New Music Victoria-Backed Report Finds Melbourne to be the Vinyl Record Capital of the World

While this should come as no surprise to residents, or even frequent visitors, but Melbourne is quantifiably the vinyl record capital of the world; that’s according to published findings from the Victorian Music Development Office’s For the Record report.

The key figure to back this claim is that Melbourne has the highest density of record store per permanent resident, averaging 5.9 stores per 100,000 residents, beating music hubs like Tokyo, London and Berlin around the world.

Examining the so-called vinyl ecosystem of Victoria, the report finds that the state is home to 66% of Australia’s total vinyl pressing plants. On the storefront side of things, approximately 25-50% of most Victorian record store inventories are Australian-made music, crushing the streaming equivalent figure — which reports Australian artists make up a mere 8.4% of top songs on streaming.

For those who argue physical media is trending down, Victorian record store counts have grown by 18% since 2023, with Australia’s national vinyl sales increasing by 5.6% to a total of $44.5 million AUD. But such growth is paradoxical, as no surveyed store described themselves as financially stable.

 

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Fiona Duncan, CEO of Music Victoria, says “Vinyl plays a far bigger role in Australia’s music ecosystem than many people realise. For many artists, it’s now a central part of a release strategy. Strong physical sales can genuinely shift an artist’s chart position. Physical sales aren’t just income; they’re strategic...and vinyl continues to be one of the most powerful drivers for Australian artists.”

Kate Duncan, CEO of The Push, claims the report points to record stores being a viable cultural space for young people who cannot access live music so easily. “Record stores have the potential to become the most important entry points for young people discovering live music.”

“With many young people unable to access licensed venues as well as facing real cost-of-living barriers, these spaces could open the door to music experiences young people are currently missing - creating welcoming, all-ages environments that unlock connection, confidence and a lifelong relationship with Australian music.”

These findings come from part 1 of the report; part 2 is expected sometime in 2026. You can access the full findings here.