According to the New York Post, Best Buy is thinking about selling vinyl records again in their stores. I had to read that twice too. I would find "Nixon Returns From Grave" easier to believe.


The reason: Vinyl albums' sales are growing. As much as 15 percent up in 2007 and a whooping 89% more in 2008. The 2009 forecast is better. The numbers are so good that Best Buy started a pilot program in 100 stores. The results were so good that the third largest music seller after iTunes and Wal-Mart is thinking about using as much as eight square feet in each of its 1,020 stores to sell vinyl records.

While sales of vinyl discs are not as big as CDs, the latter numbers have dropped 20%. Apparently, vinyl are becoming a cult object, with an audience seeking the appeal of the physical format and the special sound of analog (which in the case of the classics, could be more attractive than the digital productions). The interest, although minimal considering the rest of the industry, is big enough that big labels are re-releasing old records in vinyl. One example: In September 2008 EMI started to a new line called "From the Capitol Vaults," which included The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds," Jimi Hendrix's "Band of Gypsies," and Radiohead's "OK Computer." [New York Post]