WH Smith plans to stock vinyl in 80 of UK stores – including Grantham – in a bid to take advantage of the format’s growing popularity among a new generation of music enthusiasts.
Vinyl sales have surged in recent times, bolstered by new releases from artists like Taylor Swift, who announced that her 11th studio album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’, is available on vinyl.
According to data from the British Phonographic Industry, vinyl sales rose 11.7 per cent in 2023, reaching nearly six million units sold, marking the 16th consecutive year of growth.
Emma Smyth, commercial director of WH Smith’s high street operations, said: “I’m sure there are many customers out there who remember spending hours in record shops browsing the latest vinyl LPs and the artistic record covers.
“To me it’s no surprise that vinyl is growing in popularity again, and we are very excited to be bringing back record selections to more than 80 different stores across the UK for both seasoned fans and new listeners alike.”
WH Smith first began selling vinyl albums in the 1950s, with records becoming a key product category for the retailer. But the group stopped selling them in the 1990s after their popularity waned as a result of CDs.
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