LP record

LP
Capital letters LP in a circle
A 12-inch LP vinyl record
Top: the original LP logo as used by Columbia Records
Media typeAudio playback
EncodingAnalog groove modulation
CapacityOriginally 23 minutes per side, later increased by several minutes, much longer possible with very low signal level
Read mechanismMicrogroove stylus (maximum tip radius 0.001 in or 25 μm)
Developed byColumbia Records
Dimensions12 inches (30 cm), 10 inches (25 cm), 90–240 g (3.2–8.5 oz)
UsageAudio storage
Released1948 (1948)

The LP (from long playing[1] or long play) is an analog sound storage medium, specifically a phonograph record format characterized by: a speed of 33+13 rpm; a 12- or 10-inch (30- or 25-cm) diameter; use of the "microgroove" groove specification; and a vinyl (a copolymer of vinyl chloride acetate) composition disk. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire US record industry and, apart from a few relatively minor refinements and the important later addition of stereophonic sound in 1957,[2] it remained the standard format for record albums during a period in popular music known as the album era.[3] LP was originally a trademark of Columbia[4] and competed against the smaller 7-inch sized "45" or "single" format by RCA Victor, eventually ending up on top.[5] Today in the vinyl revival era, a large majority of records are based on the LP format and hence the LP name continues to be in use today to refer to new records.[6][7]

  1. ^ "Origin of LP". merriam-webster.com.
  2. ^ "The history of the LP".
  3. ^ Zipkin, Michele (April 8, 2020). "Best albums from the last decade, according to critics". Stacker. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "Columbia Records, Inc". Discogs. Retrieved August 19, 2024. LP - Exclusive trade mark of Columbia Records Inc.
  5. ^ Evans, Mike (2022). Vinyl: The Art of Making Records. Simon and Schuster. p. 54. ISBN 9781645178163.
  6. ^ "Vinyl fans and traders tell of love for LPs as sales soar". BBC News. December 28, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  7. ^ Sisario, Ben (October 21, 2021). "Vinyl Is Selling So Well That It's Getting Hard to Sell Vinyl". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 5, 2024.

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