Pete Fealey, a vinyl enthusiast and founder of A2D2, has criticized “pure” vinyl collectors for damaging the music industry. Fealey believes that their focus on profiting from vinyl records rather than enjoying the music is excluding real music lovers from the experience.
In recent years, the vinyl industry has seen a resurgence in popularity, with 2024 achieving the highest vinyl sales in three decades. However, A2D2 has expressed concern that ‘pure’ vinyl collectors are prioritizing greed over the love of music, evident in the 221% increase in searches for “vinyl collecting” in the last year.
Speaking out against this trend, Fealey stated, “Real music lovers miss out in favor of greed. Some need to remember that it’s about the music being played and enjoyed as intended.”
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Data from YouGov reveals that only one in five Brits currently listen to music on a record player, with nearly half of Brits under 30 having never experienced music on a vinyl record player. Despite the increase in vinyl sales, searches for record players and turntables have been declining, indicating a potential shift in consumer behavior.
Fealey lamented, “It is sad for the music lovers who are missing out on hearing their favorite artists, and for the artists who have poured their hearts and souls into music that will never be heard.”
To educate music enthusiasts about valuable vinyl records worth listening to, A2D2 has compiled a list of the most prized vinyl records for true music lovers. These include iconic albums such as The Beatles' “The White Album,” Complex’s self-titled album, Dark’s “Round the Edges,” and Led Zeppelin’s debut album, among others.