Does anyone know what year sales of CD albums overtook sales of vinyl albums in the UK?

Based on annual shipments, cassettes overtook vinyl albums in 1985 (55.4m to 53m), CDs overtook vinyl in 1989 (41.7m to 37.8m with cassettes well ahead on 83m) and then CDs overtook cassettes in 1992 (70.4m to 56.4m with vinyl on 6.6m).

Based on annual shipments, cassettes overtook vinyl albums in 1985 (55.4m to 53m), CDs overtook vinyl in 1989 (41.7m to 37.8m with cassettes well ahead on 83m) and then CDs overtook cassettes in 1992 (70.4m to 56.4m with vinyl on 6.6m).

 

I'm amazed cassettes ever led!

I'm not suprised. Everyone I knew bought cassettes throughout much of the nineties. I stayed with them till 2003 when they stopped stocking them and I was forced to buy a CD player lol.

I never bought cassettes (apart from blank ones). I always preferred the option of playing individual tracks if I wanted to and that is almost impossible with a cassette.

I bought cassettes for years as they were usually half the price of CDs and often there were loads in the bargain bin too!

I've got loads of cassette singles and albums although most of them are in a box in the loft. :lol: I still enjoy listening to some of the old cassettes on my tape recorded when I'm feeling retro but that's probably once in 2 months. I've got plenty of older songs on CD albums I've bought and so they're just more convenient.

Quite a few ofthe "hip" record labels are releasing singles and E.Ps on cassette. I picked up a few when I was in the States, made me feel a little nostalgic.

Based on annual shipments, cassettes overtook vinyl albums in 1985 (55.4m to 53m), CDs overtook vinyl in 1989 (41.7m to 37.8m with cassettes well ahead on 83m) and then CDs overtook cassettes in 1992 (70.4m to 56.4m with vinyl on 6.6m).

 

Thanks!

 

I'm really surprised that cassettes made up so much of the market - well over half on those 1989 figures. You hardly ever see cassettes from that period these days - at least, not compared to vinyl! I guess 82.9m of those cassettes must have broken in car stereos! Personally I like cassette singles, less fussed on albums (especially if your favourite track is stuck halfway through one side).

 

I guessed around 90-91 for CDs to overtake, so I'm not surprised by the 92 figures at all - I guess vinyl must have decreased pretty steeply year-on-year.

 

Robbie - do you have vinyl figures for the rest of the 90s?