Limited to 4 is to prevent bulk buying price gougers from buying the lot. This happened to the mono reissue of Sgt Peppers. Sold out because eBay sellers were buying them all and not enough for the general public to buy at the retail price
with the beatles that makes sense and actually if it’s truly limited then even 4 is too many which i think Matt was saying. He is more saying that too many releases try to appear limited by saying ‘only 4’ - that’s not really limited. Print runs need to be stated.
@@rydogglessauldoggles7856 I get it but who wants to buy more than 1 copy unless their intentions were to hoard copies or resale. I think Matt is saying that the seller is to blame for limiting the amount bought, where it should be the insane buyers to blame for buying more than they need. Limiting is not a trend but a reason to combat with greedy resellers.
Actually the limited to four per customer is for charting purposes. Billboard allows four records to count one for one. Five to nine units per customer is counts as four four and ten or over are considered bulk and ineligible completely.
@@musicmogulwhat’s the rationale? That someone is bulkbuying with no intention of personal use/gifting? Is this also to prevent a music company from sending people out with blank checks to buy up all the records to inflate numbers?
In most instances, yes. Chart manipulation has always been around and that rule was put in place by Billboard to curb the attempt from agents of acts buy in bulk and inflate the album unit number which carries substantially heavier weight, by their metric, than streaming equivalent numbers.
Skyrocketing prices are going to cause the bubble to burst a lot faster than grading. What killed the comic book industry was the failure to realize that collectible comics were only valuable because they were rare, not because there were four variants with holographic covers. Records on the other hand are becoming a luxury item at an alarmingly quick rate and unless prices come down fairly soon I fear that most of us won’t be able to afford the hobby at all within the next few years.
@@deathfeel I’m mostly buying used records these days. New records just aren’t worth the money most of the time especially with quality control showing no signs of improving.
As a collector who only buys cds i find it amazing that theres a whole community on lets say Discogs that goes endlessly in the review section, discussing how the new release sounds to them and focussing on all the small details, be it sound quality, surface wear, packaging ect. The collectors are actively spending 50 bucks on a lot of vinyl, just to hope that the vinyl sounds great and doesnt have an issue. I love that people collect whatever format they want, but see so much complaints on a lot of these new records, if a record company asks top dollar, there has to be some more of a quality control right. Now it feels like a lot of collectors are just "gambling" if their new limited album sounds great. And yeah some of them get the fomo and buy all variants, just to be 500 bucks further down the line and only one pressing is worth the quality control. In context i like buy cds at second hand shops just to listen to the music, so i'm maybe not the most knowledgable person when it comes to vinyl. But yeah, thats always one thing that baffles me.
I have bought 2 LPs recently that had skips in them. All the records available had that same skip. As if nobody did a listening check before they started pressing. The art of making records has become a joke these days.
Yeah, i wouldnt say this could not happen with cd pressings as well, but with a new cd you'll spend around 15, while the record sets you back triple that amount. Thats a lot of money for a faulty product. And i know there things as returns, but thats a gruelling process on its own. The same is true in gaming for instance. You pay 70 bucks for a product, but shipped with bugs, and it takes forever to fix them. Then when all is set and done you must pay another 50 to get the complete stuff. I've always been a collector myself and feel the frustration when the thing you collect becomes a gamble. I'd say always do research and save money.
This is also why I chose to collect CDs instead of vinyl, vinyl has a lot of novelty value but it's very inconvenient and expensive compared to CDs, with the amount of money I spent on my small collection of 21 CDs I could've only gotten maybe 6-8 vinyl
Another old school Too Many Records video. Cheers to that. I agree on all of these. The Zoetropes in particular need to go. Let me add on a few. 1. The $20-$30 7”??? Why is this a thing? 2. Signed insert cards. Either sign the cover or forget about it. Also the dubious claims an artist actually signed the record. I have serious doubts about Sabrina Carpenter signing all of her new record since there seems to be thousands of these constantly getting rereleased. 3. Staggering variant releases. Another annoying FOMO tactic. Seems now that different versions of new releases are coming out slowly over a week or two rather than all of them dropping at once.
Slabbing records is absolutely asinine... If it´s a signed copy of a record that sounds awful anyways, like a signed TOOL Lateralus or something along those lines, like, maybe it makes sense? But let´s be real here, almost all of those records will just be wasted as "financial deposits" just making it more expensive and difficult for actual record-lovers to afford copies they actually intend to play and listen to - it´s almost like that´s the entire point of a vinyl *record*...
Couldn’t agree more. Slabbing lps like stamps is the exact opposite of music collecting is all about. Its what happens when people with money get involved without any love for music.
Slabbing vinyl has got to be the worst one. It makes card and comic collecting stupid, and will do the same for vinyl. Nobody wants to pay someone to grade their albums, and what good is it behind plastic?
The card collecting bubble was burst because of overproduction. Slabbing in the hobby though has gotten ridiculous with collectors always seeking the perfect card . Some people buy only slabs and that is annoying. With some high end cards though I understand slabbing as it even creases are sometimes hard to detect. Also a Michael Jordan rookie is so heavily counterfeit led that buying an unslabbed card is just not smart. I do know people that buy cards in slabs to authenticate the card and and autograph and then crack them out and enjoy them in the or personal collection. I will say slabbing and grading has made the hobby way less fun. with comics i am not a fan because you can’t read the book but somewhat understand it. there are graphic novels and licensed reproductions of almost anything gif you want to read it and they do actually protect the books. the vinyl thing is stupid - it should be reserved for records that cost $1,000 and up that you can’t lay eyes on before purchasing. that you plan on cracking put and listening. to. I still think it’s bonkers but people will collect how they want to collect but I think overall grading is a scam , a money suck, and ruins hobbies.
The “limited” point you made is so on point. If you can’t give me a number of copies it’s limited to, don’t even bother putting it on there. I’m also not a huge fan of them saying “limited to 25,000 copies”. That’s almost never gonna sell out so why even share that statistic
Another one: The absurd rise in prices, which got to the point that even the worst most worn-out record, on the most tore sport jacket is being sold for more than it’s really worth. Sellers of both new and used vinyl need to stop this as soon as possible, or I will have no choice but to stop buying LPs. I bought at least one record a week, now I haven’t done it for more than two months. We love music, but we’re not clowns.
Record slabbing is such a bad idea, defeats the entire point of LISTENING to music. I'm really starting to think the collector Vinyl record boom is bad for music in general. The lack of diversity in people's "collections" is laughable. Doesn't have to do with anything based on taste or what one grew up with. REcord Store Day is also run it's course... We had so many flippers and grimey old men who wanted that Olivia Rodrigo 45".
I remember a good 20 years ago seeing reissues of AC/ DC's Back in Black and thinking "What? Why? So many rare records without reissues and they're making more of one of the best sellers of all time? We have enough of these already."
What I find that is the absolute worst vinyl trends is grossly escalating prices. So, a record pressing plant presses a record which now retails for close to $40., but then they press a record which retails for $20. On top of that, they may have 2 separate pressing runs of the same record, the second a little later, but they are using the same masters/stampers and where they were originally $40., now they are $20. The difference might be using 140g vinyl to 180g vinyl. Or maybe a change to color vinyl, which would typically cost more, but then it is retailed at $20. You have some very good points. I've never heard of "slabbing" a record before. In my personal collection, I might display a record between 2 pieces of clear plastic, but it's to display the differences between records. e.g., the original release of Dave Mason's "Alone Together" album on marbled vinyl. No two are identical. Also displayed is the piss-poor, supposedly marbled vinyl that Friday Music put out.;
I learned today that another reason all these variants exist is to game the billboard charts. Each variant counts as the same album as far as billboard is concerned. Makes the practice even more despicable.
Slabbing? Hell no! The trend of some sellers who think only the grade of the vinyl matters, not the cover. “You don’t listen to the cover” bs. It’s the whole package. If the cover is beat and ring worn, I don’t want it.
I was hoping you'd touch care and cleaning. I feel like there's too many gimmicks to clean and care for both the discs and turntable that as a newbie I don't know what's actually good or the tried and true option that will cost less.
Completely agree on zoetropes. Not into these at all. Why would I ever want to pull out my phone to look at the record through an app while it spins? Will do that once, at most.
I appreciate you bringing up goldmine ratings. That's what is the industry standard and it works well. I have been selling vinyl and media since 1989 thank you
Slabbing isn’t gonna be a big thing, they’ve been trying for years to make it a thing. Apart from something obscenely rare, or perhaps signed, there’s no reason to do this. Grading is a good thing for other interests, but retro fitting it to vinyl, isn’t great.
The biggest problem with industry now is people wanting to re-invent everything when it's already as good as its going to get. Everytime we make a wheel we must re invent it...oh and without even referencing the original wheel.
Hey, I've noticed some other collectibles you have in the background. Maybe a video of your collection of any other stuff other than vinyl? Figures, funkos, posters etc? I think it would be interesting. Thanks!
@@TooManyRecords Thank you for the response. I think many of us collects other things as well, not only vinyl, so it could be fun to see what else are you into and passionate about.
I agree with your points but I think you conflated the two different uses of "limited". The larger point you made - and the point I agree with - is about the limit of how many units will be produced. But the screen shot you shared is a retailer limiting how many a person can buy to try to combat scalpers.
Thank you sir, on point as usual! I 100% agree! The vinyl industry has continued to “prostitute” itself over the last few years with its FOMO marketing, endless variants, etc. I’ve never been a collector and it’s never been a hobby to me. It’s simply my preferred format of listening. In the last year and a half, I have cut my vinyl purchases by 80% because of the trends. I’m just not mad at my money. Thanks again for sharing your perspective and keep up the great work!🙏🏻🎧
Even slabbed comics are rapidly losing their popularity. Slabbing records is simply a horrible idea that common sense dictates this 'fad' will never catch on.
Great video, Matt! Thank you, all these things and more are annoying me as well. The limited edition thing... Just say how many? If it's limited to 50,000 copies, is it really limited?
Great Video and list Matt. Zoetrope and Slabbing both need to stop and now. Lathe cut vinyl should be done by professionals. No one else should do it. If they do it should be labeled as such. But I still think it should be done by people that know what they are doing.
Slabbing a record makes next to no sense to me. You’re basically just implying the record jacket’s quality, not the actual disc’s pressing quality, because who’s really going to open a record sleeve when they’re going to grade it?
Loved this vid, my head was nodding throughout. That said, even after doing a bit of research on Tuned In Grading, I still have no idea what this Steve Aoki cash grab even offers -- I mean, what's the point?
1) I didn't know this was a thing I have one zoetrope and haven't seen any around but if so then yeah it's pointless 2) Good god yes Varients nearly killed the comic industry and they will if not kill certainly massively weaken the vinyl industry 3) Lathe cuts like bootlegs are going to happen it's less a trend and more criminals trying to rip people off 4) The limited thing is annoying but not a real problem like you said it's marketing 101 and doesn't really affect individuals 5) I used to work in a comic book shop and I despised slabbing with all my being and now I work in a record shop I was glad to see the back of it so I hope this trend dies hard - it's a pointless practise that just ruins stuff and turns great things into nothing more then trading cards (which I have no hate for as thats the one thing slabbing makes sense with) like varients stop trying to copy the comic industry it's already dying
@@mitchabate HAHA please don’t tell me to do my own “research” (like I haven’t) that is definitely the fast track to me completely dismissing you and your future comments. Maybe I’ve been lucky, because I own 7 UHQR releases and they are all stellar, if not the best versions of those particular records. Played on a Clearaudio Performance DC AiR & Mac XR100s, I can clearly tell the difference, and to me, worth the price.
100% agree on the whole slabbing deal. This has also hit the retro videogame market. Like a record is made to be listened to, videogames are meant to be played and neither deserve to be encased in a lifeless acrylic monstrosity. As someone who watched the long term effect this had on one of my hobbies (ie some clueless stuffed suit seeing procuring such items as an investment rather than something to be interacted with and enjoyed), I beg you all to PLEASE not let the insanity spread to the vinyl market.
I see the same with videogames, and gosh, it's the exact mindset but on a different media. Grading games is just as ridiculous and you nailed it, it's not just art to admire, it's a record to listen to (or a game to be played,).
Good rant. I share all the same, plus when it comes to limited runs of records... Frigging number them all. So a place says only 500 will be made... Well how do I know that if there is no number like 45/500 on the record??!!. Sounds like a scam to me. Just saying.
Put me in the anti-Slabbing camp. I get it, I guess, but I think I'm just a bit too basic for stuff like that. I'm not a high end collector, so I'm just not the target demographic for something like that. My biggest gripe is something you highlighted with the Variant Nightmares section of this video...the Deluxe Edition of an album that comes out a year after the initial release. This isn't just limited to vinyl...it is still done with CDs as well. But given the cost for new vinyl these days, it feels even more dubious with that format. I understand that artists have a few outtakes, maybe some demos or a live cut that they want to share, but maybe wait a few years for an updated physical release featuring those tracks. Maybe just keep that stuff on the streaming/digital side for a bit...build up some anticipation. Or wait and do a stand alone rarities comp type of release gathering those types of tracks built up over a few years. All of those options would be acceptable to me and my wallet. I just can't stand having a new Deluxe Edition hit shelves a year after the initial release. Because you know that is all somewhat planned out in advance. It just reeks of money grab.
I love that you think not listening to a record is more criminal than not reading a comic or not playing a game. It’s the same. They’re all not fulfilling their purpose. The slabbing companies involved in all of these endeavours don’t give a fuck about the hobbies, they want our money.
One Step vinyl needs to go. It’s unnecessarily complex and expensive with no empirical improvement, it’s just good marketing. One Step vinyl is inferior to well done HQ180g pressings
I've put a complete FULL STOP to my vinyl collection for the very reasons mentioned .... and I don't regret it one bit. More than happy with the collection I already have.... don't need anymore reissues or variants or new releases. 😎👍👍
The only trend I am truly annoyed by is younger people calling a single record a “vinyl” and more than one record “vinyls”. As someone who has been buying and collecting records for over 30 years it is rude to use improper terms when you enter into a new hobby. There is absolutely no excuse for this.
Terminology changes in every hobby. Even if it's incorrect, improper terms can (and will) take over within new generations. It's better for your mental health to not let semantics and malproprisms bother you.
Record companies greed. One sign of that is cutting in line to the pressing factories with their biggest artist. With the enticement of huge batches , the lesser known artists/bands get pushed down the line constantly. Happy to see Adele’s latest album going for $6-10 here in Sweden , because there’s thousands left over.
I don't know if I would call variants a trend because it's been happening for so long at this point. My issue is that not only are there multiple versions of the same albums all in print at the same time, but they use so many buzzwords around them. You have records that are still in print, that you can go buy at your local record store... and yet they're releasing yet another variant of it? or they take old stock from 1-2 years ago, re-brand it as something new variant and then try to sell the rest of their stock. It's all just ridiculous at this point. It's confusing.
One of my turntables is a vintage Technics direct-drive/linear-tracking deck (SL-7, 1981-1983) with a smokey lid so there's no opportunity to use a zoetrope. On my other tables I use a 1.5"-tall spindle-mounted copper record weight (that looks cooler than the zoetrope -- and is in REAL 3-D), so that wouldn't work for me, either. I have a few Hudson Hi-Fi acrylic platters in fluorescent green, blue and orange that pick up room light and glow so appealingly that I sometimes hesitate to put a record on top of them! (Makes the turntable look great when you're not listening to records.) And I'm not going to look at my turntable through my phone any more than I'm going to watch a David Lynch movie on my phone. (Look it up.)
Yes we are in the age of variants and pressings of all the colors anything to get people to buy all copies. And yes...this whole thing about grading is getting out of hand. I had no idea records were now being graded. I know it started with comics and cards but now I see even VHS, DVDs ...it's ridiculous really and some collectors get them graded and in glass just because they think it looks cool. On their wall.
I have over 4000 LPs plus 7" most of them in underground Rock like Punk, and Post-Punk and I have never encountered the trends you have discussed in this video. Most of the records I buy are limited to small pressing. I buy LPs because I love music I go to a lot of live gigs, Most of what you talked about is just weird money-making BS.
Lack of flac - why are most digital downloads included with the vinyl (if you even get one) for mp3s!? This is 2024 - storage is not a problem - this is one of the reasons I love Bandcamp.
I was just about t comment we need to stop the “limited” thing. I actually fell for it with Jack White’s new record. Limited should mean no more than 2000, and that’s really pushing it.
Unique variants of one single album exist for single reason - to inflate albums sales. Taylor Swift vinyl sales account for 15% of all vinyl sales? Well, of course. She has 16 unique variants of her latest album and her fans bought individual copies of all of them. Her record sales numbers should have an asterisk next to them because of that.
180 gram Reissues of Steve Miller Bands Greatest Hits for 39.99, when the same original pressing used to be found in the 5 dollar bin, and sounded better
I hope this doesn't become a thing, but Beyonce's Cowboy Carter and from my understand the new Big Sean both have full priced records that don't have the full tracklist from streaming release. I've been holding off buying the Cowboy Carter box to have all the songs, because I spent 40 on a record thinking it was the full track list just to find out it doesn't have my favorite songs
Slabbing records is ridiculous. Pure money making operation, nothing more. For one thing, many variations that collectors chase are inside the sleeve. Assuming that a perfectly preserved sealed copy is the ultimate, how can it be slabbed without looking inside? You often can't even tell the exact issue you have without looking at the record itself. I've seen slabbed records where the cover is for a re-issue and it's shown as an original pressing, which also tells me that whoever is evaluating them doesn't know much about records making the slab useless. While I see the usefulness in high end coin and card collecting, to me it took a lot of the fun out of the hobbies. It's just an attempt to turn a hobby into an investment. Since I'm not one to be buying and selling my music collection, regardless of what I pay, I assume in the end it will be worthless. Future prices mean nothing to me. For those engaged in active buying and selling it's generally a short term monetary investment, so I don't think it will ultimately take hold. Listen to what you have and get some enjoyment out of it.
"First time on vinyl"-releases, where the pressing is just crap, since they obviously sell these primarily to those who already own the CD, bought back in the 90's or 00's.
Limited to four on the purchase option is more about Billboard charting rules. Up to four gets one to one while five to nine only counts as four. Ten or more sales per customer get thrown out as “bulk” and are ineligible for their chart.
They keep pressing rsd Motley Crue uk12inch singles that arent hard to find originals of, while im waiting for Blur - Live at Budokan, the Beach 2000 Dicraprio Soundtrack, etc etc
Chapel Roan is actually only 1.5 records for that price. Dude four is blank. J no it even an etching to my knowledge. This is the trend I hate most personally. If you don’t create your album with vinyl up in mind, and therefore need a side C to fit it all on vinyl, at least add four extra tracks on side D. Why not Good Luck Babe. Or any of her other non album tracks or covers. It’s infuriating.
Test pressings that aren't. The most recent X album came out in a signed "test pressing" run of 500. 500 hundred copies is not a test pressing; it is a first run. To their credit, they did sign those copies and didn't upcharge as much as most artist-signed new releases. After that, they released three additional variants, telling you the number of copies of each, which is good, but tiering the prices accordingly, which is very, very bad. Reward fans who want the rarest variant for their hustle; let the market determine their later value.
This is less a trend, more a fact of life. Since nearly all modern recordings are digital, with no actual analogue equivalent, nearly all vinyl releases are mastered by a computer (yes, the actual cutting for vinyl). Said computer has been programmed for caution, not for a "hot" sound. Far too often, the resulting vinyl record sounds dead, flat, dull, lifeless and disappointing. When the cut for vinyl prep (the first step toward the manufacture of the metal parts that records are stamped from) has been supervised and executed by a human mastering engineer, hopefully one with years of experience, the vinyl end result (from digital) can at least be acceptable, but occasionally even the human touch is not sufficient to result in a killer sounding slab of vinyl. Nothing is sadder than spending a HUGE dollar amount for 300 lp's to be pressed, often the max that a small band or indie performer can afford, only to find that the resulting vinyl sounds significantly less satisfying that listening the the digital version on youtube or bandcamp.
1) meh. 2) never run into it. Re normal vs deluxe (or CD then vinyl) has happened, and that certainly annoys me. But only had that happen once, so not a thing, IMHO. 3) never seen that, not into those genres. I only have a couple of explicit lathe cuts, certainly has its own sound. 4) As always, buyers beware. 5) Just out of curiosity, how do you listen to a slabbed record?!? Never mind. LOL. 6) Paper inner sleeves, particularly on any kind of special release (deluxe, colored, limited numbers, etc.). "Paper sleeve are bad, mkay?" 70-80% or records I get have generic paper inner. Really?
@@TooManyRecords- TRUE enough , restated - stores which take part in RSD are forced to buy certain amount of limited stock . In Which they can never sell . Probably wrong again, not a record store owner as yourself . RSD is not set up for independents as we are told, seems to be more of a corporate scam .
Charging large money for a reissue of a rare album and it comes in a cheap ass jacket and/or inner sleeve
Excessive variants!
There is such a thing as too many
THIS!
Endless reissues - the record companies exploiting collectors - all too often the artists are getting nothing too - which makes it worse
I’ve been noticing a severe lack of digital downloads included with the purchase of the vinyl. Bandcamp aside.
Because downloading, unfortunately, has become more obsolete than CDs. Streaming killed it off.
Digital DLs went or started to go bye bye about 7/8 years ago. As soon as Spotify grabbed a share, DL lost their appeal.
You can basically stream anything for almost free.
@@iDigress77times I want to OWN my music - digital or vinyl.
I throw those away, don't need a download of my record lol.
Limited to 4 is to prevent bulk buying price gougers from buying the lot. This happened to the mono reissue of Sgt Peppers. Sold out because eBay sellers were buying them all and not enough for the general public to buy at the retail price
with the beatles that makes sense and actually if it’s truly limited then even 4 is too many which i think Matt was saying. He is more saying that too many releases try to appear limited by saying ‘only 4’ - that’s not really limited. Print runs need to be stated.
@@rydogglessauldoggles7856 I get it but who wants to buy more than 1 copy unless their intentions were to hoard copies or resale. I think Matt is saying that the seller is to blame for limiting the amount bought, where it should be the insane buyers to blame for buying more than they need. Limiting is not a trend but a reason to combat with greedy resellers.
Actually the limited to four per customer is for charting purposes. Billboard allows four records to count one for one. Five to nine units per customer is counts as four
four and ten or over are considered bulk and ineligible completely.
@@musicmogulwhat’s the rationale? That someone is bulkbuying with no intention of personal use/gifting? Is this also to prevent a music company from sending people out with blank checks to buy up all the records to inflate numbers?
In most instances, yes. Chart manipulation has always been around and that rule was put in place by Billboard to curb the attempt from agents of acts buy in bulk and inflate the album unit number which carries substantially heavier weight, by their metric, than streaming equivalent numbers.
Skyrocketing prices are going to cause the bubble to burst a lot faster than grading. What killed the comic book industry was the failure to realize that collectible comics were only valuable because they were rare, not because there were four variants with holographic covers. Records on the other hand are becoming a luxury item at an alarmingly quick rate and unless prices come down fairly soon I fear that most of us won’t be able to afford the hobby at all within the next few years.
I ve already returned to buying cds until all this bubble pop and we all return to buying records, with our hard earned money, in reasonable prices.
@@deathfeel I’m mostly buying used records these days. New records just aren’t worth the money most of the time especially with quality control showing no signs of improving.
@@Reidak12 good for you my friend. I live in a remote area and the high prices even for used records plus shipping is not viable for me at the moment.
And when trade paperbacks came out all the collectibility value, devalued 😂
As a collector who only buys cds i find it amazing that theres a whole community on lets say Discogs that goes endlessly in the review section, discussing how the new release sounds to them and focussing on all the small details, be it sound quality, surface wear, packaging ect.
The collectors are actively spending 50 bucks on a lot of vinyl, just to hope that the vinyl sounds great and doesnt have an issue.
I love that people collect whatever format they want, but see so much complaints on a lot of these new records, if a record company asks top dollar, there has to be some more of a quality control right.
Now it feels like a lot of collectors are just "gambling" if their new limited album sounds great. And yeah some of them get the fomo and buy all variants, just to be 500 bucks further down the line and only one pressing is worth the quality control.
In context i like buy cds at second hand shops just to listen to the music, so i'm maybe not the most knowledgable person when it comes to vinyl.
But yeah, thats always one thing that baffles me.
I have bought 2 LPs recently that had skips in them. All the records available had that same skip. As if nobody did a listening check before they started pressing. The art of making records has become a joke these days.
Yeah, i wouldnt say this could not happen with cd pressings as well, but with a new cd you'll spend around 15, while the record sets you back triple that amount. Thats a lot of money for a faulty product. And i know there things as returns, but thats a gruelling process on its own.
The same is true in gaming for instance. You pay 70 bucks for a product, but shipped with bugs, and it takes forever to fix them. Then when all is set and done you must pay another 50 to get the complete stuff.
I've always been a collector myself and feel the frustration when the thing you collect becomes a gamble. I'd say always do research and save money.
This is also why I chose to collect CDs instead of vinyl, vinyl has a lot of novelty value but it's very inconvenient and expensive compared to CDs, with the amount of money I spent on my small collection of 21 CDs I could've only gotten maybe 6-8 vinyl
this is, in my medical opinion, the best thumbnail in TMR history
Thank you doctor
Another old school Too Many Records video. Cheers to that.
I agree on all of these. The Zoetropes in particular need to go. Let me add on a few.
1. The $20-$30 7”??? Why is this a thing?
2. Signed insert cards. Either sign the cover or forget about it. Also the dubious claims an artist actually signed the record. I have serious doubts about Sabrina Carpenter signing all of her new record since there seems to be thousands of these constantly getting rereleased.
3. Staggering variant releases. Another annoying FOMO tactic. Seems now that different versions of new releases are coming out slowly over a week or two rather than all of them dropping at once.
Signed insert cards. THE WORST.
Slabbing records is absolutely asinine... If it´s a signed copy of a record that sounds awful anyways, like a signed TOOL Lateralus or something along those lines, like, maybe it makes sense? But let´s be real here, almost all of those records will just be wasted as "financial deposits" just making it more expensive and difficult for actual record-lovers to afford copies they actually intend to play and listen to - it´s almost like that´s the entire point of a vinyl *record*...
Couldn’t agree more. Slabbing lps like stamps is the exact opposite of music collecting is all about. Its what happens when people with money get involved without any love for music.
Slabbing vinyl has got to be the worst one. It makes card and comic collecting stupid, and will do the same for vinyl. Nobody wants to pay someone to grade their albums, and what good is it behind plastic?
It’s asinine
@@TooManyRecords out of curiosity, can you explain how “slabbing” burst the card collecting bubble that you mentioned in video?
The card collecting bubble was burst because of overproduction. Slabbing in the hobby though has gotten ridiculous with collectors always seeking the perfect card . Some people buy only slabs and that is annoying. With some high end cards though I understand slabbing as it even creases are sometimes hard to detect. Also a Michael Jordan rookie is so heavily counterfeit led that buying an unslabbed card is just not smart. I do know people that buy cards in slabs to authenticate the card and and autograph and then crack them out and enjoy them in the or personal collection. I will say slabbing and grading has made the hobby way less fun.
with comics i am not a fan because you can’t read the book but somewhat understand it. there are graphic novels and licensed reproductions of almost anything gif you want to read it and they do actually protect the books.
the vinyl thing is stupid - it should be reserved for records that cost $1,000 and up that you can’t lay eyes on before purchasing. that you plan on cracking put and listening. to. I still think it’s bonkers but people will collect how they want to collect but I think overall grading is a scam , a money suck, and ruins hobbies.
The “limited” point you made is so on point. If you can’t give me a number of copies it’s limited to, don’t even bother putting it on there. I’m also not a huge fan of them saying “limited to 25,000 copies”. That’s almost never gonna sell out so why even share that statistic
Another one: The absurd rise in prices, which got to the point that even the worst most worn-out record, on the most tore sport jacket is being sold for more than it’s really worth. Sellers of both new and used vinyl need to stop this as soon as possible, or I will have no choice but to stop buying LPs. I bought at least one record a week, now I haven’t done it for more than two months. We love music, but we’re not clowns.
Sounds like a "Swift" issue of the 5 different releases of the same album
Record slabbing is such a bad idea, defeats the entire point of LISTENING to music. I'm really starting to think the collector Vinyl record boom is bad for music in general. The lack of diversity in people's "collections" is laughable. Doesn't have to do with anything based on taste or what one grew up with. REcord Store Day is also run it's course... We had so many flippers and grimey old men who wanted that Olivia Rodrigo 45".
I remember a good 20 years ago seeing reissues of AC/ DC's Back in Black and thinking "What? Why? So many rare records without reissues and they're making more of one of the best sellers of all time? We have enough of these already."
What I find that is the absolute worst vinyl trends is grossly escalating prices. So, a record pressing plant presses a record which now retails for close to $40., but then they press a record which retails for $20. On top of that, they may have 2 separate pressing runs of the same record, the second a little later, but they are using the same masters/stampers and where they were originally $40., now they are $20. The difference might be using 140g vinyl to 180g vinyl. Or maybe a change to color vinyl, which would typically cost more, but then it is retailed at $20.
You have some very good points. I've never heard of "slabbing" a record before. In my personal collection, I might display a record between 2 pieces of clear plastic, but it's to display the differences between records. e.g., the original release of Dave Mason's "Alone Together" album on marbled vinyl. No two are identical. Also displayed is the piss-poor, supposedly marbled vinyl that Friday Music put out.;
I learned today that another reason all these variants exist is to game the billboard charts. Each variant counts as the same album as far as billboard is concerned. Makes the practice even more despicable.
Slabbing? Hell no! The trend of some sellers who think only the grade of the vinyl matters, not the cover. “You don’t listen to the cover” bs. It’s the whole package. If the cover is beat and ring worn, I don’t want it.
I was hoping you'd touch care and cleaning. I feel like there's too many gimmicks to clean and care for both the discs and turntable that as a newbie I don't know what's actually good or the tried and true option that will cost less.
Agreed - Good call.
Completely agree on zoetropes. Not into these at all. Why would I ever want to pull out my phone to look at the record through an app while it spins? Will do that once, at most.
It’s insane how much steam they picked up
I appreciate you bringing up goldmine ratings. That's what is the industry standard and it works well. I have been selling vinyl and media since 1989 thank you
SOLID list of five trends that have to STOP!
Thank you for bringing these up. Fuck slabbing. Free the music!
Slabbing isn’t gonna be a big thing, they’ve been trying for years to make it a thing. Apart from something obscenely rare, or perhaps signed, there’s no reason to do this. Grading is a good thing for other interests, but retro fitting it to vinyl, isn’t great.
Great video. Zoetropes to me are a fad like 3D art was in the 1990's, once you see one, who cares!
The biggest problem with industry now is people wanting to re-invent everything when it's already as good as its going to get. Everytime we make a wheel we must re invent it...oh and without even referencing the original wheel.
Hey,
I've noticed some other collectibles you have in the background. Maybe a video of your collection of any other stuff other than vinyl? Figures, funkos, posters etc?
I think it would be interesting.
Thanks!
Okay! I’ll add it to my list.
@@TooManyRecords Thank you for the response. I think many of us collects other things as well, not only vinyl, so it could be fun to see what else are you into and passionate about.
I agree with your points but I think you conflated the two different uses of "limited". The larger point you made - and the point I agree with - is about the limit of how many units will be produced. But the screen shot you shared is a retailer limiting how many a person can buy to try to combat scalpers.
Thank you sir, on point as usual! I 100% agree! The vinyl industry has continued to “prostitute” itself over the last few years with its FOMO marketing, endless variants, etc. I’ve never been a collector and it’s never been a hobby to me. It’s simply my preferred format of listening. In the last year and a half, I have cut my vinyl purchases by 80% because of the trends. I’m just not mad at my money. Thanks again for sharing your perspective and keep up the great work!🙏🏻🎧
Very interesting!! I hadn’t even heard of some of these!!!
Even slabbed comics are rapidly losing their popularity. Slabbing records is simply a horrible idea that common sense dictates this 'fad' will never catch on.
The worse trend is increasingly bad quality warped records with noise and nonfill.
Glad you mentioned Richard Houghten! A true Master
Slabbing...the worst thing to EVER happen to record collecting. Stupidest thing I've ever heard. Play the damn record.
Great video, Matt! Thank you, all these things and more are annoying me as well. The limited edition thing... Just say how many? If it's limited to 50,000 copies, is it really limited?
Great Video and list Matt. Zoetrope and Slabbing both need to stop and now. Lathe cut vinyl should be done by professionals. No one else should do it. If they do it should be labeled as such. But I still think it should be done by people that know what they are doing.
Slabbing a record makes next to no sense to me. You’re basically just implying the record jacket’s quality, not the actual disc’s pressing quality, because who’s really going to open a record sleeve when they’re going to grade it?
Bonus points for the Tim Heidecker x Tim Robinson clip
Collecting records and variants has become like collecting beanie babies
Loved this vid, my head was nodding throughout. That said, even after doing a bit of research on Tuned In Grading, I still have no idea what this Steve Aoki cash grab even offers -- I mean, what's the point?
Miss you buddy
well done and very informative
I find it interesting how many bootleg lathe cuts exist. My theory is since it's a handmade custom product it could be considered non-derived
100% spot on!
One of the worst trends is, Collecting in itself. Just buy a record because you like it.
Do you know how to spot a lathe cut record? Or is it obvious once you see it?
It’s fairly obvious in person I think.
Good to see you pop in at VinylKing!
Was stoked to get to visit the shop!
Limited should mean limited.
If you think about it, every record out there will eventually be limited to a number, so yes, that word means nothing unless true numbers follow it.
1) I didn't know this was a thing I have one zoetrope and haven't seen any around but if so then yeah it's pointless
2) Good god yes Varients nearly killed the comic industry and they will if not kill certainly massively weaken the vinyl industry
3) Lathe cuts like bootlegs are going to happen it's less a trend and more criminals trying to rip people off
4) The limited thing is annoying but not a real problem like you said it's marketing 101 and doesn't really affect individuals
5) I used to work in a comic book shop and I despised slabbing with all my being and now I work in a record shop I was glad to see the back of it so I hope this trend dies hard - it's a pointless practise that just ruins stuff and turns great things into nothing more then trading cards (which I have no hate for as thats the one thing slabbing makes sense with) like varients stop trying to copy the comic industry it's already dying
I bought a lathe cut of the kendrick & drake beef and it was unlistenably bad smh. Low volume/high noise floor 🤣
Did they say it was a lathe
@@TooManyRecords Yes they...they also said it was "mid-fi" lol. But it was absurdly muffled.
Agree with everything....$125 to $150 for UHQR ?
Tbf, UHQR releases are dynamite
Not for that price - they are not all great
@@mitchabate I disagree, with the right set up and if it’s an album, you love the UHQR are definitely worth the price.
@@carywhitt i have thr right set up
They are not all great..do your research
@@mitchabate HAHA please don’t tell me to do my own “research” (like I haven’t) that is definitely the fast track to me completely dismissing you and your future comments. Maybe I’ve been lucky, because I own 7 UHQR releases and they are all stellar, if not the best versions of those particular records. Played on a Clearaudio Performance DC AiR & Mac XR100s, I can clearly tell the difference, and to me, worth the price.
100% agree on the whole slabbing deal. This has also hit the retro videogame market. Like a record is made to be listened to, videogames are meant to be played and neither deserve to be encased in a lifeless acrylic monstrosity. As someone who watched the long term effect this had on one of my hobbies (ie some clueless stuffed suit seeing procuring such items as an investment rather than something to be interacted with and enjoyed), I beg you all to PLEASE not let the insanity spread to the vinyl market.
I see the same with videogames, and gosh, it's the exact mindset but on a different media. Grading games is just as ridiculous and you nailed it, it's not just art to admire, it's a record to listen to (or a game to be played,).
Good rant. I share all the same, plus when it comes to limited runs of records... Frigging number them all. So a place says only 500 will be made... Well how do I know that if there is no number like 45/500 on the record??!!. Sounds like a scam to me. Just saying.
Put me in the anti-Slabbing camp. I get it, I guess, but I think I'm just a bit too basic for stuff like that. I'm not a high end collector, so I'm just not the target demographic for something like that.
My biggest gripe is something you highlighted with the Variant Nightmares section of this video...the Deluxe Edition of an album that comes out a year after the initial release. This isn't just limited to vinyl...it is still done with CDs as well. But given the cost for new vinyl these days, it feels even more dubious with that format. I understand that artists have a few outtakes, maybe some demos or a live cut that they want to share, but maybe wait a few years for an updated physical release featuring those tracks. Maybe just keep that stuff on the streaming/digital side for a bit...build up some anticipation. Or wait and do a stand alone rarities comp type of release gathering those types of tracks built up over a few years. All of those options would be acceptable to me and my wallet. I just can't stand having a new Deluxe Edition hit shelves a year after the initial release. Because you know that is all somewhat planned out in advance. It just reeks of money grab.
There's a lot of un-slabbing clips on youtube from comic collectors who actually want to read their books. Good on them!
After hearing your point number 2, it's clear to me that you have never collected comic books or toys.
I love that you think not listening to a record is more criminal than not reading a comic or not playing a game. It’s the same. They’re all not fulfilling their purpose. The slabbing companies involved in all of these endeavours don’t give a fuck about the hobbies, they want our money.
OBI strips on new American/European hip hop releases suck
Agreed. OBI strips belong only on Japanese manufactured releases.
I don’t mind them. I hate the side strips that VMP uses.
One Step vinyl needs to go. It’s unnecessarily complex and expensive with no empirical improvement, it’s just good marketing. One Step vinyl is inferior to well done HQ180g pressings
I feel like certain one steps will absolutely sound better on a nice system, tbh.
That does seem to be the problem, turning vinyl into a novelty and/or speculative commodity as a cash grab.
I've put a complete FULL STOP to my vinyl collection for the very reasons mentioned .... and I don't regret it one bit.
More than happy with the collection I already have.... don't need anymore reissues or variants or new releases.
😎👍👍
The only trend I am truly annoyed by is younger people calling a single record a “vinyl” and more than one record “vinyls”. As someone who has been buying and collecting records for over 30 years it is rude to use improper terms when you enter into a new hobby. There is absolutely no excuse for this.
It’s damn every age calling them vinyl/s! Just look at this comment section.
Cuz it’s cool. 🤮
@@tenorman lol I actually have a clip from 1980s Miami Vice where they call it vinyl. Not that it's incorrect, it's just overused.
Terminology changes in every hobby. Even if it's incorrect, improper terms can (and will) take over within new generations. It's better for your mental health to not let semantics and malproprisms bother you.
@@MickSupper it is fine to call records “vinyl”. Just don’t call a single record “a vinyl” or more than one record “vinyls”.
People flexing their graded video games is annoying enough, seeing records in plastic cases is outright infuriating.
this dude does vinyl right ... a little bit of everything !!!
Record companies greed. One sign of that is cutting in line to the pressing factories with their biggest artist. With the enticement of huge batches , the lesser known artists/bands get pushed down the line constantly. Happy to see Adele’s latest album going for $6-10 here in Sweden , because there’s thousands left over.
I don't know if I would call variants a trend because it's been happening for so long at this point. My issue is that not only are there multiple versions of the same albums all in print at the same time, but they use so many buzzwords around them. You have records that are still in print, that you can go buy at your local record store... and yet they're releasing yet another variant of it? or they take old stock from 1-2 years ago, re-brand it as something new variant and then try to sell the rest of their stock. It's all just ridiculous at this point. It's confusing.
One of my turntables is a vintage Technics direct-drive/linear-tracking deck (SL-7, 1981-1983) with a smokey lid so there's no opportunity to use a zoetrope. On my other tables I use a 1.5"-tall spindle-mounted copper record weight (that looks cooler than the zoetrope -- and is in REAL 3-D), so that wouldn't work for me, either. I have a few Hudson Hi-Fi acrylic platters in fluorescent green, blue and orange that pick up room light and glow so appealingly that I sometimes hesitate to put a record on top of them! (Makes the turntable look great when you're not listening to records.) And I'm not going to look at my turntable through my phone any more than I'm going to watch a David Lynch movie on my phone. (Look it up.)
Yes we are in the age of variants and pressings of all the colors anything to get people to buy all copies. And yes...this whole thing about grading is getting out of hand. I had no idea records were now being graded. I know it started with comics and cards but now I see even VHS, DVDs ...it's ridiculous really and some collectors get them graded and in glass just because they think it looks cool. On their wall.
Drukqs! I have it too but I don’t have the outer box. Nice flex
So good 😂 I get mad when they release a better cooler super deluxe album when I just received my pre ordered .
Going back to vinyl at all is nuts
Nope. It's a fun hobby. Streaming is boring.
I have over 4000 LPs plus 7" most of them in underground Rock like Punk, and Post-Punk and I have never encountered the trends you have discussed in this video. Most of the records I buy are limited to small pressing. I buy LPs because I love music I go to a lot of live gigs, Most of what you talked about is just weird money-making BS.
Maybe I should get my Elvis debut slabbed. It’s visually NM, but was a defective pressing, which is probably why it never got played.
Lack of flac - why are most digital downloads included with the vinyl (if you even get one) for mp3s!? This is 2024 - storage is not a problem - this is one of the reasons I love Bandcamp.
I’m holding off getting the new Hozier record because I feel like a deluxe version will be coming with the EPs.
I was just about t comment we need to stop the “limited” thing. I actually fell for it with Jack White’s new record. Limited should mean no more than 2000, and that’s really pushing it.
TOOL lateralus love the album hate how it’s only on picture disk falls apart faster
Unique variants of one single album exist for single reason - to inflate albums sales. Taylor Swift vinyl sales account for 15% of all vinyl sales? Well, of course. She has 16 unique variants of her latest album and her fans bought individual copies of all of them. Her record sales numbers should have an asterisk next to them because of that.
180 gram Reissues of Steve Miller Bands Greatest Hits for 39.99, when the same original pressing used to be found in the 5 dollar bin, and sounded better
I hope this doesn't become a thing, but Beyonce's Cowboy Carter and from my understand the new Big Sean both have full priced records that don't have the full tracklist from streaming release. I've been holding off buying the Cowboy Carter box to have all the songs, because I spent 40 on a record thinking it was the full track list just to find out it doesn't have my favorite songs
Slabbing records is ridiculous. Pure money making operation, nothing more. For one thing, many variations that collectors chase are inside the sleeve. Assuming that a perfectly preserved sealed copy is the ultimate, how can it be slabbed without looking inside? You often can't even tell the exact issue you have without looking at the record itself. I've seen slabbed records where the cover is for a re-issue and it's shown as an original pressing, which also tells me that whoever is evaluating them doesn't know much about records making the slab useless. While I see the usefulness in high end coin and card collecting, to me it took a lot of the fun out of the hobbies. It's just an attempt to turn a hobby into an investment. Since I'm not one to be buying and selling my music collection, regardless of what I pay, I assume in the end it will be worthless. Future prices mean nothing to me. For those engaged in active buying and selling it's generally a short term monetary investment, so I don't think it will ultimately take hold. Listen to what you have and get some enjoyment out of it.
"First time on vinyl"-releases, where the pressing is just crap, since they obviously sell these primarily to those who already own the CD, bought back in the 90's or 00's.
Limited to four on the purchase option is more about Billboard charting rules. Up to four gets one to one while five to nine only counts as four. Ten or more sales per customer get thrown out as “bulk” and are ineligible for their chart.
This is actually interesting info thank you.
By exclusively purchasing second hand I've enjoyed avoiding all this nonsense, especially Record Store Day
😅#2: Kudos for not calling Beyonce out directly!!!
They keep pressing rsd Motley Crue uk12inch singles that arent hard to find originals of, while im waiting for Blur - Live at Budokan, the Beach 2000 Dicraprio Soundtrack, etc etc
Chapel Roan is actually only 1.5 records for that price. Dude four is blank. J no it even an etching to my knowledge. This is the trend I hate most personally. If you don’t create your album with vinyl up in mind, and therefore need a side C to fit it all on vinyl, at least add four extra tracks on side D. Why not Good Luck Babe. Or any of her other non album tracks or covers. It’s infuriating.
Variants are for CDs re issue of old albums to incentivize buying
What it that 12" Aphex Twin Drukqs album and why is it not obnoxiously long so it fits no where as intended
Test pressings that aren't. The most recent X album came out in a signed "test pressing" run of 500. 500 hundred copies is not a test pressing; it is a first run. To their credit, they did sign those copies and didn't upcharge as much as most artist-signed new releases.
After that, they released three additional variants, telling you the number of copies of each, which is good, but tiering the prices accordingly, which is very, very bad. Reward fans who want the rarest variant for their hustle; let the market determine their later value.
I agree about the rest pressing thing hard.
This is less a trend, more a fact of life. Since nearly all modern recordings are digital, with no actual analogue equivalent, nearly all vinyl releases are mastered by a computer (yes, the actual cutting for vinyl). Said computer has been programmed for caution, not for a "hot" sound. Far too often, the resulting vinyl record sounds dead, flat, dull, lifeless and disappointing. When the cut for vinyl prep (the first step toward the manufacture of the metal parts that records are stamped from) has been supervised and
executed by a human mastering engineer, hopefully one with years of experience, the vinyl end result (from digital) can at least be acceptable, but occasionally even the human touch is not sufficient to result in a killer sounding slab of vinyl. Nothing is sadder than spending a HUGE dollar amount for 300 lp's to be pressed, often the max that a small band or indie performer can afford, only to find that the resulting vinyl sounds significantly less satisfying that listening
the the digital version on youtube or bandcamp.
It's depressing that you're even talking about this stuff.
Really hoping the new post Malone album doesnt do a vinyl variant for the deluxe
1) meh. 2) never run into it. Re normal vs deluxe (or CD then vinyl) has happened, and that certainly annoys me. But only had that happen once, so not a thing, IMHO. 3) never seen that, not into those genres. I only have a couple of explicit lathe cuts, certainly has its own sound. 4) As always, buyers beware. 5) Just out of curiosity, how do you listen to a slabbed record?!? Never mind. LOL. 6) Paper inner sleeves, particularly on any kind of special release (deluxe, colored, limited numbers, etc.). "Paper sleeve are bad, mkay?" 70-80% or records I get have generic paper inner. Really?
Forcing independent record store's into corporate record store day .
For what it’s worth no store is forced into it.
@@TooManyRecords- TRUE enough , restated - stores which take part in RSD are forced to buy certain amount of limited stock .
In Which they can never sell .
Probably wrong again, not a record store owner as yourself . RSD is not set up for independents as we are told, seems to be more of a corporate scam .
Variants kill my soul as a fellow record store owner.
I bought a Martin Barre record of his debut, and it was terrible. I bet it was a lathe cut.
Slabbing won't take off, no chance
How about 5 things you enjoy?
Negative is so 2016.