The vinyl record industry is booming around the world – so why not in Hong Kong?
Sales are going through the roof in the US, UK and Japan, but inflated costs and space restraints are just two reasons why trend is not catching on here
“I think vinyl is like a human being; they have a life and even after the artist is long gone, he is still living in the vinyl,” Paul Au Tak-shing, owner of Paul’s Records in Sham Shui Po, said.
“When you listen to them, it’s like you are listening to a live concert. If you kill the vinyl of [an artist’s] songs, then you are killing one of him.”
Au fell in love with vinyl while growing up in Saigon, Vietnam, during the 1960s and 70s as a result of the pervading American hippie influence during the war. He escaped to Hong Kong in 1974 to avoid the South Vietnamese military draft. His passion for vinyl is undeniable, but according to others working in the Hong Kong record industry, he is increasingly in the minority.
Watch: Asia still far away from vinyl renaissance
Vinyl collectors report that the selection of music on offer remains quite limited, with plenty of Canto-pop and film soundtracks, but less rock ‘n’ roll. And vinyl is still relatively expensive here; HMV’s collection, for example, ranges from about HK$180 to HK$450. Added to this, the small flats inhabited by most Hongkongers means they rarely have space for records, let alone a record player.