Music streaming boosts sales of vinyl

Music streaming sites are helping to drive sales of vinyl, new research suggests.

Half of consumers say they have listened to an album online before buying a vinyl copy, according an ICM poll, shared exclusively with the BBC.

The behaviour is more common for people who use ad-funded services such as SoundCloud or YouTube, suggesting free music can drive real-world sales.

But 48% of people who bought vinyl last month admit they have yet to play it.

Seven per cent of those surveyed say they do not even own a turntable.

"I have vinyls in my room but it's more for decor. I don't actually play them," Jordan Katende, a student in Manchester, told BBC News.

"It gives me the old-school vibe. That's what vinyl's all about," he added.

Others say they buy records to support their favourite artists, while 50% of consumers identify themselves as "collectors".

"It's so easy to listen to music now on YouTube or Spotify, I think we're yearning for the times of our parents where you had to go out of your way to buy a song," says student Duncan Willis.

"It's really nice to have an object that you can hold and physically play," agrees Helena, an 18-year-old from Kingston, who has started using her father's old record player.

"I also think it's important to support artists financially if you can. I like it if someone puts effort into making a release look special."

:story: BBC News