I have worked in a record store for over twenty years and I can assure you that kids are going with the trend of analog coolness AND getting into hi fi.
I hear the most dumb comments and the most smart comments daily.
As far as the trend of analog well it's true... we sell lots of records to kids who don't even have a TT - but realize a lot of records now come with download codes or a copy on CD included. Some kids buy them to frame!! Did you know a lot or retailers sell frames for just that purpose... this I don't like so much :) But I remember when the CD was new, I had a hundred before I bought my first CD player, because the last thing I wanted was a brand new CD player and 1 CD!
On the other hand, I'm always in conversation with the coolest kids about all things hi fi... Dynaco, Eico, Heathkit, Primaluna, Rogue Audio, Garrard 301's and 401's, Lenco 75, Pro-Ject, Rega, Clearaudio, MM VS. MC, interconnects, Nitty Gritty VS. Spin Clean, stylus cleaner, inner and outer sleeves, phono pre-amps... you get the picture. I hear these words daily - from kids. I assure you lots of them are interested and spending their bucks figuring out what they like. Most kids can't afford "high end" but some are trying.
My friend owns a hi fi store and he is truly busy. He has been in the business for over thirty years and has seen all the changes and can't believe how much things have picked up.
On my end too, I can tell you vinyl has saved my business! Vinyl sales are up by 77% in 2011 over 2010, and 64% of those records are sold in indie record stores. Record Store Day is a zoo!
We need to give the kids a break. Most of them are born with a computer that says music and movies are free. The kid who works with me has recently bought a Rotel integrated, a Clearaudio Emotion, Focal speakers, Kimber cable, and some other goodies and he has never owned a CD player!! He has always played music on his computer at home or on an iPod in his car! This is amazing to me as someone who is going on 50, but quite simply - he is a kid. For a great long while it has been uncool to be stacking actual copies up on your shelf when every ad tells you to stack in on a hard drive or a stick or a chip or a usb or whatever.
I don't think most of the people who post here spend too much time at the record shop anymore, because you would see the kids eating up the goodies, and for whatever reason - they are eating it up.
And for all you guys who complain about the price of used vinyl... your days of pillaging are over! They are the in thing and now you have to pay crazy prices for them, but you should be used to this by now anyway.. you are and audiophile after all, and price is no object:)
The kids are alright.
I hear the most dumb comments and the most smart comments daily.
As far as the trend of analog well it's true... we sell lots of records to kids who don't even have a TT - but realize a lot of records now come with download codes or a copy on CD included. Some kids buy them to frame!! Did you know a lot or retailers sell frames for just that purpose... this I don't like so much :) But I remember when the CD was new, I had a hundred before I bought my first CD player, because the last thing I wanted was a brand new CD player and 1 CD!
On the other hand, I'm always in conversation with the coolest kids about all things hi fi... Dynaco, Eico, Heathkit, Primaluna, Rogue Audio, Garrard 301's and 401's, Lenco 75, Pro-Ject, Rega, Clearaudio, MM VS. MC, interconnects, Nitty Gritty VS. Spin Clean, stylus cleaner, inner and outer sleeves, phono pre-amps... you get the picture. I hear these words daily - from kids. I assure you lots of them are interested and spending their bucks figuring out what they like. Most kids can't afford "high end" but some are trying.
My friend owns a hi fi store and he is truly busy. He has been in the business for over thirty years and has seen all the changes and can't believe how much things have picked up.
On my end too, I can tell you vinyl has saved my business! Vinyl sales are up by 77% in 2011 over 2010, and 64% of those records are sold in indie record stores. Record Store Day is a zoo!
We need to give the kids a break. Most of them are born with a computer that says music and movies are free. The kid who works with me has recently bought a Rotel integrated, a Clearaudio Emotion, Focal speakers, Kimber cable, and some other goodies and he has never owned a CD player!! He has always played music on his computer at home or on an iPod in his car! This is amazing to me as someone who is going on 50, but quite simply - he is a kid. For a great long while it has been uncool to be stacking actual copies up on your shelf when every ad tells you to stack in on a hard drive or a stick or a chip or a usb or whatever.
I don't think most of the people who post here spend too much time at the record shop anymore, because you would see the kids eating up the goodies, and for whatever reason - they are eating it up.
And for all you guys who complain about the price of used vinyl... your days of pillaging are over! They are the in thing and now you have to pay crazy prices for them, but you should be used to this by now anyway.. you are and audiophile after all, and price is no object:)
The kids are alright.