Other pressing matters

How the turntables! We're in the midst of a vinyl revival. Sales are spinning, younger artists are selling records. So, why doesn't it feel like a legit change?

- Karishma Kuenzang

On the one hand, music is enjoying a great rewind. Studios are investing in old-school synthesizers, artists are recording on tape (bit by bit, mistakes and all), and hip listeners are so into vinyl records that LPs now outsell CDs. Online record stores have boosted sales in India. Even Saregama relaunched some titles on vinyl recently. What a time to get your groove on!

On the other hand, the music sharks have smelled blood and are already circling. Taylor Swift's new album, The Tortured Poets Department, has been released on four separate vinyl editions, each containing a different bonus track, to get fans to collect them all. Billie Eilish's 2021 album, Happier Than Ever, had multiple vinyl variants too; they were manufactured from recycled vinyls. She's since publicly called out artists for being wasteful, and exploiting their fans. "Some of the biggest artists in the world making f---ing 40 different vinyl packages that have a different unique thing just to get you to keep buying more," she posted on social media.