Last month it emerged vinyl records are now bringing in more revenue than music downloads. However, it appears another old format is experiencing somewhat of a rebirth.
According to figures from Nielsen Music (via Billboard), sales of audio cassettes rose by 74% in 2016.
Granted, it’s only 129,000 sales in the US compared to 74,000 in 2015, but it’s still a pretty significant jump.
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However, even though there has been a Cassette Store Day inspired by Record Store Day these last few years, a significant revival appears unlikely.
That’s mostly because cassettes don’t actually sound very good and there’s little love for the format.
Whereas vinyl is a popular format among audiophiles and hipsters who just want to look cool, cassette tapes don’t really have either going for it.
Of course, there is a certain amount of affection for the mix tape of yesteryear, but nothing big enough to inspire a huge comeback.
We can see a bit of a Walkman renaissance, perhaps with folks wearing them as necklaces, but there’s no way tapes are making a giant comeback.
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Have you kept all your old tapes? When was the last time you played one? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
