Bengaluru still finds takers for vinyl records

For almost 45 years, Rams Music has been operating as a music retail store on MG Road; Recently, it transformed into a vinyl experience center for budding and experienced LP collectors in the city.

The founder, Ramachandran, now runs it with his son Sangeetha Ram. Over the past few years, they have found themselves at the forefront of changing patterns of music consumption. From cassettes at their peak in the 1980s to CDs in the 1990s and early 2000s, Ram explains how with the proliferation of digital music – first MP3 and, later, Internet streaming platforms – “low quality/compressed Music formats met the needs”. Consumer.

“Convenience and accessibility won out over quality,” says Ramachandran. People forgot the joy of owning an album of their favorite musician or band. Business came to a standstill. Most of our competitors closed shops, but we decided to stay open. It was not easy.”

While pursuing other business ideas to keep Ram’s Music afloat, the founder says, “We knew vinyl would come back one day.”

The global market size for vinyl record sizes was estimated to be $246.3 million in 2023 and the re-adjusted size is estimated to be $629.9 million by 2030. India is also counted among the major markets in Asia-Pacific, although China is the leading force for vinyl sales in the region.

With worldwide initiatives such as Record Store Day held on the third Saturday of April and Black Friday in November since 2007, it is safe to say that vinyl consumption has rebounded to such an extent that cities have become an ecosystem of sorts. Including in Bengaluru, where entrepreneurs and fans are seeing business sense in being part of the vinyl experience.

Karthik Chandrasekaran, partner at The Record Room, says that since they launched in 2022, they have helped everyone interested in picking up LPs, using high-end turntables at listening stations, and starting their journey as a collector in their craft. Have seen someone’s “initial enthusiasm”. Beer and vinyl bar. “I guess the excitement never ended because our hearing has deteriorated significantly over the years and we have had to correct it several times,” laughs Karthik.

Sangeet Ram, who used to be an event organizer and artist manager, joined his father last year after he noticed that his shop was “overwhelmed with requests” for specific LPs. “I decided to quit my job and help him. “We started by selling record players and got a very good response,” says Sangeeth.

He found that space for displaying records along with turntables was a constraint. “Fortunately, we heard that the store next door was for sale and we bought it immediately. We hatched a plan, met a carpenter, showed him some Korean record store videos and told him, ‘India needs one like this.’

Equipped with House of Marley and Audio-Technica players, Sangeeth say they plan to be a “one-stop shop for all hi-fi stereo listening scenes”. Kerala’s rock favorite Avial inaugurates vinyl experience center at Rams Musique. The store had a 20% discount on Avial’s self-titled album and Sangeet says they sold out in a matter of hours, with the band attracting fans by signing copies.

Akhil Hemdev of online record store and music discovery platform On The Jungle Floor has been selling vinyl since 2019. In terms of demographics, Hemdev says he’s seen “strong interest” from buyers in the 25-34 and 35-44 age group. age groups. He describes them as “very active vinyl collectors”, adding, “Younger people are definitely interested in vinyl, but affordability can be a barrier. Interestingly, under the age of 25 People who can afford it often start building their collections before even purchasing a record player, as this is the most expensive part of the experience.

Record Room is often asked why they don’t sell vinyl and although they may soon step into that arena, they have launched their own LP compilation of Indian indie songs, titled Record Room Vol. 1 In June 2023.

Chandrasekaran says he has come to understand from foreigners and experienced vinyl collectors who visit the record room that the culture is here to stay. That’s why Record Room is changing things. “We can move to a café format as it is more portable and scalable with the possibility of presence in multiple cities. Plus, vinyl can be paired with some pretty good coffee,” he says.

That being said, community engagement remains important to The Record Room, Rams Music and On the Jungle Floor.

On the Jungle Floor is going strong with all of its community events, from listening sessions to in-depth dives into genres and subcultures, being held across the city. More experience centers like Rams Music and The Record Room will certainly help in terms of accessibility, but engagement with the community must be ongoing.

Hemdev suggests support from workshops, reducing import duties and setting up local LP pressing plants (which are of course expensive), as well as cultural institutions and government initiatives that promote music and cultural heritage. “By addressing these areas, we can make the vinyl ecosystem in Bengaluru and India stronger and more sustainable,” he says.