News

Welcome to the July issue
In 2016 a national newspaper published a report claiming the demographic behind the vinyl revival was: “lonely middle-aged men”. Things have sure changed a lot since then. The top-three fastest-selling vinyl LPs in the UK so far this year are The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift, Midnights by Taylor Swift and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) by, uh, Taylor Swift. Either lonely middle-aged men have become devout Swifties or there’s been quite a shift in who’s buying and what’s on their shopping list.

The three best-selling new vinyl LPs in the UK up until the beginning of this month are Liam Gallagher and John Squire’s collaboration (ah, so that’s what the lonely guys are scooping up), Last Dinner Party’s Prelude To Ecstasy and Idles’ Tangk, while the most successful offerings from the April Record Store Day drop were albums by Noah Kahan, Olivia Rodrigo, Paramore and Pearl Jam. Quite a spread, suggesting a wider, younger and less-male dominated market.

The Group Test in this month’s issue is a handy guide for any debutante looking to put the record straight (on the deck). We audition six of the best new, eminently affordable starter turntable packages so you don’t have to get yourself into a spin to, uh, give your vinyl a spin.

C’mon, get yourself playing!

Enjoy!