Vinyl sales in the United Kingdom have reached their highest level in nearly two decades, highlighting the continued revival of physical music formats.
Vinyl sales in the United Kingdom have reached their highest level in 18 years, according to a new report published by the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA). The figures point to a continued resurgence of physical music formats and a growing interest in record collecting among new generations of listeners.
The report shows that record shops are steadily increasing their share of the market, with vinyl continuing to attract strong demand, particularly from younger buyers discovering physical formats for the first time. While online purchases and home delivery still account for the majority of sales, traditional record stores are playing an increasingly important role in the market’s growth.
According to the data, 41.2% of all physical records are now sold in-store, a notable increase compared to 31.7% in 2021. The expansion of record shop sales reflects the renewed appeal of browsing and purchasing music in person, as well as the growing cultural value associated with vinyl collections.
Over the same period, physical stores have increased their share of the total UK music market from 4.8% to 6.2%, further demonstrating the steady return of brick-and-mortar music retail in an era dominated by digital streaming.
