By Emma Lamison
Vinyl records are making a strong comeback in St. Petersburg. The music industry is changing, with artists using various types of records to create a unique collectible item that helps them connect with their fans more.
“My walls in my room are covered with my vinyl on display shelves to show off my favorite album artworks,” said CJ Neil, a vinyl collector with 90 records in his collection. “Some of them are just so beautiful that they should be actual art pieces.”
Neil, who was born and raised in St Petersburg, said his love for vinyl collecting started during high school, but he grew up with vinyl when his dad first introduced him as a kid.
“The first album I remember listening to with my dad was Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon,” Neil said. “The album was a story from beginning to end. Artists today should make more concept albums, so people listen to the album from start to finish.”
Another buyer of vinyl, Gabbi Valles, is barely beginning her own collection.
“Did you know that vinyl was the primary medium for music for most of the 20th century,” Valles said. “It’s crazy to think about, and it is still going strong.”
Collecting vinyl has also become a way for the young generation to express their individuality and their musical taste. Online vinyl-collecting communities are thriving, with apps that allow users to catalog and archive their vinyl collections.
“I love the Discogs app,” Neil said. “It comes in handy when someone asks how many records I own. The app also allows users to see what vinyl is trending, [and it allows you to] buy and sell vinyl to each other and see their estimated collection value.
Neil said his collection value is currently around $2,300, though it is not as high as other collectors he has met.
Artists have recognized the growing demand for vinyl, and record labels have adapted their marketing strategies to cater to the collectors.
Artists often release limited edition vinyl variants, which creates a sense of urgency and exclusivity for fans.
Bananas Records is a popular record store in St. Petersburg that caters to both collectors and casual music fans. It sells many new and old vinyls, including rare and special editions.
“The limited variants can include different cover art from the original, special colored vinyl or sometimes bonus tracks that are not available on other formats,” said Genevieve Stout, Bananas Records manager.
Record Store Day is an annual event that celebrates independent record stores and vinyl culture, and it has played a big role in the vinyl resurgence. The event began in 2008 and is a major day for collectors.
“Our Record Store Day is a full week event,” Stout said. “We have local artists play at our store. It’s a fun time.”
The most recent Record Store Day occurred on April 12, with many collectors and fans there to celebrate the resurgence of vinyl in St. Petersburg.