Earlier this month, a fire ripped through the Apollo/Transco vinyl production facility leaving only one remaining lacquer production factory in the entire world. The loss of such an integral facility is a massive blow to the vinyl record industry, with the aftermath undoubtedly affecting many businesses across the entire supply chain. Initially, the outlook was pretty bleak; vinyl lacquers are … Read More
Getting Your Music on Vinyl: A Guide for New Artists
This article was produced in conjunction with the team at London’s Kore Studios. Their client roster includes the likes of Amy Winehouse, Kasabian, White Lies and more. Why Vinyl? More and more up and coming musicians want to ensure that their music is ready to be mastered for vinyl, and for good reason. The popularity of vinyl records has exploded in … Read More
Albums for Winter – Five Fire-Side Records for the Season
Marc Henshall
Culture & Industry1 Comment
Just a couple of months ago, as the leaves turned a fiery golden red, we began a series exploring the effect seasons have on our musical palette. We listed our top cozy albums for fall/autumn, and then asked you, the readers, to share your personal favorites. With winter now upon us, and Christmas just a few days away, it’s time … Read More
Mastering Vinyl: Alchemy’s Barry Grint on What Makes a Great Record, and the Importance of Quality Control
Marc Henshall
Culture & Industry, Tech Talk5 Comments
When it comes to producing and releasing a vinyl record, much of the final outcome hangs on the mastering process. During this final polishing stage, a great mix can either be sent to the stratosphere or drowned in a ditch (figuratively speaking). Any mastering engineer worth one’s salt will take a great deal of care in ensuring the hard work … Read More
The Vinyl Alliance – Why Co-Founder, Bryan Ekus Wants to Unite the Record Industry
Marc Henshall
Culture & Industry1 Comment
As 2019 draws to a close, Vinyl records continue to thrive. Just a couple of months ago, new figures released by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) revealed that vinyl sales figures could surpass CD for the first time since 1986. In our digital age, the rebirth of vinyl is nothing short of spectacular, but, for momentum to continue, … Read More
Albums for Autumn – Four Cozy Records for Fall
Marc Henshall
Culture & Industry, Reviews7 Comments
As the seasons change, so does our desire for music, food, drink, and many other pleasures that make life worth living. As spring passes to summer, and summer to autumn (or fall depending on where you live), we’re encouraged into a state of reflection that reminds us of our own humanity. Put more eloquently, in the words of Yoko Ono: … Read More
Are Vinyl Download Cards Dead?
Marc Henshall
Culture & Industry2 Comments
Just a few short years ago, vinyl download cards were considered fairly standard practice. They were part of the package, part of the appeal of buying vinyl – if only as a bonus. And at the time, it made sense. Digital downloads were still a mainstream format for music consumption, and a downloadable copy made the physical vinyl more appealing … Read More
Black Circle Radio Interview – Ten Years of All-Vinyl Broadcasting
Marc Henshall
Culture & Industry3 Comments
Now in its tenth year, Michigan-based Black Circle Radio (BCR) is celebrating a full decade of all-vinyl programming. Their eclectic display of music and impeccable dedication to music on wax has earned them a strong reputation across the vinyl community. To mark this significant milestone, and to see what the future holds, we caught up with BCR founder and host, … Read More
Vinyl Revenue Looks Set to Overtake CD – But is it all Hype?
Marc Henshall
Culture & Industry3 Comments
Vinyl sales figures could be on track to overtake CD sales by the end of the year, but should we really be surprised? Is it all just hype? Here’s our take on the recently released figures: According to new figures released in the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) mid-year report, vinyl records earned $224.1 million (from 8.6 million units) … Read More
Buy Random Records & Expand Your Musical Horizon
Marc Henshall
Culture & Industry5 Comments
Is your turntable like a broken record? Feel like you’re reaching for the same albums, day-after-day? In this article, I’d like to explain why I’ve started throwing caution to the wind, often purchasing records that I know nothing about from artists I’ve never heard of before. I’d also like to explain why I think you should do the same. Record … Read More