Everyone knows that vinyl never really left, and its enthusiasts have defied time and space to expand and preserve their collections. However, there is another musical “relic” experiencing a kind of comeback, and it is the cassette. The first signs date back to February 2021, but a recent article from Nikkei Asia explains that some specialized stores in Japan are expanding their sections dedicated to cassettes, tempting buyers of all ages.
This so-called “streaming fatigue” is no invention. The ability to access millions of songs, movies, and series with a couple of clicks was a digital paradise dreamed up at the beginning of the century, but now it only generates endless noise. Add to that the difficulties users face in buying something and actually owning it without it vanishing into thin air on a whim of the distributor, or a “license conflict”.
This situation has spurred a certain “return” to physical media. On one hand, there are cases like Christopher Nolan recommending that audiences buy copies of Oppenheimer on Blu-ray so that no platform can steal the film, and on the other, we have news from Japan, where the cassette is experiencing something of a “revival”.
Cassettes in 2024? Japan says yes
The source reports that the Tower Records store in Shibuya expanded its cassette section last September, offering about 3,000 tapes (new and used), six times more than on previous occasions. The largest group of buyers averages 30 years old, but some young enthusiasts have also emerged, and there are always foreign tourists who want to expand their collections. Another interesting case is Side-B Creations, a store in Shibuya that sells players as well as tapes. The company says it is selling ten times more players than it sold in 2017, although there are no figures to serve as a reference.
Obviously, there is an inevitable question: Why? The memories we have of the cassette are not so good. Stretched tapes devoured by faulty players, belts that lose integrity or melt, moisture stains, and speed problems are some of the arguments (valid, I must add) that skeptics put on the table. However, it is necessary to mention that in the past, the industry gave us the worst of the worst in terms of quality, trying to cut costs with every tape distributed. A robust tape and a good player can make a big difference (Techmoan's video on this is a must-watch).
To conclude, the Nikkei Asia article mentions the economic factor: Some tapes are available for around 1,000 yen (six euros), and they are more accessible than vinyl for those seeking an analog experience. At the same time, many renowned artists are offering their latest works on cassettes, either generally or in limited editions.
Would you go back to cassette? Leave a comment!
Source: Nikkei Asia
