Did vinyl sales just hit the proverbial brick wall?

Wow. Yes, so I actually read the entire article, and again...wow. The responses to this misinformed individual have pretty much already been made, either in his original article or here in this forum. Talk about apples and oranges. The two most interesting points I garnered from the reading were first, the only categories where  increases were made was cassettes (very nominal) and (Surprise Surprise!) vinyl records. The overall decline I would assume is mostly from streaming. Seems a great way to introduce yourself to an artist or genre. However to this point recorded music has always been a 'possessive' endeavor (for me anyway). My generation 'streamed' AM radio in the beginning, and then FM. You couldn't get the material on demand, but you were guaranteed to hear it again in an hour or so. Younger X's, Z's and millennial's choose to spend their resources on other things (like $8 cups of coffee). They are generally much more mobile and less interested in purchasing things like homes or diamonds. Kudos to them all. I've been buying records for going on 60 years. Wasn't a sealed one in the more than 4K examples. However in the late 80's and early 90's I began to purchase multiple copies of popular artists like REM, U2, Nirvana, Soul Asylum, etc. and left them sealed. Since retirement I have been very fortunate to recoup my investments, ten fold and more. My second observation is that no one has even mentioned CONDITION when espousing on the pros and cons of used records. Always took very good care of my vinyl, running most less than 'perfect' pressings back to the retail outlet for an exchange. And yes, most are still in NM/M- condition. Whether from the 60's or 2K, my asking prices reflect this. As I watched what 'collectible' records started selling for 40 years gone, I weathered the "just take 'em to Goodwill" pressure of this time period. Happy now, supplements my paltry retirement and Social Security payments today. Peace and enjoy the music as it was meant to be heard. AB      

The resurgence of vinyl the last 10-15 years has largely been, “millennials,” and now, “Gen Z.”
Ditto for the cassette thing. Hilarious.
There was a different fella than normal, a younger fella behind the desk at one of the record stores I frequented almost daily a few years back, and he told me, “I only listen to cassettes.” I didn’t know if he was serious at first. He was indeed serious, as I eventually realized after (barely) stifling my laughter.
It is bound to bottom out as vinyl’s damn expensive, people have crap  for money, and kids realize how much easier and cheaper it is to just stream.
Then it might make a “comeback” again.
There’s not much to see here.
It survived the ‘90s and ‘00s.
 

There's a simpler explanation for slowing vinyl sales - inflation and the crunch in tech jobs. Vinyl records are a luxury purchase and an easy casualty when people's real spending power is decreased.

Couple things...

#1 - @ghdprentice - Budget systems go up to $50K? Are you kidding me? Maybe $5K or $10K is pushing it, so for MOST people vinyl can sound better for the buck if you know what you are doing.

#2 - back in college (early 80's) when I started collecting LPs actively, regular pressings were around $8-$10, audiophile ones were $15-$20, and UHQRs were $40-$50 (if I my memory serves me correctly, which is optimistic - I may be off a bit). Say inflation is 3-4%, that would equate to regular records today being $32-$40, audiophile ones being $60-$80, and UHQR's (or One Steps) being $160-$200. Things cost more now. I don't think the prices for new records are a rip off. The One Steps and UHQRs are the closest to being an even deal. 4% growth is better than declining. I do agree that the industry could be more efficient in releasing back catalogue titles, but they are a business and are trying to make money and expect blockbuster sales immediately upon new reissue, like movies at a theater. Thankfully we have companies like Acoustic Sounds (Analogue Productions), Music Direct (Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab), Speakers Corner, Blue Note, etc. that are keeping things moving forward. But even they won't do a reissue if they don't think it will sell. But I think they are closer to the market with expectations for sales than the regular labels are, who seem to be more conservative these days. 

Most of the people buying the vinyl are older people like me.I'm not buying a album that I could of bought new back in 1969 for $3 bucks .So we here oh a,$30 dollar album is like buying a,$3 buck album 50 years ago.Ok but I'm not paying 30 for it or 100 or 125 for a MM album. WHICH we were told was analog from start to finish......