Neil Young Labels Vinyl Resurgence a “Fashion Statement”
Although well-conditioned Neil Young vinyl is highly desirable and usually pretty expensive, the man 
whose tunes fill them has shared an interesting perspective on the format’s resurgence in popularity.
In an interview with Vulture, the often outspoken Young referred to today’s vinyl as “nothing but a fashion statement,” due in part to the fact that some albums pressed are not specifically mastered for vinyl.
“A lot of people that buy vinyl today don’t realize that they’re listening to CD masters on vinyl and that’s because the record companies have figured out that people want vinyl,” explained Young. “And they’re only making CD masters in digital, so all the new products that come out on vinyl are actually CDs on vinyl, which is really nothing but a fashion statement.”
Young, who is on the warpath promoting his hi-res audio company PonoMusic, went on to say that “This is a convenience-oriented society and vinyl is not a convenient thing.”
True enough. Vinyl isn’t the cheapest format to purchase; easiest to haul home; or a desirable playback option for people who struggle to listen to every song a on an album. Young’s last point can’t be dismissed.
That said, the masses don’t appear to really care. According to a report this past December, US vinyl sales rose 49% year-over-year, with 7.9 million albums being nabbed by consumers.
While Young does have a few qualms about how the vinyl business operates today, he isn’t calling for it to be abolished.
“[Vinyl’s] a niche and it’s a great niche and it’s a wonderful thing and I hope people continue to enjoy vinyl and it continues to grow because it’s a good thing.”
Speaking of today’s vinyl boom, a recently leaked list of supposed Record Store Day 2015 releases surfaced. You can view that right here.
-Adam Grant
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