Press Play: The Surprising Comeback of Cassette Tapes in Music Culture

With a hiss, a rewind, and a touch of nostalgia, cassette tapes are spinning back into music culture, proving that some formats never go out of style.

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In an era dominated by streaming services, a surprising relic from the past is making a comeback: cassette tapes. Once considered a thing of the past, they are now enjoying a resurgence, with The Wall Street Journal reporting more than 430,000 sold in 2023, approximately five times more than what was sold a decade prior. 

But what about cassette has sparked renewed interest in the age of instant access to music? Cassette tapes, introduced in 1963, gained popularity in the 1970s and 80s as portable music players like the Walkman allowed for personal music experiences and the DIY mixtape culture, but have recently found a revival around Generation Z.

For the generation raised on their parents’ mix tapes, cassettes bring more than just nostalgia—they’re a way to revive that personal touch in music. Unlike the quick click of a Spotify playlist, playing a cassette requires physical engagement: 

insert tape, 

press play, 

rewind to the good part. 

But nostalgia is only part of it. Many music fans in our generation—most of whom have never touched a tape—feel the raw, textured alternative to the polished, high-definition sound of streaming. Much like the way some listeners love Olivia Rodrigo's lo-fi, gritty edge sound that combines pop, punk, and 1990s alternative rock and draws comparisons to artists like Paramore. 

"The imperfections, like the hissing or background noise, really set the mood of the album and give it another layer of character," says Keira Coady, an avid music collector. "Rewinding makes the experience more immersive and interactive. It helps me focus on the music and listen to an album in its entirety, which adds a special charm."

We crave texture and grit in this polished world. Vinyl is proof of that. In an increasingly digital world, fans crave something tangible, and cassettes provide a nostalgic yet novel alternative.

"One of the reasons I got into cassettes is my love for making playlists," says Coady. "My mom told me how she used to create cassette mixtapes for her friends in college, so she taught me the process. It became this personal project where I’d spend hours curating the perfect list of songs to capture a vibe before transferring them to a cassette."

Maybe it’s a nostalgic nod to the past. Or maybe it’s about something more meaningful. From a unique sound to the hands-on creation of mixtapes, cassettes offer a unique, immersive experience that fosters a deeper connection with music.

“For me, it was not just about listening to music, but about crafting an experience, which made it feel more meaningful," says Coady.