The modern Vinyl record was launched in 1948 and is a direct descendent of the gramophone record. This new media has several advantages over the shellac 78RPM original gramophone record.    The 12" LP record rotates at 331/3 RPM and has tight "microgrooves" allowing 25 minutes of playing time per side. The vinyl material also is quieter than the 78RPM shellac improving greatly the signal-to-noise ratio.   In 1949 the 7" 45 RPM record (single)  was introduced with a playing time of up to 8 minutes of playing time per side.   In 1958 stereophonic versions of the discs became available with two separate audio channels in the same microgroove allowing stereo playback.           The combined annual sales of 7" singles and 12" LP records in the UK is now around 35 million and is well behind CDs (160m) and music cassettes (105m).   Vinyl records sales where at their most popular in the 1960-70s. By the end of 1982 sales of pre-recorded music on cassette tape had overtaken the LP record. The launch of the compact disc (CD), also in 1982, had a massive impact on LP sales in the late 80s.
However, vinyl is far from dead with many real enthusiasts and collectors in the UK and around the world.