Villalobos, vinyl, the night. All magnificent. But is this really what will save us?
🎧 The fascination with vinyl
Over the last decade, vinyl has made a spectacular return. Records are back in shops, markets, Instagram feeds. Sales are growing, limited editions abound, and collectors trade catalog numbers like relics. For some, it’s resistance. For others, nostalgia. For many, a hunger for something real in an intangible world.
Let’s be honest: vinyl has charm. The warmth of analog sound, the artwork, the physicality, the gesture of placing the needle. But is this comeback really a return to deeper listening?
⚡️ What does this comeback really mean?
Today, many vinyl records are bought but never played. Still sealed, filed away like collector’s items or interior design pieces. And when they are played, it’s often on cheap 60-euro turntables with poor tracking and tinny sound.
Is this really analog revival? Or just another fetish to display? A 40-euro record is accessible only to some — often more for status than for love.
🛋️ Cost, waste, and contradictions
Pressing vinyl in 2024 is expensive. Independent artists often can’t afford it. Waiting times can exceed six months. Minimum pressing quantities push out small productions. The result? Less and less new music is pressed without major label support.
And the environmental impact isn’t minor: PVC, ink, packaging, global shipping. Vinyl is beautiful — but sustainable only if produced responsibly and bought for the right reasons.
🦖 The nostalgia trap
Let’s be honest: behind the vinyl resurgence often lies a desire for the past. But nostalgia can blind us. It can distract from the present. And make us forget that listening is, first of all, a state of presence.
Streaming doesn’t mean superficiality. Vinyl doesn’t guarantee depth. What makes the difference is the intention with which we listen.
✅ Conclusion
Vinyl won’t save us. But neither will streaming ruin us. It’s our attitude that matters. Truly listening isn’t about formats. It’s about giving time and value to the act of listening. About stopping. Staying. Being touched.
And maybe, then, vinyl can go back to being what it once was: not a symbol — but a tool. For truly listening.
📂 Verified sources
- RIAA Sales Database – Official U.S. vinyl sales data
- Pitchfork (2023) – Analysis of rising costs and environmental impact
- The Vinyl Factory – Industry insights and features
- Rolling Stone (2024) – Vinyl’s role in the modern music economy
Sostieni Dancity
Il nostro progetto è indipendente e senza fini di lucro.
Se ti piace quello che facciamo, puoi aiutarci con una piccola donazione.
Questo articolo è stato prodotto con il supporto di strumenti di intelligenza artificiale, utilizzati per l’organizzazione dei contenuti e l’ottimizzazione testuale. Le fonti, le idee e i materiali provengono dall’archivio e dall’attività dell’Associazione Dancity.
