Welcome to another episode of Music Biz Chat.
This is the series where we step back from the shelves for a moment and look at what’s really happening in the wider music business — particularly when it comes to physical music. CDs, vinyl, box sets, Blu-rays… the things we actually own, live with, and value.
This episode follows a format I’ll be returning to regularly:
• A key piece of music business news
• A look at physical sales and trends
• A run-through of upcoming releases
• And finally, what’s been spinning in my own listening world
Pink Floyd Back at Number One — 50 Years On
Let’s start with something genuinely remarkable.
Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here reached Number One in the UK album charts just before Christmas 2025 — 50 years after its original release.
That alone is extraordinary, but the detail makes it even more interesting.
To reach the top spot, the album achieved 24,476 chart units in a single week. Breaking that down:
- Vinyl: 13,295
- CD: 5,889
- Blu-ray: 4,431
- Digital downloads: 277
- Streaming equivalents: 584
What surprised me most was that vinyl comfortably outsold CD — something I didn’t expect given the traditional Pink Floyd demographic. It’s a reminder not to make assumptions and a powerful example of how well a catalogue album can perform when it’s handled with care, respect, and proper presentation.
In total, Wish You Were Here has now achieved 894,538 UK sales since 1994 and is on the brink of triple platinum status. This is physical music working exactly as it should.
Drew Hill, Proper Music & the Vinyl Narrative
Next, I wanted to touch on a recent interview with Drew Hill from Proper Music.
If you buy physical music in the UK — especially box sets or specialist releases — you’ve almost certainly encountered Proper Music. They are a major force in independent distribution, working across labels, retailers, Bandcamp, and direct-to-consumer channels.
The headline takeaway from Drew’s interview is overwhelmingly positive:
- Vinyl continues to grow
- Another year of double-digit increases
- Independent record shops are opening, not closing
Anyone who lived through the late 2000s and early 2010s knows how bleak things once felt. So yes — this is a genuine success story.
However, there was one phrase that made me pause: the idea of a “shift from CD to vinyl”.
Why CD vs Vinyl Is the Wrong Conversation
I understand the business logic. Vinyl has higher price points, stronger margins, and a visible cultural presence. From a distribution perspective, that makes sense.
But from a music fan’s perspective, I don’t think the story is that simple at all.
Many people don’t move from CD to vinyl — they buy both.
I mentioned in a previous episode that Key Production, one of the UK’s biggest pressing plants, is actually seeing year-on-year growth in CD production. And they would know — not every sale is captured by chart data, especially direct-to-artist and Bandcamp purchases.
Within the Now Spinning Magazine community, there is no format tribalism:
- CDs are often seen as the “paperback” — accessible, practical, essential
- Vinyl is the premium artefact
- Box sets thrive on CD
- And many fans buy multiple formats for artists they love
People buy physical music because they love music — not because they’re loyal to a format.
Every physical sale helps artists, labels, distributors, and retailers.
£15 on a CD or £35 on vinyl — it all counts.
We really don’t need format wars, especially when they’re often framed by people who don’t actually buy physical music in the first place.
Discovery, Streaming & Why Physical Still Matters
One point Drew made that I completely agree with is this:
people discover music digitally, but they commit physically.
Streaming and YouTube are discovery tools. If an artist isn’t there, they risk being invisible — especially if they’re new or independent.
Yes, streaming royalties are poor. We all know that.
But discovery still matters.
When people connect with an artist, that’s when they want something tangible:
“I want this on my shelf.”
That’s where CDs, vinyl, and box sets come in — and that relationship between digital discovery and physical ownership is only getting stronger.
Upcoming Releases on the Radar
There’s a lot coming up, and while I won’t cover everything, here are some notable releases heading our way:
- Sham 69 – The Albums 1978–1980 (4CD box set)
- Rose Tattoo – The Albums 1981–1984 (CD box set)
- The B-52s – The Warner/Reprise Years (8CD, Rhino)
- Roberta Flack – The Atlantic Albums 1969–1978 (8CD)
- Warren Haynes – Expanded remix of Tales of Ordinary Madness
- Mick Abrahams / Blodwyn Pig – New Esoteric releases (prepared before Mick’s passing)
- Yes – Tales from Topographic Oceans super deluxe box
- Nektar – Down to Earth deluxe clamshell
- The Fall – 4CD Cherry Red box
- The Black Crowes – New release coming in March
- Lou Gramm – New or expanded solo release
- Robin Trower – Expanded live album from the mid-’70s
- Hawkwind – First album receiving deluxe treatment
What’s Been Playing?
To finish, I’ve been listening to something a little different — Motown Gold from 1975.
There’s something beautiful about the fact that these songs were already being described as “classics” 50 years ago… and they still are. Many of them remain staples on radio today.
It’s a reminder that great music endures — regardless of format.
If you love vinyl — brilliant.
If you love CDs — brilliant.
If you buy both — you’re probably a member of Now Spinning Magazine!
Thank you for all your support
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
