Yeah, I guess there's kinda cross wires on the subject on vinyl in some ways: Is it vinyl within the techno market or vinyl within the music scene on a whole? I guess my thinking on the issue is that once vinyl is being manufactured and sold somewhere, then it exists, and is not dead. Once the option is still there, I can still see underground or techno labels pressing it. I guess as a label some people have higher expectations for sales etc. but many artists are still going to want to get a record out if given the choice. There will be a demand of some sort, and 'die-hard' labels (if that's what they'll be viewed as) that will still release records. Also things change, fashions change, maybe digital files won't be as appealing to the post I-Pod generation? Maybe techno will see a resurgence is popularity sales wise? I'm not sure that all the predicted changes in the vinyl/digital markets are going to be as swift and emphatic as some people are saying.Originally Posted by eyeswithoutaface
I was on a short trip to Berlin recently with students from the DJ class I tutor, and one of the days we went for a tour of Dub Plates mastering, where I briefly brought up the subject of "The Future Of Vinyl", and they honestly saw no danger, and that business was still good. Funnily enough the oil issue that some people are concerned with didn't seem to be a worry for them at all... more worrying to them was the prospect of a breakdown and having to acquire parts or components for their aging 1970's machinery, which are not manufactured anymore. He also mentioned a particular chemical (can't remember the name) that they may require for cutting the lacquer in the future.. a chemical which is apparantly outlawed in Germany.