Housebound music lovers have been purchasing an increasing number of vinyl records during the pandemic, which has driven GZ media, the world's biggest LP maker, to its best-ever annual sales and profit.

GZ media, headquartered in Czechia, presses records for artists ranging from global superstars like Lady Gaga to the independent punk band Cock Sparrer. 

Its vinyl sales increased by 11 percent to $187 million, and it shipped 38 million LPs in 2020.

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With no concerts being held, and the options of going out for entertainment limited due to the closure of pubs and clubs, people have been spending money on home entertainment options.

This has been a major driver in the increased sales of vinyl records and GZ Media expects its revenue to increase to $220 million in 2021.

"If we stick with the vinyl records then that was a record year, absolutely," said Michal Sterba, CEO of GZ Media. "Lots of people started to buy their own audio systems and started to buy vinyl records as well."

The company's banner year follows a vinyl revival over the past decade despite the popularity and accessibility of digital media and streaming sites.

Local DJ Jiri Holubec said he prefers vinyl: "I am DJ and producer, I have a show at Prague's Radio One, in which we play music from vinyl records only.

"I started to collect the vinyl records 15 years ago. I have over 3,000 12-inch records. I have never counted them exactly, and I also have about the same number of the small seven-inch single records."

The U.S. is the world's biggest vinyl market with 27.5 million LPs sold in 2020, up 46 percent from 2019, according to Statista.

Video Editor: Nuri Moseinco