UK's vinyl sales touch record-high figure and there is a Taylor Swift connection behind the rise

Following a 2.9% improvement in unit sales last year, the vinyl market in 2023 has, with just a few more days to go to year-end, increased more than four times as fast with an 11.7% rise to 5.9 million units, read the British Phonographic Industry website.

According to data released by BPI, the spike is driven by brand-new releases from artists including Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Rey, Lewis Capaldi, The Rolling Stones, and Taylor Swift.

Interestingly, Swift's “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” album, which was first released in 2014, sold the most copies so far this year.

Jo Twist OBE, BPI Chief Executive, said: “Led by vinyl, the resurgence of physical product underlines the resilience of the UK music market at a time when streaming consumption continues to hit record levels. Whilst LP sales have now been on an upward path for the past 16 years, it is encouraging to see a stabilisation in demand for CD, as well as new generations of music fans falling in love with the cassette.  It is giving people more choice than ever in how they enjoy their favourite music.”

New releases top best sellers list

Seven of the 10 biggest vinyl LP sellers in the year to date is a 2023 new release,  led by 1989 (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift and also including her album Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and albums by Blur (The Ballad Of Darren), Lana Del Rey (Did You Know There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd), Lewis Capaldi (Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent), Kylie Minogue (Tension) and The Rolling Stones (Hackney Diamonds).