Younger U.S. Consumers Lift Vinyl to $1.4 Billion as Dumbphone and Physical Goods Demand Grows
Updated
Updated · WOAI · May 14
Younger U.S. Consumers Lift Vinyl to $1.4 Billion as Dumbphone and Physical Goods Demand Grows
2 articles · Updated · WOAI · May 14
$1.4 billion in U.S. vinyl revenue and a 10% annual gain marked the clearest sign of an analog revival, with records outselling CDs in units for the second time since 1987.
Gen Z and millennials are driving much of that shift, buying records to support artists and turning to feature phones as they seek relief from digital overload and social-media-related mental health concerns.
That preference for tangible, offline experiences is also lifting other categories: Kodak Alaris and Fujifilm have reported three years of unusually strong 35mm film demand, causing supply shortages and revivals of discontinued stocks.
Physical retail and in-person play are benefiting too, with the American Booksellers Association reporting its highest membership in decades and the global tabletop games market reaching about $14 billion in 2023.
Can buying physical media truly cure the anxiety and 'brain rot' caused by a digital-first world?
Is the 'revenge of analog' a true cultural shift or a luxury trend for those who can afford to disconnect?
With tech giants now selling 'smart' dumbphones, is the analog escape just another digital product line?