For years, the music industry has been moving toward shorter songs, endless playlists, algorithmic recommendations and singles designed to grab listeners in the first few seconds.
But Jarvis Cocker thinks something a little more old-fashioned is making a comeback: the album. The Pulp frontman recently told NME:
"Albums, I think they’re coming back."
Cocker points to rising vinyl sales as evidence that listeners are rediscovering the appeal of the long-playing record. And his argument isn't entirely about nostalgia. It's about the experience of listening to music in a format that has a beginning, a middle, an end, and even a natural intermission.
He goes on to explain:
""I always thought that a vinyl album was where records worked best. You’ve got a side that’s only 20 minutes long, you can listen to it, go and make a cup of tea or whatever, and it’s a good thing."
It's a charmingly analog argument in an industry obsessed with digital engagement.
The Numbers Are On His Side. Mostly.
According to the RIAA's 2025 year-end report, US vinyl revenue surpassed $1 billion, growing 9.3% and extending the format's growth streak to 19 consecutive years. But streaming still dominates recorded music revenue, and vinyl purchases don't necessarily translate into uninterrupted album listening.
There is also an interesting wrinkle in Cocker's prediction that CDs are on their way out: Luminate's 2026 figures show that US CD sales growth outpaced vinyl nearly 7-To-1.
The physical album, in other words, may have more life left in it than anyone expected.
+Read more: "We Stopped Waiting to Be Chosen and Mailed 100,000 CDs Instead"
Maybe the Album Never Really Left
For independent artists, the more interesting question isn't whether vinyl will replace streaming. It won't. It's whether fans are increasingly willing to invest in music as something more than an interchangeable collection of tracks.
An album gives an artist room to build a world, establish a narrative and create something fans can return to. Physical editions, artwork and direct-to-fan sales can turn that experience into something tangible.
Cocker, whose band released More in 2025 after a 24-year gap between studio albums, has good reason to appreciate the format. The bigger takeaway may be that the single and the album serve different purposes. One helps people discover music. The other can give them a reason to stay.
And if Jarvis Cocker is right, listeners might be ready to put the kettle on and stay a little longer.
