Vinyl Records Have Made a Big Comeback—and It’s Not Just about Nostalgia

Two of the finest spots for music discovery can be found on Ventura Boulevard: Freakbeat Records in Sherman Oaks and CD Trader in Tarzana. Mainstays of the Boulevard for well over 20 years, these music meccas offer new releases as well as rare collectible albums. At Freakbeat, for example, you’ll find a Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” 12-inch single; at CD Trader, original sealed pressings of the Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet and The Beatles’ White Album, both released in 1968. Hit the stores on any given day, and you’ll see people of all ages flip-flip-flipping through a record bin.

“Albums are a cool thing to have. The idea of owning something tangible—I don’t know how to explain it, but kids love it.”

If you think about it, it’s amazing record stores are still around. The turn of the century saw a seismic shift in the music industry as vinyl records gave way to digital formats and streaming services. “The amount of change that has happened in the last 20 years is mind-boggling in some ways,” says Bob Say, owner of Freakbeat. For a while it seemed like plastic discs had been killed off for good. Yet somehow vinyl became cool again—and not just with boomers feeling nostalgic.  

These days, Gen Z-ers are buying records—and not necessarily to play them. Bob recalls a couple of young women who came into Freakbeat, having noticed a poster in the window for the indie rock band MGMT. The teenagers bought the group’s new album, despite never having seen a record in their lives. They apparently were attracted to the album cover artwork and the satisfying feeling of ownership. Seeing the transaction go down, Bob thought, “Wow, that’s kind of weird.”

It may seem weird, but surprisingly it is actually common. According to a 2022 study reported in Billboard, 50% of vinyl record purchases were made by customers who didn’t own a turntable. Millennials and Gen Z have lived their lives immersed in technology, but seem to crave the tactile experience of collecting vinyl. “Having a record in your hand and reading about who’s on it is still interesting to certain people,” says Bob. “They want to know who played on the record and who wrote the songs.” 

According to CD Trader owner Dave Maples, “It’s an old experience that is somehow new now.”  Musician Kip Brown, who works at the store, agrees. “Albums are a cool thing to have. The idea of owning something tangible—I don’t know how to explain it, but kids love it.” Kip says he often sees parents coming in over the holidays to buy records for their kids, passing on the pleasures of record collecting to the next generation of music lovers.

Then there’s the communal aspect of record stores as a place to see friends, talk about music and connect with locals. “On a Saturday, when it’s busy in here, you get tons of people just yakking away about this and that. They run into their friends here, or say, ‘Hey, let’s go to Freakbeat and meet up’ because they’re all into music,” says Bob.  Dave concurs: “We are doing something in person, face to face, and there’s no algorithm involved.” A sweet symphony to any music junkie’s ears.