Its body bulged and bent, arms akimbo, and atop its vinyl shoulders sat an oversize skull and crossbones for a head.

WSJ: Up in the Air | Making It

Reason:Many radio disc jockeys favor vinyl for its distinctive sound quality.

FORBES: You, the Record Mogul

Yet vinyl continued its improbable rise (which I wrote about more extensively last year) as LP sales soared 17.7% to 4.6 million, setting a new SoundScan Era record for the fifth consecutive year.

FORBES: Whitney Houston, EDM, Vinyl: Inside The Music Stats of 2012

In April Panda Bear's Tomboy sold 14, 000 copies in its first week, with vinyl responsible for 37% of all sales--more than CD or digital.

FORBES: Magazine Article

On Tuesday the group began selling the first 100 vinyl copies of its forthcoming second self-titled album as a special pre-sale deal fans could name their own price for a physical version of the record.

FORBES: Philadelphia Band Everyone Everywhere On Letting Fans Decide What To Pay For Physical Media

Indeed, that trend can be seen in the recent success of vinyl, which continued its improbable rise for the fifth year in a row.

FORBES: Why Focusing On Digital Sales Won't Save HMV

We might ignore vinyl, though, which is making its own fascinating niche-within-a-niche comeback.

FORBES: Two Cents About Classical Music For $100

Hogan states that the audio quality of the bootleg is solid, which is something that appeals to fans willing to seek out vinyl copies of an album celebrated for its lush sound.

FORBES: Is There A New Market For Bootleg Vinyl?

Top Glove, which gets 80% of its sales from latex gloves, has diversified into nitrile rubber and vinyl.

FORBES: Hands On

The producer of vinyl acetate monomer (used in adhesives, textiles, packaging and chewing gum base) beat expectations in its December quarter and recently increased its estimates for 2008.

FORBES: Chemical Balance