Music stores now facing a shortage of vinyl – WILX

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Music stores are now facing a shortage of vinyl, and it’s a much bigger issue than just wanting to relive the glory days.

Vinyl record sales exploded from the first half of 2020 to the first half of 2021, up nearly 27%. The demand for vinyl has risen each year for nearly a decade.

Record buyers have been frustrated as companies rush to produce new vinyl, leading to damaged or low-quality products.

Record stores say they worry about the long-term effects on their business if the issues aren’t fixed soon.

“I do orders every night and I tell my husband I want to throw my husband I want to throw my computer across the room because it’s getting difficult,” said Heather Frarey, owner of The Record Lounge in REO Town. “Things I could normally get every day like Nirvana and the Smashing Pumpkins, stuff like that, it’s just not there right now. The pressing plants are very backed up. It’s just a matter of not being able to get it in and right now going into Christmas, it’s going to be very difficult. But I’ll do what I can to get it in here.”

Record stores aren’t the only ones looking to get new albums in stock: online retailers have also reported demand rising much higher than supply.

Copyright 2021 WILX. All rights reserved.

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