The resurgence of vinyl records has been a remarkable trend in the music industry in recent years. Notably, the holiday season, particularly Black Friday, has emerged as a primary boost for vinyl sales. This blog post takes us back to the record-breaking sales during Black Friday in 2024 and the role of Independent record stores in this triumph. It also offers a detailed comparison of vinyl sales data different geographical regions. Enjoy this throwback to a momentous event in the music industry while also learning about the enduring appeal of vinyl records.
Black Friday and Vinyl Sales
Black Friday in 2024 delivered one of the biggest weeks for vinyl sales in history. While Record Store Day does not officially recognize Black Friday as “Record Store Day II,” it acknowledges the day as a special release date. The organizers, through their website, expressed their satisfaction if less conventional gifts like toasters and socks were exchanged, and more music by great artists was purchased.
Nielsen Music and Record Store Day
According to Nielsen Music, Black Friday 2024 was victorious with a whopping 259,000 vinyl albums sold during the week ending November 30, 2024. This was the second biggest sales week for Vinyl albums since Nielsen started tracking music sales in 1991. The record for the largest sales week is held by Record Store Day 2014 when Nielsen Music tracked 369,000 vinyl sales.
Role of Independent Record Stores
Independent record stores have been pivotal in these sales, with a notable focus on Black Friday causing album sales to increase by 34% during the week ending November 30, 2024, compared to the previous week. Album sales at these indie stores also saw a 4% increase compared to the same week in the previous year.
Black Friday 2024 Vinyl Highlights
On Black Friday 2024, vinyl album sales saw a significant boost. The Beatles’ Long Tall Sally was the biggest vinyl album of the week, with sales of 5,700. Additionally, 25 vinyl albums sold at least 1,000 copies each, a substantial increase from the previous week when only seven vinyl albums achieved the same feat. By October 2024, vinyl album sales had already exceeded 7.6 million, surpassing the previous record set in 2013.
Geographical Sales Data
Looking at the geographical distribution of vinyl album sales, the Middle Atlantic region saw the most considerable increase during Black Friday 2024, followed by the Northeast. Interestingly, stores in rural areas also reported a significant uptick in vinyl album sales.
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