The UK’s ongoing vinyl boom may not be shouted about quite like it was a few years ago, but that doesn’t mean it’s slowing down or gone away. In fact, 2024 was the 17th consecutive year of vinyl sales growth in the UK, with 6.7 million vinyl albums sold across the country. And it wasn’t just vinyl flying off the shelves: physical album sales across all formats (CDs, cassette, vinyl etc) increased for the first time since 1994.
And now more UK retailers are looking to muscle in on the vinyl-selling game. The latest to do so is John Lewis, which is partnering with iconic record shop brand Rough Trade to sell vinyl both in-store and online.
As many audiophiles may already know, John Lewis already stocks a formidable range of turntables (over 20 different models, in fact). Selling actual records, therefore, is a pretty logical next step.
John Lewis’ vinyl selection will feature a ‘carefully curated selection of old and modern classics’, ranging from older works like Marvin Gaye’s What's Going On and Nirvana’s Nevermind to more recent big-hitters like Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess and Fontaines DC’s Romance (Time Out’s 2024 album of the year).
Commenting on the partnership, John Lewis’ Jason Billings-Cray said: ‘We’re excited to be part of the vinyl revival, partnering with Rough Trade to bring vinyl records back to our stores.
‘It’s clear that there is a strong market for the format – with both our turntable range and sales up considerably in recent years. We’re confident that this new album assortment will be a smash hit with our customers.’
Rough Trade managing director Lawrence Montgomery said: ‘At Rough Trade, we’ve been so thrilled to see the growing appreciation for physical music among a diverse audience of music fans. Vinyl buyers are embracing a wide range of genres and styles, reflecting an exciting enthusiasm for discovery.
‘We look forward to sharing this vibrant culture with John Lewis customers.’
John Lewis isn’t the only company attempting to get a slice of the UK’s vinyl pie. Last year Rough Trade opened its biggest UK store yet in Liverpool, another on London’s Denmark Street and another ‘capsule’ store in the Barbican. WH Smith, meanwhile, announced it would start selling vinyl again for the first time since the 1990s.
Did you see that 18 British record stores have been crowned the ‘greatest in the world’ by the Financial Times?
Plus: the 30 best record shops in London.
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