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When it comes to music, there are all types of genres including rock, jazz, blues, indie, punk and many more. Listening to music today is completely different than in years of the past. People do not use CD players, record players or juke boxes. We have phones now. 

Music changes over time, just like everything else in the world. Some, when they are young, become obsessed with consumming new things, such as CDs.  

Recently, however, there has been a boom in vinyl culture. Vinyl culture is the social and cultural phenomenon of listening to and sharing records together.  

Back in 1890, Emile Berliner, the inventor of the gramophone, introduced flat disc shaped records because the shape made the records easier to transport. Five years later, in 1895, Berliner introduced a disc based on shellac. This microgroove plastic plays 21 minutes on each side—42 minutes in total. 

Vinyl records have held significance in pop culture and have played a significant role in music culture history. Records have been a main source of music since the 1950s, until they were replaced by CDs in the 80s and 90s. In 2020 in the U.S., vinyl sales went up by 26 percent. 

Cetrick Willis grew up around the Des Moines area and is currently attending Grand View University. Willis is deeply passionate about the topic of vinyl records, and has collected them with his family for years. He shared a memory of when his uncle would show him his collection and that is what got him into vinyl records.  

“Music is something I always loved, but vinyl records have many different things besides just listening to sound and going on YouTube,” Willis said. 

Willis would look for the message behind the vinyl records. Furthermore, he would specifically go to Bob Marley and oldies. Willis also mentioned Kendrick Lamar as the next artist he wants to get into. 

Willis’ uncle getting him into vinyl records and listening to music is a bonding experience for them. Willis and his uncle have a shared passion. 

“I remember the very first vinyl he showed me was by Snoop Dogg,” Willis said. 

Vinyl records are not the “in” thing anymore. Avry Olson is a first-year student at GVU on the men’s soccer team who recognizes a difference between now and then. 

“At my age, we don’t really see records or players as is,” Olson said. “Nowadays, you walk into someone’s house, you see different varieties of music being played but it’s not really record players anymore.”  

Olson mentioned that his grandfather collects records and they listened to Elvis Presley together. When his grandfather was younger, vinyl records were so intertwined with culture that they even made an appearance in punishments. If he misbehaved, he would have to label the records in alphabetical order.  

As technology changed over time, vinyl may not be the top choice for the younger generations looking to listen to music. Olson agrees that it is easier to just tap on our phones and have access to apps like Apple Music and Spotify. Despite their recent increase in popularity, Olson does not see records becoming as big as they once were. Olson thnks it would be fun for them to come back, because he was interested in them when he was spending time together with his grandpa. Olson’s grandpa was the reason he started liking vinyl records and spraked his curiosity to learn more about them. 

Despite being one of the oldest forms of music and leaving a remarkable statement over the recent years, the popularity of vinyl records have varied. Vinyl records offer warmth and richness of sound that many cherish. They hold a cultural significance that extends beyond music consumption and leaving impact in people’s lives. As technology continues to evolve, many people will start to cherish something that is not so popular anymore. Regardless, it seems that vinyl records will never go out of style.