Implications of vinyl on musical trends?

The “decline” of vinyl is really just due to Moore’s Law. Cassette tapes, then CDs, now streaming and serving. These other media types are easier to mass produce, and at likely less cost.

Meanwhile, as radio took off even more in the 70s-90s, more and more albums were produced with more compression and less dynamic range to be able to sound their best in cars. Many modern CDs carry this mastering over, and creating a proper vinyl master with improved dynamic range required an entirely separate effort. As such, in combination with Moore’s Law above, supply and demand dwindled (less pressing plants over time, less people buying records) and many albums started not coming out on vinyl.

Then to add to that, your point. I don’t think rock died so to say, but many artists started writing music given the high compression and reduced dynamics in styles that suited the radio. And this shapes most of the popular music that exists today.

Those that love vinyl today are looking for masters and pressings that have low compression and high dynamic range, but sadly 50% of the vinyl out there just use the same masterings that are put on CD and for the radio. 

Interesting premise. 

I associate vinyl with intention. You make an effort and you're more likely to really listen. If you really listen, longer tracks whether prog rock or classical are more likely to fit vs. if other listening situations. Playlists, earbuds, whatever else suit singles, shorter tunes and more mixes. Perhaps as vinyl resurges, musicians will gravitate towards more long form and perhaps more complex music. That would be nice, IMHO. Cheers,

Spencer

I find many of these correlations may fit a lot of commercial, popular music which I generally don't listen to. Recordings with fine sound quality have always existed through time and genre, just more likely with music not made for mass consumption. I agree this became more difficult with innovations in portable audio, vast majority of my 50's-60's recordings all wonderful sound quality, starting in 70's these issues became more apparent.

re: Moore’s Law.  Good point.  Maybe I’m misinterpreting the nature of Moore’s Law, but I thought the regression function assumed cost reduction relative to the physical size of transistors over time.  If so, then damn…I seem to have missed the cost savings ;)

Also agree on the quality aspect you mention.  I appreciate a wide variety of music—not just rock.  To that end, AP 45s from Chad and co have been a godsend.

OP,

Good thoughts.

But in reality, music moves on and appeals to the next generation. Bach was new music once. The truly great stereo recordings were in the late 1950’s and very early 60’s. I have a couple thousand vinyl albums collected since the 60’s. Many audiophile pressings from the late 50’s. 
 

My digital and analog ends now sound the same (see my UserID)… so, while some recordings are good, ok, am\nd great… I think some music stands the test of time and some doesn’t. Bach, Beethoven, Mahler, Billie Holiday Miles Davis, The Beatles, The Who, Crosby, Nash, and Young, Passport, Afro-Celt Sound System…. Etc will. Many will not. My niece loves XXX… I agree, great. There are bands that bond to a culture and time and will emotionally capture the time… some will remain timeless. 
 

The fidelity of the recording are secondary.

@ghdprentice Let's hope your niece likes The XX, not XXX!

@ghdprentice 1+

If anything it is vinyl that limits music, to about 20 minutes a side. Since the onset of CDs albums have become longer resulting in a lot of three sided albums when converted to analog. 

The problem with todays music is that there is so much garbage you have to wade through. In the old days you had to be reasonably talented to get a record contract. Now, anybody who thinks they can sing and has a computer can produce an album including the cover and release it as a file or even a CD. The computer can play all the instruments. There is still some great music being made in all genres. You just have to wade through all the trash to get to it. I use to buy records just because I liked the cover. The cover for Transatlantisim got me into Death Cab and the three legged dog got me into Alice.  It is a big mistake to do that now.

@sbank 

Well yes, I intended XX… but unfortunately My niece’s mother was crazy and XXX works with her daughter… as well a drugs… sad. Good news, she is 32 years old and still alive. I would have bet against it.