All articles tagged with #vinyl
Denon's new DP-500BT is a premium belt-drive turntable with Bluetooth streaming, a switchable built-in MM phono preamp, a semi-automatic tonearm, and 33/45/78 RPM support, priced at $899 and designed to work with both analog and wireless hi‑fi setups; it follows the DP-3000NE's premium aesthetic and is available now in black.
BTS is offering a Target-exclusive Arirang vinyl pressed in a Jung Kook Orchid colorway ahead of the album’s March 20 release; the 14-track Arirang, produced by Ryan Tedder, Diplo and Kevin Parker, serves as a physical counterpart to the digital release and is one of several collectible vinyl variants rolling out globally. Pre-orders are live now, and BTS will also stream full-length concerts from Goyang (April 11) and Tokyo (April 18) to accompany the launch.
The U.S. recorded-music industry earned $11.5 billion in 2025, led by a vinyl resurgence that surpassed $1 billion for the first time since 1983, while streaming generated about $6.4 billion (over 80% of revenue). Taylor Swift significantly contributed to the growth with her 12th album opening week (over 4 million copies sold in the U.S.) and hundreds of millions of streams, underscoring ongoing investment in artists and a strong year for both physical and digital formats.
U.S. music industry revenue rose 3% in 2025 to a record $11.54 billion, helped by blockbuster releases such as Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl and a rebound in vinyl, which topped $1 billion for the first time since 1983; streaming accounted for about 82% of revenue at $9.5 billion, with premium subscriptions driving most of that, while the industry continues to lean on touring, merch and licensing as part of a broader shift in its business model.
RIAA reports U.S. vinyl revenue surpassed $1 billion in 2025, up about 9.3% with 46.8 million vinyl units sold, while CDs and digital downloads declined; streaming remains the dominant revenue driver, but vinyl’s growth is led by Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl, which sold about 1.6 million copies in 2025.
Technics has introduced the SL-1500CS, an updated version of its popular SL-1500C, featuring the ΔΣ-Drive motor tech first seen on higher-end models to further cut motor vibrations and improve rotation accuracy. The turntable preserves the SL-1500C’s strong build (iron-coreless direct drive, S-shaped tonearm, built-in MM phono stage) and adds a metallic grey finish. It ships in March 2026 for £1099, continuing Technics’ premium direct-drive line and offering enthusiasts a refined vinyl replay experience.
Loudwire presents an alphabetized guide to the 2026 Rock + Metal Record Store Day releases, detailing a long slate of titles across artists and formats for the April 18 event, and highlighting a notable Slipknot-related Look Outside Your Window 10-track release along with information on participating stores.
Rhino has announced 51 limited-edition vinyl releases for Record Store Day 2026 from Warner Music Group’s catalog, spanning deluxe editions, live recordings, and color variants from artists like Air, Bowie, The Doors, The Cure, Talking Heads, Grateful Dead, Yes, and more. These exclusives will be available only at participating independent record stores on April 18, with a wide range of formats and pressings.
Record Store Day 2026 will offer more than 350 exclusive vinyl releases in independent shops on April 18, spanning classic live sets from Pink Floyd and Bruce Springsteen to contemporary acts like Katseye, the Wicked cast and Bruno Mars, plus a wide array of jazz and hip-hop titles. Items are labeled as RSD Exclusive or RSD First and set in limited quantities—some as high as tens of thousands—so collectors should check the official RSD lineup for the full list of releases.
Record Store Day 2026, set for April 18, has announced its lineup of exclusive vinyl releases for independent record stores, featuring limited editions from Pavement, Slint, Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, Sonic Youth, Ramones, Ozzy Osbourne and more, with Bruno Mars serving as ambassador.
Mutant, in collaboration with Hollywood Records and 20th Century Studios, is releasing the first physical vinyl of Benjamin Wallfisch’s Predator: Killer of Killers score, featuring new artwork by Oliver Barrett and liner notes by Dan Trachtenberg; the 140 g color vinyl goes up for presale January 30 at madebymutant.com for $30, and Mutant also plans a vinyl release for Predator: Badlands.
Sony unveils its first new turntables since 2019: the PS-LX3BT ($399.99) and PS-LX5BT ($499.99), both with one‑button automatic playback, a USB output for digitizing vinyl, a switchable phono/line EQ, and 96kHz/24-bit wireless aptX Adaptive hi‑res Bluetooth. The LX3BT uses a 3.5 g cartridge, the LX5BT uses a 2 g cartridge and detachable RCA cables, with the LX5BT’s platter/mat materials not specified. Preorders are open now for a February release (LX3BT) and an April release (LX5BT); this could be Sony’s final line of turntables as the company reevaluates its home‑entertainment business amid a potential TCL joint venture.
U.S. vinyl sales rose for the 19th consecutive year in 2025, up 8.6% to 47.9 million units, led by Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl, according to Luminate’s year-end report. Total U.S. physical album sales increased 6.5%, while digital album sales fell 15.9%. The year also saw two albums surpass 5 million units (Swift and Morgan Wallen), and On-Demand Audio streaming grew 4.6% in the U.S., with broader industry notes on genre shifts, premium streaming, and AI-related market dynamics.
Sony Music announced the release of the EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert soundtrack, featuring 27 tracks from the upcoming film directed by Baz Luhrmann, available on digital, CD, and a special vinyl edition, coinciding with the film's theatrical release in early 2026.
Amidst the digital age's distractions and automation, people across generations are seeking refuge in analog activities like painting, mailing handwritten cards, driving manual cars, and listening to vinyl records, driven by a desire for tangible, personal experiences and nostalgia. These practices serve as a counterbalance to the digital ephemera, fostering human connection and a sense of authenticity.