The revival of analogue music listening
In today’s digital world, it is perfectly natural for most of us to listen to music on online platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube. However, in recent years, analogue sound storage media (such as vinyl records or cassette tapes) have also become increasingly popular. According to the Hungarian Recording Industry Association, nearly 70,000 vinyl records were sold in 2016, while in 2023 this figure more than tripled to 238,528 records sold. In response, artists are releasing their albums in this format in ever increasing numbers.
In their research, Zoltán Tánczos, János Novák and Márton Magyar sought to find out why so many people are turning to a less modern form of music listening. They analysed the music consumption habits of 475 people and found that there are several arguments in favour of analogue record players as opposed to online platforms.
There is a widespread belief, for example, that vinyl sounds better than other music formats: it provides such a high quality and lifelike sound that digitally recorded music cannot hope to achieve even with today’s technologies. In addition, the physical format can be a pleasurable experience in itself: the experience of listening to analogue music encompasses seeing the cover of the record, the spinning of the tape and the crackling sound of the vinyl.
According to the authors of the study, listening to analogue music can also be a sort of psychological recharging: unlike on music sharing sites, you cannot skip tracks on a record; you can rather listen to an entire album carefully, during which time you can slow down after a busy day. Music lovers may also be attracted by the fact that they can build a tangible collection of their records or cassettes, so that their favourite songs can sit on their own shelf, decorating their home.
The research further revealed that the most typical Hungarian consumer of analogue music is a middle-aged, middle-class, urban male with a degree and average salary. The survey also found that the majority of respondents buy their albums online, but they also visit exchanges and specialised stores, and swap records between themselves as well.
The authors point out that those who listened to songs in the same way decades ago can now relive their past pleasant musical experiences through nostalgia. This positive emotional impact can, in turn, improve their subjective quality of life. However, this does not exclude the possibility for younger generations to discover the benefits of analogue music – and a bit of “retro feeling” as well.