Sales of music tapes are now rising so unexpectedly that the Recording Industry Association of America is now looking at ways to tracks sales once more — with underground indie artists believed to initially responsible for the revival by releasing material on the tapes.

But now mainstream artists have got in on the act too, with songstress Marina and the Diamonds releasing their latest album Froot on cassette last year. Other significant releases include Justin Bieber’s Purpose and Kanye West’s Yeezus.

Explaining the appeal of cassette, Lee Rickard, the founder of independent label Burger Records, spoke of how it offered a different sound.

And while Sony ceased production of cassette Walkmans in 2010, similar devices are still being produced by Phillips and other companies.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 16th, 2015