Why Gen Zers Are Buying Vinyl in Record Numbers

Published: February 3, 2025

Why Gen Zers Are Buying Vinyl in Record Numbers

By Movieguide® Contributor

We live in an increasingly digital world, but when it comes to music, Gen Z likes to keep things physical.

A new report from Vinyl Alliance found that members of Gen Z are buying vinyl in record numbers — 76% of Gen Zers polled said they buy a record at least once a month.

When asked why they enjoy buying and listening to vinyl records, about half of those surveyed said it “provides a break from digital life,” while 61% said listening to vinyl over digital streaming improves their mental health.

Ryan Mitrovich, the Vinyl Alliance’s general manager, said, “It’s still being said vinyl’s undergoing a ‘revival,’ but after 17 consecutive years of growth [from official BPI figures] it’s time to recognise vinyl has revived and is firmly a part of how fans consume music today. It has Gen Z to thank for this, and what our research shows is just how curious and drawn to vinyl culture this generation is.”

“Gen Z vinyl fans are buying records for a multitude of reasons, which shows their interest isn’t a superficial trend, but that they are truly passionate,” he continued. “Vinyl is Gen Z’s ticket to a different music experience and they’re taking it seriously, so it’s time we took Gen Z seriously as vinyl fans and collectors.”

And vinyl isn’t the only form of physical media that’s making a comeback with Gen Z — a 2024 Key Productions study found that “Gen Z are listening to music via physical formats (vinyl, CDs and cassettes) more than any other generation.”

Karen Emanuel, the CEO of Key Production Group, the UK’s largest vinyl production broker and a member of Vinyl Alliance, added, “We’ve long known the importance of younger generations getting into physical music in the UK and this report verifies that. Taking time out to explore records and making financial investments into physical products in order to support their favourite artists is really important to them.”

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