UK vinyl sales pass CDs for the first time since 1980s thanks to Taylor Swift's Midnights

Swift's record-breaking tenth album Midnights, which is the UK's fastest-selling album of 2022, has allowed vinyl sales to pass CD sales in the UK for the first time since 1987. The album has sold 80,000 copies on vinyl according to The Guardian, making it the highest-selling vinyl album of the 21st century.

Kim Bayley, the chief executive of the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) said, "It’s a watershed moment for the entire music industry. After the CD came along and pretty much wiped out the vinyl business, few of us would have believed a renaissance like this was possible."

Last year vinyl album sales increased 23% to £135.6 million, while CD sales continued to decrease by 3.9% to £150 million. Sales figures predict that this year's CD sales could fall below vinyl as much as £20 million. Vinyl sales in 2022 are expected to grow for the 15th consecutive year to approximately 5.5 million.

Geoff Taylor, the chief executive of music industry trade body the BPI said, "As the LP marks its 75th anniversary in 2023, it’s as relevant as ever. In an age of streaming, physical music purchases remain an essential and healthy part of the music market."