It’s all over the news- from countless newspaper features (including a write-up in the Wall Street Journal), online articles and even the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. It’s the vinyl record revival and more importantly, the resurrection of analog sound.

Yes, vinyl records, left for dead with the advent of the ‘digital age’ are selling again. In fact, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), sales of vinyl records jumped to 1.3 million last year, which represents a 36.6% increase from 2006; a figure that some industry experts feel does not accurately represent the true sales figures. The experts deem it to be too low because independent record stores sales, where vinyl does the best, are not usually included in these figures. Additionally, according to Billboard Magazine, vinyl record sales jumped 77% in the first half of 2008 (when compared to the first half of 2007), selling more than 803,000 units.

This is not a fad or cycle; music lovers young and old are being drawn to this historic audio format. Moreover, it seems to be a worldwide event, preorders and sales of vinyl records are on the increase in many countries across the globe. In the UK alone, sales of seven-inch singles (45’s) have climbed 87.3% compared to the same three month period last year.

Vinyl is cool again. Teenagers, who once may have scoffed at their grandparents’ and parents’ record collections, now wait in line to get the latest releases. More and more mainstream artists are releasing new material via the format and Capitol Records (along with many other major record companies) are now reissuing classic albums on vinyl. And now, along with the baby boomers, a new generation is discovering the special allure that vinyl records have - the limited editions, colored vinyl, picture discs, audiophile records (180-220 gram), the album cover art and the sound - all elements in this grand resurgence.

This resurgence is fueled by many other factors. Let’s explore some interesting aspects of the vinyl record.

The Sound

Yes, the hiss, snap and crackle of a record are soothing music lovers around the globe. Vinyl records use analog recording methods; it is a clear, well-defined sound. The music is not compressed and digitized into the ones and zeros that you get with the CD or MP3; or what I term as “binary sound.” There is a warmth, an ambience that vinyl brings to the music and since the human ear hears in analog-not digital-vinyl records naturally sound better. So this is the secret that the DJ’s, record collectors and audiophiles knew all along!

The Collectible Factor and Availability of Vinyl

Most recording artists are also fans of other artists’ music; they own vast and eclectic record collections. Sometimes finding rare and collectible vinyl created by artists who have influenced their own music and whom they admire can be just as satisfying as creating and recording their own music. They also delight in finding rare vinyl of their own music. In fact, John Lennon was an avid record collector and amassed quite a collection of Beatle’s bootlegs.

Buying and selling records is big business. Besides the garage sales, flea markets and yard sales, online auction sites such as eBay sell millions of records. It is reported that eBay users buy and sell six vinyl records each minute (or an average of one every ten seconds) totaling more than three million records each year. Some records still maintain their value decades after their initial release and have sold for thousands of dollars. It’s been reported that the album that is bought and sold the most in the vinyl format is the Beatles’ “White Album.” Other acts such as Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Led Zeppelin, among many others, are highly sought after and still command top dollar for specific releases. Soul and jazz music, along with classic rock, are always in demand. Additionally, online giant Amazon is committed to expanding their ‘vinyl section’ offerings to include thousands of music artists.

There is also a lot of vinyl support in such musical genres as hip-hop, punk and heavy metal. “Indie” music is now being pressed into colored vinyl, limited edition releases and picture discs. These are the future collectibles and sometimes sell for higher-than-average prices. The online community has responded as well with literally thousands of web sites dedicated to the vinyl format. Many music artists are making sure that they give their fans a choice of music formats, with vinyl appearing to be taking the lead.

The Vinyl Experience

In our age of iPods and MP3 music, playing a record is almost a ritual experience. There is the physical interaction between the person playing the album, the music itself and the machine. Playing a record can be a communal event where the music is shared with friends and family. But it is not only the music that intrigues the masses. Add unique and compelling album cover art and deluxe packaging, and a whole new generation of vinyl record lovers can share in this phenomenon.

Going hand-in-hand with the increase in vinyl record sales is the increase and availability of turntables. Nationally, turntable sales shot to over 500,000 last year compared to 275,000 in 2006. Manufacturers of turntables have given the consumer a plethora of options to choose from, from the very affordable unit to some that cost thousands of dollars. Students in colleges around the U.S., as well as globally, are now beginning to consider a turntable in their dorm room one of their necessities.

The Perks

Many recording artists are not only releasing their new material via vinyl but in digital format for those who choose that medium. Many records may come with a certificate for a free Internet download, which can sometimes be a bonus cut that may not be included on the record. It also allows the music to be portable, and the consumer can choose between the alternate formats. As the demand for vinyl continues its upward climb, so to will the affordability of the records. Many mainstream releases via the vinyl format are competitively priced, allowing for more units to be sold. Add to this the already flourishing used vinyl record market, where a music lover can pick up an LP for under five dollars, and we have a new vinyl model that will flourish for decades to come.

Will vinyl records regain their dominant position in the music industry that they once held? One can only guess, but with CD sales continuing to plummet and more and more music lovers discovering the value of vinyl, this historic audio medium will not fade away anytime soon.

Birmingham, which is found in the west midlands, is the 2nd biggest city in great britain. indeed, the city’s wide population is 2nd only to that of the capital.

Most of birmingham’s city centre was destroyed during the 2nd world war, & unsightly replacement architecture were quickly erected. inspite of the cost, since the 1990s, Birmingham has been undergoing many radical changes & a number of the post-war architecture have been replaced. most of the city centre is now pedestrianised, & the canals have also been tidied up to make them image prettier.

Birmingham is a candid, lively & cosmopolitan city. With lively sports, great hotels, wonderful shopping opportunities & unique tourist attractions, it’s a wonderful location to visit for a short break or short holiday.

Birmingham also boasts some amazing buildings to see, including the Bullring mall. The Bullring was constructed at a cost of £500 million by Benoy & is a pretty, futuristic structure.

One of the best things about Birmingham has to be its great museums, galleries and attractions which are fun & interesting for all the family. one of the best is Dudley Zoo, which is located next to dudley castle & has some great animals that live in over 40 acres of beautiful gardens.

Some of our other favourites include the sarehole mill, soho house & soho house.

If you’re a shopping fan, you certainly won’t be disappointed by birmingham city centre. From designer stores to small, independent boutiques, the city truly has something for everyone to enjoy.

There are plenty of independent outlets in the city’s Custard Factory, which was constructed on the site of the old Bird’s custard factory. as well as this, you will find high-street outlets in the city’s Pallasades shopping mall that is located just above birmingham new street train station. alternatively, you could drop by the city’s brand-new Bullring shopping mall, which has over 150 different outlets for you to browse and enjoy.

If you’re staying for a weekend away or short break in brum, you should ensure you taste the city’s exciting nightlife. in fact, the city has quaint pubs, elite wine bars and some wonderful clubs, which means that you will be spoilt for choice.

For supporters of alternative or indie music, there are many venues to see live music in the city such as the factory club. in addition to this, you will also find that there are plenty alternative bars and clubs too, which means that you will have a wonderful time.

Thanks for reading our inspiration to birmingham - we hope that you found it useful.

If you require more information on birmingham hotels or even occasionally help on things to do in the city, get in touch with your regional back packers information centre.

Birmingham, which is situated in the west midlands, is the second largest city in the uk. in fact, the city’s vast population is second only to that of the capital.

Most of birmingham city centre was destroyed during world war two, and unsightly replacement structures were rapidly erected. inspite of the cost, since the 90s, Birmingham has been undergoing many radical changes and a number of the post-war structures have been rebuilt. the majority of the city centre is now pedestrianized, and the canals have also been tidied up to make them image nicer.

Birmingham is a candid, buzzing & cosmopolitan city. With lively history, great hotels, great shops & unusual tourist attractions, it is a great place to visit for a weekend away or short holiday.

Birmingham has some fantastic buildings to look at, which contain the Bullring shopping mall. The Bullring was constructed at a cost of £500 million by Benoy & is a striking, modern structure.

For an insightful and fun day out in brum for all the family, you should visit some of brum’s interesting museums or art galleries. The city has some fantastic ones, containing Cadbury World. Cadbury World, the uk’s only museum that’s dedicated to chocolate, takes chocoholics through the entire chocolate making process and there are always many tasty samples to try!

Some of the other museums and galleries we love are the sarehole mill, soho house and the birmingham museum and art gallery, which has great exhibits.

If you are a shop lover, you definitely will not be disappointed by birmingham city centre. From designer stores to small, independent boutiques, the city truly has things for everyone to enjoy.

There are many independent stores in the city’s Custard Factory, which was constructed on the site of the old Bird’s custard factory. as well as this, you will find high street stores in the city’s Pallasades mall that is situated just above new street railway station. on the other hand, you could stop over the city’s brand-new Bullring mall, which has over 150 different stores for you to look at & enjoy.

If you’re staying for a short break or short holiday in birmingham, you should make sure you taste the city’s exhilarating night life. indeed, the city boasts rustic pubs, elite cocktail bars and some exciting clubs, so you will be spoiled for choice.

For supporters of rock or indie music, there are many live music venues in the city for instance the sunflower lounge. in addition to this, you will also discover many rock bars and clubs too, so you will have a exciting time.

We hope that you have enjoyed our guide to things to do in Birmingham & would appreciate your feed back. If you need any many more knowledge on Birmingham, don’t hesitate to contact your regional tourist information office who’ll be pleased to help you out.