How Much Does It Actually Cost To Manufacture A Vinyl Record? | Talking About Records
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- New records aren't exactly cheap. Why are they so expensive? Is the cost justified? We discuss the ins and outs of vinyl production and manufacturing on this episode of Talking About Records.
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Take your annual salary (compensation) divide by 2000 - the average salary is $60 k. So it works out to be $30 per hour. Is you purchase 1 worth that time?
Other costs - the label amortiizes the losses for records that don't sell - even from popular artists. The cost to finance a product that won't hit the market for 1 year, this goes into the price matrix.
That's how I look at it when buying records or anything else. I know what I was paid for my effort and then decide if my effort is worth the cost of whatever it is. With items that are "luxuries" and not life sustaining it's an easy decision. I love my records but they aren't at the top of the spending list that's for sure.
When I make over $60K I might start buying records again. I make $21 per hour not gonna happen. The federal minimum wage is still $7.50 per hour.
Whew - thankfully I bought most of my records 30+ years ago, used, when kids were bringing in bags full of their parents LPs to trade for CDs. I got lots of bargains for $0.33 to $3.00 each. It works for me because I don't care much for anything that's been recorded in the last 30 years. I seek out old analogue (generally pre-1980) recordings.
enjoy the hunt!
Super interesting and informative, G.I. Thanks for covering this topic… I’ve always wondered.
my pleasure!
11:56 golden words of today’s reality. In digital world everything is free.
If a movie company spends 10 million dollars or 100 million dollars on making a movie, the costs of going to see that movie doesn’t change. How much somebody spends on their art or whatever shouldn’t be the consumers problem, that’s for the person producing the record to endure. If it’s a double LP or something away from a basic record then a cost can come with that, in my opinion most of the bullet points mentioned should not be absorbed by the consumers. A record is still just a record, raising the costs to quickly absorb expenses will take longer as opposed to lowering or keeping it at a reasonable price point will attract more people to buy. It’s still just a record, there’s a point where most consumers draw a line to what is worth spending on whatever item. This is how I run my own business, keep the product at a reasonable cost, exceeding that cost, people will make other choices with what to do with their money, especially these days
I don't disagree with ya. Unfortunately that's not always reality though, especially when the market is very small, something for collectors, NOT the masses. The fact is the masses (90% of music consumers) have NOTHING to do with vinyl, and never will.
@@NTXVinyl the reality is. If you want to put out a certain product
That product still has a certain value despite what you chose to spend to produce it
@@DreamstoRealityAutomotiveTV indeed...the market value. In general the market value for music is in the shitter, given that everyone gets it all for free. And that really impacts the physical format. It's frustrating.
@@NTXVinyl so in a sense, the video should emphasize more about what the consumers have to pay for an artist to put out what they want. My labor rate at my shop didn’t go up because I wanted a new car.
I can't understand why reissue of out of copy right records STILL COST SO MUCH . I can understand that these are usually very limited pressings. Here in the UK, a 7" 45rpm single usually cost £12 each and albums £20 - 25 for a single album.
I have a similar collage made of all 4 grunge legends. 🤘
Come on let's be honest. Prices these days are pure greed, plain and simple. Majority of my collection is underground black metal and occult rock, and their records continue to be sold for less then 20 dollars. Let's take a recent example, Svart Records has announced a reissue of a couple Jess and the Ancient Ones records. I can preorder a 12 inch record right now for 17.99. And this is a small band with what I have to assume will be a small run which as you said, will cost the label more per record pressed. Compare that to all the mainstream crap that they press in the several thousands or tens of thousands(considerably cheaper per piece), while they then turn around and sell them for 30+. An extreme markup. I believe pricing these days is more of a supply and demand thing. Mainstream crap music they know people will buy regardless of if the record is 17.99 or 30. So why charge 17.99?
Greed? Sure. Pure greed? Not in my opinion. Artists/labels have to make a living and stay in business. It's not an easy industry to be in these days. Harder than ever in fact - because the masses access it all for FREE.
Everything you stated is very true but sellers still lowball records. Some record company conglomerates, like Universal, sells directly to consumers. Although I haven't seen steep discounts on current releases, but Universal would often have site-wide 40-50% off.
I remember back in 2015? when Warner was re-issuing Led Zeppelin LP's. Speaking with a record store owner in Las Vegas, discussing the prices I paid for the LZ albums and boxes and he told me I paid 50% below his cost from his distributor. He wasn't very happy. I told him where he could get the deals I got.
As far as what the recording artists made from record sales, they never made more than pennies off of the records. Their money came from doing concerts and selling their merchandise, as you stated. Unless they had some down time, they couldn't afford to come off the road and go into the studio. The Ventures were a group like that. Their records were recorded by the group of Hollywood studio musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew". The hit records kept the group relevant and the group had to learn the new songs to play in their concerts. So, no, they didn't make anything off their records, and they had to pay for the production.
Back in the late-60's to early-70's, discount department stores generally sold $4.98 list records for around $3. Then they would have sales on new releases. I ran across an LP in my collection which had a sale sticker still on the shrink wrap for $2.15(on a $5.98 list LP). Another stereo store put the entire Creedence Clearwater Revival LP catalog on sale for $2.50 each.
Oh, boy, and then if you waited 6 months to a year, the cut-outs came out. That put them down to under $2. At the same time, the same records were in the new record racks for the store's retail. I remember the Bee Gees "Odessa"(with the velvet cover) 2LP cut-out for $2.97! You could still find it in the new record racks for $6.+
Cheers!
What upsets me more than the cost of vinyl, is the quality. Half the new vinyl presses have at least one song where there is a lot of noise and distortion, clicks and pops or songs where it even won't play. For instance, Imagine Dragon's Night Vision. 1st song skips so bad just from the very start that it repeats the same grove over and over again. Looking from the edge you can see a bump that causes this. I use a record clamp to flatten it but still skips. I read reviews on this record where other customers had the same issue on the 1st song. They posted their reviews years before I purchased my copy. I have much more success purchasing used vinyl from the 70s and 80s. Sometime I wish I never got back into vinyl. Close to $5000 spent on just the TT setup, and then additional $ on all the vinyl. CDs would have been much less costly, no defects, no sound artifacts and they sound great. But there is just something about spinning a record that is so cool. It just amazes me when a records idone right, how this mechanical-magnetic device can reproduce incredible sound!
I'm with ya. It's a huge investment of money and time.....and it brings my massive amounts of joy, so I keep it at - like so many others.
Before this last year, the last time I bought a recod album was the 80's fir about 11 bucks. I also paid about 99 cents for a gallon of gas and five bucks for a six of Budweiser. Why would anyone blink an eye at 30 bucks for a record? That's really right on target.
Why would anyone blink an eye? Because for most people the readily available alternate is now FREE! So....$30 feels a whole lot different than it did "back in the day"
Great video, very informative! I just bought The Eagles Greatest Hits 71-75 today at Walmart for $21.97 and now I feel like I got a deal. Ugh.
At a big box you can definitely find LPs for $20-25. They undercut real record stores left and right.
@@NTXVinyl Yeah I'm seeing this. The closest record store to me is over 2 hours away so it's tough for me to get out there, but when I do the prices seem higher on average, but I still prefer supporting the local guys over big box.
Just looked on my Bandcamp page, and average price is about $25, with shipping about $30-32 (lots of stuff from overseas). All those are VERY boutique records. So $15 for press, plus maybe $5 for recording etc., that makes for a 20% profit margin, way below the >33% typical in sales, assuming your figures are correct. --- The constant quotation of prices from the 80s/90s leaves out inflation. Once you adjust for inflation, record prices are more or less the same. Inflation from 1980 = x3.1, 1990 = x2.4. Just get it out of your system that records are more expensive now. They are not in terms of inflation adjusted purchasing power.
Google it and AI gives you something like what follows below (although AI is already known for having lied before)
Standard Black Vinyl Pressing Pricing
with the # of Records and the Price to press them being:
100 LPS
7 '' $910
12'' $1345
300 LPS
7'' $1060
12'' $1610
500 LPS
7'' $1160
12'' $1950
1000 LPS
7'' $1450
12'' $2630
2- AS CAN BE SEEN THE MORE YOU'LL PRESS THE CHEAPER EACH UNIT WILL BE. AS LOW AS 2.63 US dollars for each vinyl record
3- Down the middle mi boys , down the sweet middle letting prudence rule and save the day for no wonder theY say that ''Greed will end up breaking the money bag'' and even bringing down empires , because the love of money, that not love itself , IS the root of all evil'' quoting The Lord Jesus, who was never nor is now a communist but rather whom the communists have made their worst enemy to fight and get rid of (as if theY or anybody ever could).
4- Also it's true that many a rich man rich today ain't really happy because theY are not billionaires like Bezos and Musk nor rich as the hell of Gates.
5- And for what...? . ''Ahora que lo tengo todo me voy a morir?'' (Google translate), and she did die. Thank God though for the glorious promises of heaven...Amen.
This one time- at band camp...
@@TomTester-ey1rt ... only >600 titles in my Bandcamp collection ...
ok 👌🏻. And P.S. Fuck AI.
Inflation is fine. But the main difference here is the context though. Most people have millions of songs and albums avail for free at the click of a button, anytime, anywhere. So the perception of an LP at $30 is drastically effected by this "competition" in the market. It's sad how much music is devalued now because of how accessible it is.
It's A LOT harder for someone in 2024 to choose to spend $30 on an album that they can easily hear for free anytime, versus someone paying $7 in 1980 (or whatever the correct # is back then). Because in 1980 that was the only way to hear the music (other than the concert)
Hi, I’m in a small band, produced an album, and would like to get it made into vinyl. However, total units would be low, like 20. Do you recommend a lathe-cutter, or do those records end up sounding less than ideal vs. proper vinyl pressing? Thanks.
I honestly can’t say I’ve ever heard a good thing about lathe cut records. I believe they are more novelty than anything. Pretty bad sound
3:36 doesn’t matter whether the album comes out from studio on digital or analog media?
Major labels like Universal & Warner Music Group pay far less than indie labels & artists who produce their own records. They negotiate A blanket agreement where they buy out manufacturing capacity of certain factories
That is correct
When we compare record prices with 30-40 years ago, we should take into account the general inflation as well. Nothing is as cheap anymore as it was back then.
Of course....but inflation is only one factor in the very screwed up business of the music industry.
In 1975 I paid $4.98 for a record adjusted for 2024 inflation that record should be $30 get over it. Price is fair.
That's a fine equation. The main difference is the context though. In 1975 if you wanted to own and hear that entire album you had no choice but to pay $4.98. And you chose very carefully how to spend your money. In 2024 most people have millions of songs and albums avail for free at the click of a button, anytime, anywhere. So the perception of an LP at $30 is drastically effected by this "competition" in the market. It's sad how much music is devalued now because of how accessible it is.
I'm having a hard time buying any vinyl that is a digital press, not because I'm snooty, but because why not just stream it for the same quality. Would love someone to correct me if I'm wrong. Aren't all vinyls today digitally sourced?
Are you talking about NEW albums that have been recorded recently? If so, then yes...because most all albums are now recorded digitally, and have been since the early 2000's or so. Why not just stream it? Because then it's streaming...which is a totally different experience than spinning a record. You can't own a streamed album, or see it, or touch it, or read the lyrics, or enjoy the album art, or have it on your shelf. etc etc.
@@NTXVinyl sure anything recorded since 2000 is digital. Three albums I have in my cart I haven’t pulled the trigger on - August and Everything After, Downward Spiral, and Smiths Hatful of Hollow. Granted these aren’t my must haves, just examples of maybe I’m not missing anything by not owning.
I am very excited to get the new STP Purple album that comes out Aug 9th from Acoustic Sounds
@@ummagumma7826 I don't have that LP by The Smiths but the NIN and Crows reissues are top notch. And I wouldn't hold your breath for STP on 8/9, looks like it has been delayed again from what I can tell
Calling bullshit on half of this expense. How does Garth Brookes sell his vinyl albums for $10.00 and his 4 lp vinyl box set for $25.00. And every other artist is double or triple the price .
There are always outliers. And that’s a good example. I cannot imagine how many of those box sets and LPs were produced. Probably hundreds of thousands each. Simple supply and demand.
A single 33 lp is about $40.
That’s not the norm (not in the US at least). Most single LPs retail for $25-30
If I was paying $40 USD for a single 33RPM LP I'm going to pay $60 and get the two LP 45RPM version if it's available. $40 for one is crazy!
In the UK is close to $40 for a new single LP!
A lot more expensive in the U.K. typically £25-£35 for most single albums. The Atlantic 75 series £75 here, 60 bucks in the US and you moan 🫣
Did I moan?!?! :)
@@NTXVinylUS peeps are always moaning about the price, you guys are so lucky 😍
@@celtic-audiophile, it goes both ways. How about how much it costs an American to buy European vinyl, not only the £ is much more expensive than the $, but also the real killer is the exorbitant costs of shipping to the US
@@henrybiedenkapp675 I’m sure it does , the difference is most of the jazz and classical, MOFI, Atlantic 75, Accoustic Sounds, etc all come from the US, so my monthly volume is maybe 75% the US. I ship directly from the In Groove who have a neat set up that has all the taxes added, which can still be cheaper than buying here. Gladly swap round 😉