Analogue music making its way back amid revival of vinyl record sales among young people in Hong Kong

Vinyl records have been making a quiet comeback in Hong Kong, in both local independent music stores and the homes of dedicated audiophiles and collectors.

It’s not just a Hong Kong trend. Luminate, a US-based entertainment data company, released a report in July showing that US vinyl sales were up 21.7 per cent for the first half of 2023 compared with the same period in 2022, and had been rising for 17 consecutive years.

Compared to digital formats, vinyl needs a lot more upkeep: the records – which measure from about 0.9mm to 2.2mm in thickness – must be stored vertically and not stacked, so as not to warp them. They need to be protected from extreme temperatures and humidity – which is difficult in Hong Kong – and require careful handling to prevent scratching.

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Even so, regular use of a vinyl record will degrade its sound quality over time.

Meanwhile, investing in a turntable system of good sound quality so that a record can be enjoyed to its best potential can be expensive.

So, why choose vinyl over digital?

According to Gary Ieong, co-owner of White Noise Records in Sham Shui Po, music fans today are seeking out both vinyl records and cassette tapes because of the unique sound they offer.

“From my point of view, vinyl and even cassette are new experiences for the younger generation of music lovers to enjoy and engage with music,” he says.

Ieong’s record store, which is one of the oldest in the city, opened in 2004 and focuses on indie pop, rock, jazz, funk and soul, both internationally and with a focus on Japan.

Ieong thinks that while the vinyl market is still relatively niche in Hong Kong, it has been growing in recent years.

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“Perhaps people are bored of digital sounds and want the physical experience of enjoying analogue music, even if it means they have to spend more money on improving their audio equipment and [buying] accessories such as needles and record stabilisers.”

Diehard collector James Tang, who owns over 20,000 records, says the appeal of vinyl is that it captures a year’s flavour.

“To enjoy authentic sound is more or less like drinking red wine. Why do people try to pursue a certain year of red wine? The flavour is totally different, it captures that year’s flavour – same as locating a certain recording year,” he said in an interview in 2020.

“We want to go back to this year, the feelings of the success of the producers, the artists. Nothing can replace this. Technology cannot replace this feeling.”

Stone Cold Records in Central was founded in 2017 and focuses on rock, pop and jazz recordings. Owner Chris Ho says his customers are mostly “music fans who appreciate sound quality”.

“Vinyl has become more boutique and middle-class, with many being distributed in limited editions. Young people tend to collect vinyl records as they may be out of print in the future,” he says.

“Our main clientele is English-language music lovers. Previously, half of our clientele was foreign, but many expats left Hong Kong after Covid.”

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Radar Audio Company, which has shops in Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui, was founded in the 1980s and sells quality hi-fi systems and vinyl-playing accessories. Spokesperson Ricky Yeung says that he has seen various generations of audiophiles frequent the shops.

“Young people are interested because they are intrigued and curious – they’d probably never seen a vinyl sound system before – and the older generations now ride the wave of this vinyl nostalgia as they may already have a vast collection at home,” he says.

“It’s hard to describe how vinyl is completely different from digital. It’s a feeling that has to be felt. Digital has a very standardised sound, but sound is a vibration, and vinyl’s is incomparable.”

For all generations of vinyl fans, Hong Kong has a new establishment that goes beyond just record shopping.

Recently opened in Sai Ying Pun, Melody: House of Food and Music is a new concept hybrid venue that boasts an exceptionally broad vinyl collection spanning from ‘60s soul to ‘70s funk and disco to ‘80s city pop and jazz fusion, as well as blues, R&B, classical, rock, hip-hop, electronic music and more – with high-quality sound equipment to back it up.

Aside from a music room and cocktail bar lounge, Melody also includes a restaurant and a garden area.

“It’s fascinating to witness a hundred-year-old technology come back from near extinction,” says Johnny Hiller, the venue’s founder and music director. “Vinyl is [widely] regarded as the premium format, with a warmer sound compared to the compressed digital streaming format.”

Hiller adds that collecting vinyl doubles as an investment, like buying an art piece, and is a form of “decisive cultural preservation”.

“From sleeve design, packaging and liner notes, as well as online communities around the physical object, owning vinyl becomes meaningful,” he says.

“Being able to experience a sound closest to the vision of the recording artist is a real experience, and the art of listening to an entire album over a digital playlist shows a more passionate attitude towards music.”

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Building one’s collection, Hiller says, requires investment, knowledge and informed decisions.

“It takes time and effort to collect and listen to physical records, rituals that have become more important to music lovers than ever, as they nurture appreciation and depth.”

But at the core of it all, going to a record store and browsing a physical music format is a simple joy that technology cannot replicate.

“The act of digging through and for records brings people together,” Hiller says. “It’s a wonderfully therapeutic but also social experience, where like-minded people congregate.”