As the industry continues to feel the strain of long production times and frustrations with quality control, could this be a sign of more things to come? In a recent major statement, the leading vinyl record subscription service, VMP (Vinyl Me, Please), announced plans to open its own pressing plant in Denver, Colorado. In the statement, VMP CEO, Cameron Schaefer … Read More
In a recent feature, we explored the weird and wonderful world of run-out groove messages. From mastering engineer signatures to hidden messages and inside-jokes, there is a whole world of interesting etchings to explore. Closely related to this topic is the world of audible locked grooves. Standard records have a locked groove at the end of each side, usually in … Read More
In a recent video and statement, Jack White calls on major labels to build their own pressing plants once again. His plea comes at a moment in time where demand for vinyl records continues to grow year on year, but the capacity for production remains rudimentary and pushed to the limit. In his statement, he claims, “At least once a … Read More
Traditionally, the dead wax between the final grooves and the record label is a relatively benign, uninteresting space. You might find a matrix number, or perhaps a few extra digits referring to the cut or take of a particular record—or maybe, if you’re lucky, the mastering engineer or pressing plant will add their own signature. Look a little closer, though, … Read More
Let’s face it; record collecting isn’t exactly the cheapest hobby, and we’ve all spent more than we’d like to admit on a single record. The good news is, unless you’re a multi-millionaire, there’s a good chance even the most expensive vinyl records in your collection will pale into insignificance compared with the eyewatering exchanges on this list. After checking out … Read More
There are many reasons to love vinyl records. After all, when at their best, they sound great, they look beautiful, and they truly add something extra to the whole listening experience. However, while the resurgence in consumer interest for vinyl records is undoubtedly something to celebrate, there is a growing concern within the vinyl community surrounding quality control. In a … Read More
In our increasingly digital age, there’s still a lot of love for good old-fashioned vinyl. There’s just something about the physicality of vinyl; the sound, the feel (the entire experience) that conjures up emotions in generations old and new. It’s hard to imagine the same passion for any digital format in years to come, and while we’ve seen some resurgence … Read More
Whatever we do in life, we never stop learning. Whether it’s through the school of hard-knocks or by following family, teachers and mentors, we never stop learning. Record collecting is no different. But what if you could go back in time. What would you do differently, and why? Here are the ten things I would tell my younger record collecting … Read More
For any vinyl collector, a considerable part of the appeal and experience is the artwork. In many cases, album covers are classic art pieces in their own right and a significant contributor to pop culture. Countless classic album covers are instantly recognizable; they transcend generational boundaries and form part of our collective identity as a society. In some case, they … Read More
Every vinyl record collector has a few tricks up their sleeve, a few hacks to make life easier and help them get back spinning records. In the following article, we share our top vinyl record collecting tips and some of the hacks we’ve learned along the way that help you preserve your collection, save money, and even avoid potential disasters … Read More