Music's digital divide actually a good thing for the resurgence of vinyl

"Do you have any more Beatles records?"
That is one of the top questions asked of Dylan Posa of Reckless Records in Chicago. Followed closely by "Where else in the city can I buy records?"
For real music collectors, gone are the days of compact discs. Digital downloads may be great for the iPod, but remain flat and intangible.
Unlike the eight-track that died long before, music on vinyl has survived, and in the "everything-at-our-fingertips era" has actually begun to thrive.
Vinyl records – especially full-length LPs that helped define the golden era of rock – have become mainstream once again.
"We've always supported and carried vinyl, but every generation seems to pick up on it anew," Posa says. "Lately though, it does seem like we've got more people actually interested in the format, as opposed to treating it like a fad."
There is an ambiance vinyl exudes. In addition to the music, it's the packaging, the purity and even the skips, crackles and pops that are all part of the experience.
"We have people who buy vinyl for the sound, people who buy for the collectability, people who buy for nostalgic reasons, people who buy for the cover art," Posa says. "I think people are finally appreciating the whole package that vinyl offers."
When iPods were released by Apple in 2001, record companies and critics alike began to hint at the decline of music sales outside of the Internet. Why would customers frequent a store that only sold something they could get with the click of a button from the comfort of their own home?
Music stores across the country have succumbed to the switch to digital. According to Rolling Stone magazine, overall compact disc sales plummeted 16 percent in 2007 – and that was after seven years of near-constant erosion.
The resurgence of vinyl may be the final nail in compact discs' proverbial coffin.
Many artists – including indie darlings Ryan Adams and My Morning Jacket – are now putting out new releases on vinyl. Most come with a download code for the digital album, giving the listener a best-of-both-worlds opportunity to have the album for the artwork and purer sound, and the mp3 files to download to their iPods. Usually for just a few dollars more than the digital album would cost at iTunes, and the same price or cheaper than the CD.
Even online giants have jumped on the record bandwagon. Last October, Amazon.com introduced a vinyl-only store and increased its selection to 150,000 titles. Alternative rock, followed by classic rock albums, have been its biggest sellers.
But it is not only on the Web where good music can be found. Most thrift stores in the region and Chicago have records for sale – most for $1 and less. The low cost has afforded young people the sounds of Elton John, James Brown and yes, even Yes.
"At our location, we sell a lot of 'classic rock' – Beatles, Pink Floyd, (Jimi) Hendrix – on vinyl," Posa says. "(Even) '80s metal is making a comeback after being marginalized for so many years."
Most of the consumers weren't even around when this music was born. But vinyl continues to bring them to yet another generation.