2020 VINYL: RECORDS BROKE RECORDS

The vinyl renaissance was in full flower last year, as a mix of classic LPs and primarily cutting-edge current and recent albums combined to sell 28 million units, the highest total since scanning began in 1991, while setting a record for the 15th consecutive year.

Harry Styles’ Fine Line led the way with a stunning 232k, followed by Billie Eilish’s WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? (196k), Queen’s Greatest Hits (176k), The Beatles’ Abbey Road (161k) and the classic-rock soundtrack Guardians of the Galaxy, Awesome Mix, Vol. 1 (152k).

Landmark albums and best-of collections from Bob Marley and the Wailers, Fleetwood Mac, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Prince, Creedence, Frank Sinatra and The Vince Guaraldi Trio made the Top 25, as did modern-day masterworks from Kendrick Lamar, Amy Winehouse and Lana Del Rey. Current and recent releases from Tyler, The Creator, Taylor Swift, Khalid and Mac Miller made the cut as well.

Vinyl album sales were up 46.2% in 2020, accounting for 41% of all physical albums sold, while generating more revenue than CDs, thanks to a unit price close to $30. To give you some perspective, those 28m vinyl sales were nearly equal in volume to 20 weeks of the Top 50 in total activity on the year.