No One Is Buying Pianos Any More (Except In One Country)

Did you grow up with a grand piano in the house, performing for ma-ma and pa-pa as they sat beside the warm fireplace?

Turns out you’re part of a dying breed. Sales for traditional acoustic pianos have plummeted in America; a trend that began with the 2008 recession and hasn’t reversed.

The ABC suggests the downturn in the piano racket is due to “changing technology and cultural and economic shifts,” citing distractions such as smart phones and iPads (not to mention piano apps, which are significantly cheaper than the average new $10,000 piano).

Nick Margaritas’ of the now ironically-named Piano Liquidation Center claims 1000,000 digital and electronic keyboards are still sold each year in the States. By comparison, only about 35,000 acoustic pianos are produced and sold per year, compared to the high mark set this time last century of 350,000.

It’s not all doom and gloom for Mr. Margaritas, however. He notes that most pianos are now purchased for use in China, where they remain a status symbol for their growing population.

One thing’s for certain: if you’ve ever wanted a piano but could only afford an iPhone app, you can probably now get a decent one for cheap.