A student rushed to their dorm after a long day of classes, drops the needle on their record player and is transported to another world through music. 

This might sound like a scene from a movie set in the 1970s, but more and more this is becoming part of modern life. Vinyl sales have made a resurgence in the past few years. According to the Recording Industry of America, in 2022 and 2023, vinyl outsold CDs for the first time since 1988. The main age group buying records has been Gen Z. Most records being sold have been by current artists. In a digital world with everything at people’s fingertips, younger people are finding a passion in analog and physical media.

“We love bringing people into the vinyl world and to record stores,” said Derek Saylor, an employee at Siren Records in Doylestown.

Saylor said he’s seen a shift in the store’s clients: “In the past 10 years it seems like, probably with the help of pop stars like Taylor Swift, and major label acts, that stuff is bringing in the people who weren’t as inclined to be collecting records.” 

He explained that because of the limited runs and special editions, records have become even more of collectors’ items. Saylor said that for the most part they would see a lot of clients coming in for heavier music records such as punk and metal. Then when the pop stars started pressing their albums on vinyl, Siren saw a rise in the demographic that they were not seeing as regularly.

Both Derek Saylor, and Matthew Harris seem to agree with a big draw of record collecting being the social aspect. People coming in with friends and digging through the store to find records they want, or did not know they wanted, experiencing the thrill of not knowing what will be found. 

“I’ve always kind of wanted to have a collection of something, but I never knew what to collect,” said Matthew Harris, a 19-year-old new vinyl collector. Harris then went on to explain that social media helped point him into the direction of collecting vinyl.

“I realized they were pressing the albums that I actually like,” he said. “I figured I could get a turntable; finally start a collection of all the albums I’ve always wanted to have.” 

Matthew Harris

Harris said many of his friends shared the same feeling of wanting to physically own copies of the music they love. He learned that even people his age who he would not expect to have collections, are in the hobby, leading to new bonds over their shared interest. Harris also credited the social aspect to vinyl as a part of his fondness for the media, as he enjoys digging through crates at record stores, and flea markets, as well as, playing records with his friends when they hang out. 

This generation of listeners are bringing something unique to the hobby. Harris explained that there is a newer part to the hobby that some people he knows have added. 

Many collectors are finding a way to give the artist a boost on streaming apps.

In this streaming age, many young people will stream their music on their phones, but with a twist. The music on their phones will be playing muted, as they play the record. This adds to their Spotify data. Doing this also counts as plays for the artist, a little like double dipping. The artist gets paid for the record purchase and also their steamed numbers will be boosted. Many streaming sites do not pay artists enough for the music. This generation is trying to make sure their favorite artists keep making music. 

In the digital age, the rise of vinyl can be attributed to the draw of owning their favorite record, support for people’s favorite artists, and the adventure of looking through a record store with friends.

When asked the best way to get into the hobby of record collecting, both Saylor and Harris agreed, the best way to start is your local record store.

Siren Records is located at 25 E. State St. in Doylestown, PA 18901. To learn more email: sirenrecords@gmail.com