Physical editions of music releases were once the only way for people to listen to new albums and songs. Nowadays, streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music have replaced the hype for traditional music. But with the music industry being so successful in recent years, there has been another surge in popularity for physical editions of albums.
In a world where so much of our lives are digitized, tangible items become an important part because they are something real. Collecting physical music allows the collector to have a special connection with the music they listen to. There are also arguments that physical music sounds warmer than the cold digital versions of songs.
In the last couple of years, music artists have been releasing multiple editions of their albums, sometimes including different exclusive songs on each version. These editions can be only available in-store or only available online. Sophomore Claire Ramos shared, “More album versions make me want to collect more, especially if they have new songs.” Taylor Swift is a well known example of an artist who has released multiple album versions. Most recently, Swift released 19 different physical versions of her 2024 album THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT. Typically, different versions of new albums include exclusive songs or new versions of previously released songs.
Collecting vinyls becomes a goal for avid music fans. Junior Kate Wilson shared, “I love collecting different vinyls if they have different colours, or are marbled or translucent.” Sometimes artists design different covers for their albums as well to match new vinyl colours.
One of the biggest events for record collectors is Record Store Day, or RSD. On Record Store Day, artists release limited edition exclusive versions of their album. Record Store Day takes place twice a year, on both the third Saturday of April and on every Black Friday. It celebrates independently owned record stores. Creating limited edition versions of albums entices fans to purchase more physical editions of the album, further growing the popularity of physical music. Album versions that release on Record Store Day become greatly sought after and increase in price.
Not only vinyls, but also CDs have seen a recent surge in popularity. CDs are smaller and more durable than vinyls, so they are seen as the quicker, more travel-friendly option. They are easier to use on the go compared to a vinyl record, which is very fragile and larger, so it would be more difficult to bring it on the go.
The growth of physical music spiked in 2024, and 2025 will most likely be no less. Artists constantly release new albums, songs, and EPs. It’s likely 2025 will once again raise the popularity of physical music.
