When they first appeared in 1948, vinyl records represented a major breakthrough for the recording industry. Compared to their predecessors, shellac records, vinyl records were more durable, allowed for longer recording times, and also achieved greater sonic fidelity. As a result, they were quickly adopted as the primary medium for music reproduction around the world. The impact of the emergence of LPs went far beyond a simple technological innovation. With vinyl records and the possibility of longer recordings, the concept of the music album spread, as an artistic object with its own concept, expressed not only by the tracks themselves but also by their cover and booklet graphics. From then on, artists around the world began creating their works based on these parameters.

In the 1990s, with the widespread adoption of CDs, vinyl records gradually lost market share, eventually becoming virtually non-existent. With the spread of MP3s in the 2000s and other digital formats via the internet around 2010, CDs also began to lose market share, eventually being relegated to the background. Today, music streaming platforms dominate the market, each with their own specific characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses.

However, for some years now, LPs have been making a comeback. Not to compete with streaming services for the most popular media platform. Collectors and lovers of analog sound are increasingly emerging, of all ages and from around the world. These people are realizing that vinyl records provide, in addition to quality music and beautiful artwork, incredibly memorable experiences.

Want to start your LP collection but don't know how? NOIZE Record Club delivers exclusive monthly kits with a record and magazine to your door. Subscribe and join the club.

THE RETURN

Vinyl record consumption never completely disappeared, but between the 1990s and 2010, it was more restricted to the niche of DJs or collectors, who turned to second-hand record stores to acquire their records. Since around 2010, LPs have been returning to the spotlight. Connoisseurs around the world have gradually returned to vinyl records. Since then, artists have released their own pressings, vinyl clubs have emerged, factories have reopened, second-hand record stores and specialty stores have grown, and an entire market has been revived. The good old (or new) LPs have definitively won back the hearts and minds of contemporary listeners. Here at NOIZE Record Club, we are proud to be part of this revival, being the first vinyl record subscription club in Latin America.

Today, internationally popular artists like Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Billie Eilish release vinyl albums that sell thousands of copies within hours. In the US, the world's largest record-consuming market, sales have been growing steadily for some years now . In this same market, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been surprising growth of more than 100% in the consumption of vinyl records. In 2020, for the first time since the 1980s, LP sales in the US were higher than CD sales . Therefore, we can happily say that the return of records is a fait accompli.

LPs have been generating great interest among young audiences, people who often weren't even born when records were replaced by CDs. In these cases, the world of vinyl becomes a complete discovery. Besides the uniqueness of analog sound, handling the artwork, choosing the right turntable and sound equipment, and searching for classic titles in second-hand stores and online are experiences that only vinyl records can provide.

VINYL IS BACK IN BRAZIL

There's no exact data when it comes to the resurgence of LPs in Brazil, but a good starting point was the reopening of Polysom in 2009, when it became the only vinyl record factory in operation in all of Latin America. Having initially opened in 1999, during a period of low demand for vinyl records, the factory held out until 2007, when it closed. However, in 2009, it reopened its doors in Belford Roxo, Rio de Janeiro, and established itself as the sole record manufacturer until 2017, when Vinil Brasil opened in São Paulo. To this day, only these two factories remain in Brazil. Learn how LPs are made here.

Another milestone in the national revival of LPs was the creation of NOIZE Record Club in 2014, the first vinyl club in Latin America. The project arose from NOIZE magazine, a specialized music publication that had existed since 2007. The club offers its subscribers exclusive kits containing an LP and a magazine entirely dedicated to the current album. The releases of classics and new names on LP definitely contribute to the continued growth of the vinyl record audience. NRC remained the only vinyl record club in Brazil until 2019, when other clubs emerged.

Second-hand record stores, specialty stores, and online sales also play a key role in the record resurgence. With patience and some investment, rare records can be found in second-hand stores still in good condition by skilled prospectors. Stores often resell club releases and even pressings commissioned by the artists themselves. The community of vinyl record collectors and enthusiasts is growing, with online groups where people chat, exchange tips, and do business. Facebook groups like Amigues do Vinil and Fundão do Vinil are extremely active and often controversial, with heated discussions. In Brazil, LPs are also proving to be back to stay.

NOIZE RECORD CLUB

Since 2014, when it began operations, NOIZE Record Club has launched classic names in Brazilian music such as Gilberto Gil, Tim Maia, Gal Costa, Elza Soares, Arthur Verocai, Raul Seixas, Sergio Sampaio, Os Paralamas do Sucesso, Jorge Mautner, Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes, as well as new names in our music, such as Luedji Luna, Liniker, Duda Beat, BaianaSystem, Rico Dalasam and O Terno, and other very important figures in national rap, such as Black Alien, Marcelo D2, MV Bill and Edgar. Check out all NRC releases here.

The club releases exclusive, limited-edition kits monthly. Subscribers already know they'll receive the editions, but the window for new members to secure the current edition runs from the 10th of each month to the 9th of the following month. The kits consist of an LP selected by the curatorial team and a magazine dedicated to the stories behind each album and artist. Subscribers can choose monthly subscriptions, receiving all releases at home, or the bimonthly option, in which they receive only two titles at a time (skipping a month). A limited number of copies for individual sale are made available at the beginning of each edition's cycle and usually sell out quickly.

As we've shown throughout this post, LPs are gaining more and more fans. Vinyl culture is growing stronger around the world, and the Brazilian scene is thrilling record lovers here. Records live and play in a wide variety of homes, featuring a wide variety of musical styles, captivating people of all ages. Even with the undisputed dominance of streaming services in the music market, more and more artists are deciding to release vinyl records alongside their digital releases. There's no doubt that LPs have found their place today and have become great companions for those seeking a more intimate relationship with music.