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Unsuccessful launch
in 1930, RCA Victor launched the first commercially available vinyl record, marketed as "Program Transcription" discs. These revolutionary discs were designed for playback at 33⅓ rpm and pressed on a 12" diameter flexible plastic disc. RCA Victor's early introduction of a long-play disc was a commercial failure for as it was not affordable, not reliable consumer playback equipment and consumers were wary during the Great Depression. -
Vinyl was further developed due to low shellac supplies
During and after World War II when shellac supplies were extremely limited, some 78 rpm records were pressed in vinyl instead of shellac (wax), particularly the six-minute 12" (30 cm) 78 rpm records produced by V-Disc for distribution to US troops in World War II. In 1939, Columbia Records continued development of this technology. Efforts were undertaken to address problems of recording and playing back narrow grooves and developing an inexpensive, reliable consumer playback system. -
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War of the Speeds
In 1948, the 12" Long Play (LP) 33⅓ rpm microgroove record was introduced by the Columbia Record at a New York press conference. The commercial rivalry between RCA Victor and Columbia Records led to RCA Victor's introduction of what it had intended to be a competing vinyl format, the 7" (17.5 cm) / 45 rpm Extended Play (EP). From 1948 to 1950, record companies and consumers faced uncertainty over which of these formats would ultimately prevail in what was known as the "War of the Speeds". -
Stereo reel-to-reel tapes
After the introduction of high-quality but expensive stereo reel-to-reel tapes in 1955 and the increasing public fascination with stereo sound, intense work was undertaken to devise a scheme for recording stereo sound on 12" / 33⅓ rpm LP. -
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The growth of LP's
Towards the end of 1957, a system of cutting and playing back stereo was devised and accepted by the industry.
Consumer acceptance of stereo LPs was somewhat cautious initially but grew steadily during the early 1960s.
The industry largely discontinued production of conventional monaural LP records and playback equipment by 1968. -
The development of the light weight vinyl
During the early 1970s, a cost-cutting move towards use of lighweight, flexible vinyl pressings. Marketed by RCA Victor as the Dynaflex process, much of the industry adopted a technique of reducing the thickness and quality of vinyl used in mass-market manufacturing. In many cases, this included using "regrind" vinyl as a means of cutting manufacturing costs. -
The first CD
It was on Aug. 17 of 1982, at a factory outside the city of Hanover in Germany, that the band ABBA received a very particular honor: a CD of the band’s album The Visitors was pressed that day - it was the first CD ever manufactured. -
CD outsold vinyl for the first time
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The vinyl revival begins
$50 million of sales in the US -
4.10 million vinyls sold
An increase 1,852% since 2007.
