The portable cassette player is back like it’s 1979 all over again and that’s music to the ears of some fans
Cassette players and cassettes are enjoying a minor revival. If you still have your mixtapes from the ’90s but no device to play them on, you may be in luck.
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We Are Rewind's reimagining of the portable cassette player incorporates Bluetooth and a rechargeable battery. Photo: Amazon.sg
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Before streaming platforms became the musical go-to choice for people on the go, the Sony Walkman’s launch in 1979 revolutionised the portable audio space. While those heady days of the cassette player’s global domination are gone, the format is enjoying a low-key renaissance.
Earlier this year, FiiO, a Chinese company known for its digital audio players, DACs (digital audio converters) and headphone amps, launched the CP13 portable cassette player at CES 2024. The previous year, French company We Are Rewind launched their own reimagining of the Walkman that incorporated Bluetooth and a rechargeable lithium battery.
Launching such lo-fi analogue devices in the age of streaming may seem unfathomable, but there's solid data behind this mini revival.
According to The British Phonographic Industry for instance, UK cassette sales increased for a 10th consecutive year in 2022, with 195,000 units sold. While this is a drop in the ocean compared to sales of other music formats like vinyl, CDs and streaming, it does reflect growing interest in the format.
FiiO CP13 Portable Cassette Tape Player, Transparent (S$153.99)
Few portable audio cassette players blend nostalgia and a clean design aesthetic like the FiiO CP13. Its 1,800mAh lithium battery can be recharged via USB-C and it provides about 13 hours of playback. It embraces its retro aesthetics, with large physical buttons that control playback and volume. The CP13 doesn’t have a recording function or Bluetooth, choosing to focus on getting the basics right.
Retro industrial chic meets modern tech in this French-designed player. It incorporates Bluetooth 5.1 so you can listen to your cassettes wirelessly on headphones, speakers or in your car. Its 2,000mAh rechargeable lithium battery offers up to 12 hours of playback. It also records in stereo, so you can make your own mixtapes – blank cassettes are still being sold – by connecting an external device to the 3.5mm input jack. Its durable aluminium casing and clean industrial lines give it a reassuring heft and solid feel.
NEW RELEASES, OG FORMAT
The market for audio cassettes isn’t being driven solely by Gen X-ers hunting for vintage copies of their favourite Bananarama, Debbie Gibson or Def Leppard albums (look them up, kids).
Limited runs of albums from some big names – like Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, Harry Styles’ Harry’s House and the Barbie soundtrack – are being released as cassettes, suggesting that some releases are being snapped up by a much younger crowd.
Artists have good reason for doing this. Even the sale of a few thousand cassette albums could have a bigger impact on an album’s chart position than audio streams because of the "streaming equivalent albums" formula used for charts like the Billboard 200.
Barbie: The Album OST, Hot Pink Cassette (S$22.21)
Just like the movie, the Barbie motion picture soundtrack achieved critical and commercial success, thanks in part to songs from pop and hip-hop icons like Dua Lipa, Lizzo, Charlie XCX, Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice.
Speak Now (Taylor's Version), 2 Cassette (S$46.72)
This is Taylor Swift’s third re-recorded studio album, brought on by a 2019 rights dispute over her first six studio albums with her previous record label. The re-recorded country-pop album includes six previously unreleased tracks.
Green Day, Saviours, Cassette (S$22.95)
Punk rock giants Green Day have been at the top of their game for so long that their fanbase counts many Gen X-ers – and their children. Released in 2024, Saviors was well-received by critics and fans and marks another punk rock tour de force.
MIXTAPE MEMORIES
What’s driving this mini revival? Younger collectors may be drawn to the experience of owning physical media and being able to listen to their favourite music without a subscription or online connection. Cassettes offer a different listening experience, are more affordable and take up less space than vinyl.
Older fans will have fond memories of plugging into a Walkman (which still exists as a range of portable digital media players like this 8GB model) and listening to their favourite albums on their way to school or work. They’ll also remember the engaging, real-time joy of recording mixtapes, a much more considered and engaging process than simply clicking “add to playlist” on a streaming app.
While cassettes and vinyl audio recordings won’t sound as clean as digitally mastered tracks, fans are drawn to their warm, analogue sound – hissing, crackles, pops and all.
OTHER BUYING OPTIONS
Cassettes are not as widely available as vinyl in Singapore, though stores like Roxy Records & Trading, Swee Lee and The Analog Vault offer a limited selection. Used cassettes are available on online marketplaces like Carousell and new releases are also available directly from some artists’ websites.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to scour the Internet for an OG boom box and rechargeable size D batteries. Look them up, kids. These were actual things from the dark ages, before do-it-all smartphones and powerbanks.
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