it’s not surprising the medium has seen an increase in popularity.
“It’s just been a way to have a deeper connection with music,” Panetta said. “It’s a fun way to listen to it.”
To Howard, records never died, but he hopes more people will continue to see the value of vinyl in the future.
“We have stuck with records from the very start,” Howard said. “We never gave up on them.”
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