Census Bureau Daily Feature for Aug. 12: Vinyl Records

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature for Aug. 12 from the U.S. Census Bureau:

Profile America Friday, August 12th. Listening to a favorite song can bring back fond memories. That’s the idea behind Vinyl Record Day, celebrated annually on the anniversary of Thomas Edison’s invention of the phonograph. Vinyl records both 33 and 45 RPM brought Americans their favorite music for more than half a century. Today, computer downloaded music means that each of us can put thousands of songs into a tiny, portable device, so we can hear our favorites anywhere. While I-pods and mp3 formats are increasing in popularity, compact discs still make up nearly 90 percent of sales of recorded music. And vinyl LPs haven’t entirely gone away they still account for half a percent of total record sales each year. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Web at http://www.census.gov .

Sources: Chase’s Calendar of Events 2005, p. 422 Statistical Abstract of the United States 2004-2005, t. 1136 http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-04.html

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Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments ready to air on a monthly CD or on Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button). For further information, contact Rick Reed at 301-763-2812, fax at 301-457-3670, or e-mail at rreed@census.gov.

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