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Crosscurrents

Vinyl Nation Documentary Looks Deeply Into Music Fans' Love for Records

Sherri Kauk
The film Vinyl Nation looks at the history and popularity of records.

Records are popular again. So why are people turning to their turntables for music these days? The documentary Vinyl Nation answers that question while looking at the history of records.

It's a way to show I'm so into this artist or this band that I own the record. -Christopher Boone

Business Insider reports that vinyl records are outselling CDs for the first time since the 1980s. In the first half of the year, U.S. record sales totaled $232.1 million. So why are people turning to their turntables for music? The documentary Vinyl Nationexplores that question. The film looks at the history of records and current culture of vinyl buyers. Directors Kevin Smokler and Christopher Boone traveled to record stores around the country, toured record factories and interviewed vinyl fans from many backgrounds.

Vinyl Nation is streaming now until November 30. Half of proceeds from streaming sales go to the record stores of your choice. Visit their website to learn more.

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Jeneé Darden is an award-winning journalist, author, public speaker and proud Oakland native. She is the executive producer and host of the weekly arts segment Sights & Sounds as well as the series Sights + Sounds Magazine. Jeneé also covers East Oakland for KALW. Jeneé has reported for NPR, Marketplace, KQED, KPCC, The Los Angeles Times, Ebony magazine, Refinery29 and other outlets. In 2005, she reported on the London transit bombings for Time magazine. Prior to coming to KALW, she hosted the podcast Mental Health and Wellness Radio.