Why vinyl records are so expensive in 2026 (and getting pricier)

The vinyl revival turned into exactly the thing it was escaping Credit: Brady Snyder / MakeUseOf By  Brady Snyder Published May 31, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT Brady is a technology journalist for MakeUseOf with years of experience covering all things mobile, computing, and general tech. He has a focus on Android phones and audio gear, and holds a B.S. in Journalism from St. John's University. Brady has written for publications like Android Central, Android Authority, XDA, Android Police, iMore, and others. He has experience reporting on major events held by Google, Apple, and Samsung, as well as trade shows like Lenovo Innovation World and IFA. When he's not writing about and testing the latest gadgets, you'll find Brady watching Big East basketball and running. Sign in to your MakeUseOf account Add Us On follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap We're more than a decade into the music streaming era, and if we've learned anything thus far, it's that physical media and streaming services can coexist. Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music combine to account for roughly a billion users, and there's no underestimating the behemoth that is the streaming industry . However, physical media isn't exactly hurting either. Vinyl is the most popular physical media format, with 46.8 million EPs and LPs sold last year in the U.S. The medium started making its comeback in the late 2000s after virtually dying in the heyday of CDs, and it's officially surging in this decade. I've been collecting vinyl for a decade, and have around 350 records in my collection. Yes, I do actually play them, using one of the three Audio Technica turntables in my household — I have an AT-SB727 (Sound Burger), an AT-LP60, and the AT-LPW40WN as the centerpiece of my main listening station. I'm thrilled with the state of my collection today. If