Will technology make records obsolete one day?

Here is the data for the US from the RIAA. Although the trends are clear, it won’t change anyone’s mind and I’m not trying to do that.

From 2016 to 2017 Lp units shipped increased 5.3%

http://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/RIAA-Year-End-2017-News-and-Notes.pdf

From 2017 to 2018 Lp units shipped increased by 7.2%

http://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/RIAA-2018-Year-End-Music-Industry-Revenue-Report.pdf

So new vinyl is growing, but the rates of growth are just OK. Streaming is where the growth is, accounting for 75% of music revenues for 2018, while all physical media accounted for 12% (vinyl 3.6%, cd 6%, other 2.4%), about the same as digital downloads’ 11%.

Here is the history of all formats since the RIAA has been keeping records:

https://www.riaa.com/u-s-sales-database/

So, IMHO, money will be put to work in developing digital streaming and sound quality will eventually improve to where it is considered the best available.

@three_easy_payments Totally agree. Nothing comes close to the magic of my old 60s jazz recordings. They are so far ahead of any new pressings even the best analog efforts. Not sure why but they all sound grey by comparison. 

For as long as there are records they will not be obsolete to the audiophiles, some music lovers and collectors. They are already obsolete to others. But master tapes and records will deteriorate in time and become unlistenable. For how long can records survive ? No one knows so far, maybe a few centuries. They should figure out how to preserve analog recordings in analog not digital. I didn't hear anything about it and I don't think there are many who are interested, just read Audiogon forum with people talking about listening to analog recordings on cds and streaming. Maybe not all of them have s..t for brains but they certainly have no real hearing.

as long as the Artists, Music Producers, Engineers, Business Managers, strive for  

"this bar"

then technology will not make records go obsolete.

So, IMHO, money will be put to work in developing digital streaming and sound quality will eventually improve to where it is considered the best available.

Exactly. Exactly what was said when the "perfect sound forever" CD came out. And HDCD. And SACD. And probably at least half a dozen in between and since. Which, anybody even remember HDCD? Exactly my point. Obsolete is digitals middle name.