The Pop Corporation

In the UK, sales of vinyl just keeps on growing. That’s the 16th consecutive year that this has happened, and now we’re hitting the levels we saw in the early ’90s, which is great news. People just getting into vinyl are in for a lifelong love affair, and have just become the easiest person to buy gifts for, which is a joy in itself.

Down to the meat and potatoes of it, sales rose by 11.7% to 5.9 million units, so say the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) group.

Driving this change is a couple of factors. One of them is Taylor Swift. Her ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ has been a big hitter, as well as the new Stones LP ‘Hackney Diamonds’.

Fashion shops like Urban Outfitters selling cheap starter record players is definitely another driving force, and HMV’s rekindled love affair with vinyl is also helping loads. You imagine that there’s a generation of kids who have found the love of owning stuff, as it’s a bit boring having everything on your phone and laptop, right?

Also driving sales were Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi and Lana Del Rey, as well as heritage acts like Pink Floyd with ‘Dark Side of the Moon’, and of course, ‘Rumours’ by Fleetwood Mac.

Top 10 best-selling vinyl albums 2023

1. Taylor Swift – 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
2. The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds
3. Lana Del Rey – Did You Know There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
4. Taylor Swift – Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
5. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
6. Blur – The Ballad of Darren
7. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon
8. Taylor Swift – Midnights
9. Olivia Rodrigo – Guts
10. Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to be Heaven Sent