Exposition: Neil Gibbons, Chief Operating Officer of a significant Production company, discusses the persisting popularity of physical music.
In the world of music, a cultural shift has taken place that hasn't been seen in decades. The joy of owning physical music, such as vinyl and CDs, has made a significant comeback, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down.
Neil Gibbons, COO of Key Production, emphasises the importance of looking beyond the headline figures when assessing the health of the industry. Despite recent BPI figures indicating a slight decline in vinyl sales for the year, Key Production's internal data tells a different story. The company experienced a 50% surge in vinyl orders in 2025, a robust and sustained increase that highlights the varying picture across different players in the market[1].
This renewed interest in physical music formats is driven by fans who value the experience of ownership, spanning multiple age groups. The trend is so widespread that vinyl units are expected to see an increase in pressing for the upcoming quarters, with one European vinyl compound supplier reporting a 16% year-on-year increase and substantial incoming orders[1].
The success of events like Record Store Day 2025, which delivered the best weekly sales for indie retailers in three decades, further underscores this revival. Rough Trade announced an expanded partnership with John Lewis, featuring a curated vinyl range in 23 stores, and the number of participating Record Store Day stores increased to 278 in 2025.
Even iconic music retailers like HMV have hopped on the bandwagon, reopening their flagship record store on Oxford Street in 2023. The trend of buying physical music is observed across all age groups, with 80% of fans citing support for the artist as the primary reason for their purchases, according to Censuswide research[1].
CDs remain a robust format, offering easy transportability for artists and fans. Despite some speculation about the decline of vinyl sales, the resurgence of physical music suggests a mature and expanding market that continues to thrive.
[1] Source: Key Production's internal data and various industry reports.
- In light of Key Production's 50% surge in vinyl orders in 2025, it seems that the entertainment and finance sectors should no longer overlook the growth potential of the music business, given the revitalized interest in physical music formats such as vinyl sales.
- The increasing demand for vinyl units, as evidenced by the 16% year-on-year increase reported by a European vinyl compound supplier and the expanded partnership between Rough Trade and John Lewis, suggests that the business of music, particularly in entertainment, could experience sustained growth, with multiple categories within the market benefiting from this trend.
