Cassettes Make a Comeback: Young Generation Rediscovers the Discarded Format

A magazine feature on the cassette comeback in Israel: the young generation is rediscovering the analog format, artists are releasing music on magnetic tape, and Walkmans are being resold. Tomer Kages, founder of the MixTape label, reports rising demand, and Taylor Swift leads global sales. Rare cassettes by Israeli artists are becoming collector's items worth hundreds of shekels.

An i24NEWS magazine feature describes the comeback of cassettes in the streaming era. The young generation is rediscovering the analog format, the Walkman, and the feeling of holding music in one's hands. Young female listeners are quoted: "If you have something physical, it's not like being on the phone." Artists are also joining the trend: according to Tomer Kages, founder of the MixTape label, demand for cassettes in Israel is growing, and additional companies are starting to produce them. Among the artists who have released projects on cassettes are Peled, Maor Cohen, and Benia Barabi. The trend is not limited to Israel: Kages says Taylor Swift is one of the world's leading artists in cassette sales, and that Walkman sales account for about half of the sales on his website. Alongside the comeback, old cassettes are becoming collector's items: rare cassettes by Israeli artists, including Mashina, Nosei HaMivta'at, and Shabak S, can fetch hundreds of shekels.