Vinyl records, long thought to be the choice for DJ's and audiophiles, are regaining respectability in the massive music format battle. In fact, although vinyl represents only 1 percent of the new music sold in America, that percentage is on the rise with more companies returning to the format, not only to appease the musicians (who insist upon releasing their material via the format), but the music buying public, young and old.



Furthermore, in the UK, sales of seven inch singles (45's) have climbed to 87.3 % when compared to the same three-month period last year. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) reports annual sales on vinyl singles is now approaching 1.4 million per year.

Additionally, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) vinyl record sales have doubled in the percentage of music sales since the year 2000 and have become a $110 million dollar industry.

This phenomenon is also creating a new surge in audio transfer technology as companies scramble to keep up with the growing demand in this market. New products that allow audiophiles to play or convert their vinyl to other formats are now competing for the audio dollar. The ION USB turntable allows users to plug, play and record music through USB ports. More and more user-friendly conversion software like Acoustic's “Spin It Again” or the TEAC units that can easily record old albums onto CD are gaining in popularity. The sale of turntables is also seeing a definite rise in sales as companies try to keep up with consumer demand and the newest gadgets and models.

But why would you buy a vinyl record and then “convert” it to another musical format? Usability and convenience are two factors. Consumers are also drawn to the physical product and album cover art- something you don't get with downloads. Some audiophiles who collect rare vinyl and older records convert the music to a more easily accessible format, thus preserving their precious record albums from overuse and exposure to the elements.

One thing is sure, despite the incredible growth in the sale of downloads, there is still a niche market being carved in the music format landscape for the old-fashioned physical format of vinyl records. And as long as there is consumer demand, record companies are committed to meeting this demand- regardless of the format.