Billboard Misreports Vinyl Sales Numbers, Takes Detail Off Website

Vinyl’s resurgence hit a snag this month as Billboard’s reporting error sent ripples through the music industry. Billboard recently removed its vinyl sales figures from the site, sparking confusion and speculation about the real state of vinyl in the U.S. After Billboard reported a jaw-dropping 33.3% year-over-year decline, many were left questioning if the vinyl revival was finally cooling off. Digital Music News (DMN) launched an investigation, only to find that the vinyl sales picture was murkier than expected.

On October 14, 2024, Billboard’s “Market Watch” section showed an alarming drop in vinyl sales. Data from Luminate, the company responsible for tracking music sales, indicated a massive decline that Billboard quickly broadcasted. Just one day later, though, Luminate clarified the figures. The actual sales were up by 6.2%, not down by a third. Billboard corrected the mistake and added a disclaimer to their report, but the damage was done.

The error resulted from changes in how Luminate collects data. Traditionally, independent record store sales were estimated based on samples. But starting in early 2024, Luminate implemented a more direct system, tallying actual sales from record shops across the country. This change, though intended to improve accuracy, disrupted year-over-year comparisons. Luminate even acknowledged the difficulty in drawing direct comparisons due to the new system.

This reporting shift upset independent record stores, some of which joined the Vinyl Record Manufacturing Association (VRMA) to create their own vinyl sales chart. Meanwhile, Billboard’s updated “Market Watch” page continued to show inflated year-over-year declines, even after the original error was acknowledged. Billboard’s parent company, Penske Media Corporation, has since declined to comment, leaving music lovers and industry insiders waiting for a more stable reporting solution.

Notable EDM Albums on Vinyl

Despite the reporting mix-up, electronic music continues to thrive on vinyl. Some must-have vinyl releases for EDM fans include:

• ODESZA – The Last Goodbye
• Swedish House Mafia – Paradise Again
• Justice – Justice (aka Cross)
• Daft Punk – Discovery
• Porter Robinson – Worlds
• Flume – Flume
• Rüfüs du Sol – Bloom

This debacle underscores how fragile tracking systems can be—especially when independent record stores, the heart of vinyl culture, feel overlooked. So, while the numbers may be in flux, it looks like the passion for vinyl isn’t going anywhere.

Photos courtesy of Reddit u/logiebear77 and u/Chrissss9999

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