For the first time in 35 years, traditional vinyl records have outsold the compact disc – the format designed to replace them – according to figures from the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA).
Taylor Swift led the charge, selling 80,000 copies of her new album ‘Midnights’, aided by releasing it on a range of differently coloured vinyls.
Kim Bayley, ERA chief executive said: “It’s a watershed moment for the entire music industry. After the CD came along and pretty much wiped out the vinyl business, few of us would have believed a renaissance like this was possible.”
The top 10 best sellers were a mix of the classic and the contemporary – with 45 years separating the oldest from the newest.
Here’s what made the chart.
9. Being Funny in A Foreign Language – The 1975
About to embark upon an 14 date tour of the UK, The 1975's fifth album 'Being Funny in A Foreign Language' was recorded as lockdowns eased and were lifted. It was warmly recieved by fans new and old, earning 9th spot on the 2022 vinyl sales chart. Photo: Contributed
10. AM – Arctic Monkeys
A second entry for the Arctic Monkeys, this time with their rock-focused album 'AM' which was released back in 2013. Very different from their more recent output, it was one of their most successful releases commercially and continues to shift plenty of vinyl copies, completing the top 10. Photo: Contributed