It’s time to face the music and start investing. You can start your vinyl collection, or add to it, at our weekly Record auctions. Or if you're ready to cash in on your investments, you can register as a seller and start offering up your vinyl for auction straight away.
Full Answer
Should you buy vinyl records online?
Because the condition of a vinyl record is paramount to most collectors, you might think that buying online, where a potential purchaser doesn't have the chance to examine a record beforehand, and has to take the word of the seller on its condition, is full of pitfalls.
Is selling vinyl records a profitable side hustle?
Selling vinyl records can be a profitable side hustle. As with any business or side hustle, you’ll need to do some work to get started. You’ll need to educate yourself on pricing, condition and the other factors listed above. In addition, you’ll need to work to find vinyl records to buy at a low price.
Does the condition of a vinyl record affect its value?
Many people who are seasoned vinyl dealers and collectors are, quite rightly, keen to encourage new entrants into this fascinating pursuit. As a result, when they are selling vinyl records, they realise that its condition has a bearing on the price they will get for it.
How much does it cost to sell vinyls on Discogs?
Once you’ve created your free account, you can start listing your vinyls on Discogs. When you’ve entered into a order agreement with a buyer, Discogs will charge you an 8 percent selling fee. There is a minimum fee of 10 cents and a maximum fee of $150.
Is vinyl records worth investing in?
Vinyl records are not a good investment from a financial point of view. The future price of a record is difficult to predict. They don't always increase in value, even if they're rare. However, if you're building a collection and know what to buy, you may be able to sell it later at a high price.
Are vinyl records going up in value?
Over the past 10 years, prices for vinyl records have been steadily increasing.
What vinyl records are worth buying?
40 vinyl records worth a fortune todayLed Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin (1969) ... Miles Davis, Kind of Blue (1959) ... The Who, The Who Sell Out (1967) ... Nirvana, Bleach (1989) ... XTC — Science Friction (1977) ... David Bowie — The Prettiest Star (1973) ... ABBA — Hova's Vittne (1981) ... The Quarrymen — That'll Be the Day (1981)More items...
Are vinyls profitable?
Per Forbes, used vinyl sales are likely 1.5x those of new records, or ~50m units based on 2021 projections. For modern-day indie artists, it's a welcome boom. A vinyl record costs ~$7 to manufacture, and a band typically sells it directly to fans for $25 — good for $18 in profit.
Do vinyls lose value when opened?
Just as a sealed record can be damaged, unsealed records can be pristine. A good number of new albums I buy aren't shrink wrapped, their labels don't do that. A record is unused until it's been played.
Why vinyl records are coming back?
This year, 2020, marks the first year in more than a generation since record sales — that is to say physical vinyl records — have surpassed CD sales. The reasons for this are twofold: CD sales have dropped dramatically in recent years, while sales of vinyl records are actually up this year.
What is the rarest vinyl record?
Rarest Vinyl Ever: A Guide To 10 Of The Most Expensive Records4: Prince: 'The Black Album' (LP, 1987) ... 3: The Beatles: 'The Beatles' (2LP, 1969) ... 2: Sex Pistols: God Save The Queen (7” single, 1977) ... 1: The Quarrymen: That'll Be The Day/In Spite Of All The Danger (10” acetate, 1958)More items...•
What is the rarest 45 record?
There are only two known copies of Do I Love You (Indeed I Do), a rare 45-rpm Northern soul track by Frank Wilson, one of which sold for $37,000 in 2009. But the fact that only two copies of the original 7” on the Soul label have ever materialised has long made it the holy grail of Northern soul collecting.
Is vinyl better than CD?
Sound Quality From a technical standpoint, digital CD audio quality is clearly superior to vinyl. CDs have a better signal-to-noise ratio (i.e. there is less interference from hissing, turntable rumble, etc.), better stereo channel separation, and have no variation in playback speed.
Are 33 records worth anything?
If the record is in good condition (and note that some records/genres/artists are more popular, and would be worth more), it will probably be around $15-$20. Special editions, signed or rare albums will fetch higher dollar amounts, even up to several hundred dollars.
Are people still buying vinyl?
Vinyl record sales are on the rise. We explore why people are buying this old school music format. Many music lovers are pulling back from the world of streaming and online music videos, opting for a different kind of listening experience. In 2020, vinyl records outsold CDs for the first time in decades.
How much are old 45 records worth?
Rock and roll and R&B 45s with picture sleeves that were pressed in the 1950's have a value of at least $10, with many being valued at more than $100. EPs were only made in the 50's and 60's. Rock and roll and R&B 45s with the cardboard sleeves are worth at least $20, with many being worth more than $200.
A short history of music distribution
To understand what makes vinyl valuable, it’s good to know where it came from.
Most expensive vinyl records ever sold
Though vinyl has only really soared back into popularity the past few years, it has been a prominent collector’s item for decades.
What makes a vinyl record blue-chip?
I know I sound like a broken record (har har!) but scarcity is everything.
The future of vinyl
It wasn’t long ago that vinyl was left for dead, considered well on its way to becoming extinct.
Fractional vinyl opportunities
The Internet has revolutionized not just the way people consume music, but the way people invest. Thanks to fractional investing, rare and exclusive vinyl is more accessible than ever.
Conclusion
The resurgence of vinyl presents an exciting investment opportunity in a unique, special asset class.
The Vinyl resurgence
2016 confirmed what many were already getting wind of, that the music scene was going back to the future. Over 3.2m LPs were sold in the UK, a stunning 52% rise on the previous year, as spending on vinyl topped digital downloads for the first time since the two were in competition.
The Grim Reaper rewards
The top two-selling LPs of last year proved a long-standing theory in music: that the best way to sell a record is to make one’s mortal exit, as David Bowie and Amy Winehouse became the latest high-profile artists to continue the trend.
Bargain-spotting
It’s certainly no easy feat to make money from vinyls; as with any investment most people looking to do so will need to undertake plenty of research before flashing the cash. Nonetheless, there is a minority who buck that trend and make a mighty dime by sheer blind luck.
Condition
As with any product, if it’s in good nick, it’s going to be a lot more valuable than if it’s dirty, scratched or damaged. For the best chance of making a profit, records should be graded ‘mint’ or ‘excellent’ quality. Naturally this will lead those serious about making money to buy records they never even unwrap, never mind listen to.
Record Store Day
An event that began in just 2007 is being credited with being a key reason behind the LP revival. Record Store Day occurs every April and encourages music-lovers worldwide to head to their local independent record stores.
Death of the download
No longer is the vinyl associated solely with the crusty pot-smoking hippies of old; now every generation of music fan is getting involved. Against all expectations and confounding every prediction made since the advent of the Internet, the digital download is now lagging behind the vinyl record.
Most valuable
The most valuable records in existence naturally have the x-factor combo of rare print, high-profile legendary artist, and in excellent condition despite its age. So, it’s no surprise that the top three most valuable records are all by the Beatles.
A Short History of Music Distribution
- To understand what makes vinyl valuable, it’s good to know where it came from. Vinyl was born out of the recorded music boom of the early 1900s. The phonograph and gramophonewere the first devices to play recorded music. The oversized black discs we all recognize started in this era. Music was literally etched into tinfoil, and later wax. The world used these for decades. But playt…
Why Vinyl?
- So, what does any of this have to do with vinyl? Well, let’s look at the common issue faced by all music mediums up until the streaming era. It’s piracy. CDs, cassettes, and MP3s were all easily replicated, which depressed their intrinsic value. How much can something be worth when it can be mass-produced so cheaply? (NFTs are a whole other story.) While someone could technicall…
Most Expensive Vinyl Records Ever Sold
- John Lennon and Yoko Ono — Double Fantasy
Though vinyl has only really soared back into popularity the past few years, it has been a prominent collector’s item for decades. One example is John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s album Double Fantasy. A signed record sold for $150,000in 1999, and it’s easy to see why. The album … - Wu-Tang Clan — Once Upon a Time in Shaolin
However, the most expensive vinyl ever sold was by hip-hop legends Wu-Tang Clan. Their 2015 release Once Upon a Time in Shaolin raked in a whopping $2 million. Why was it so expensive? It was the only copy of the record ever made. The lead of the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA, and album produ…
What Makes A Vinyl Record blue-chip?
- Original pressings
I know I sound like a broken record (har har!) but scarcity is everything. If a specific edition of a record had a low pressing or sales figure, it will likely be hard to find in good condition, and therefore an appealing collector’s item. Scarcity may be even more important than a record’s cul… - Artist’s popularity
Prestige is a major factor. There’s no use in buying a ‘rare’ record that has two copies in circulation if only two people actually want to listen to it. It probably won’t come as a surprise that seminal artists comprise the vast majority of the collectible record space. Though vinyl doesn’t h…
The Future of Vinyl
- It wasn’t long ago that vinyl was left for dead, considered well on its way to becoming extinct. However, in 2020 vinyl sales in the United States grew for the 15th straight year. 27.5 million vinyl records were sold in the US in 2020 — that’s up 46% YoY, and up 3,000% since 2006. Yes, vinyl accounts for under 4% of total music sales. But if you think about it, even that is tremendously hi…
Fractional Vinyl Opportunities
- The Internet has revolutionized not just the way people consume music, but the way people invest. Thanks to fractional investing, rare and exclusive vinyl is more accessible than ever. In fact, the first-ever fractional investment opportunity for vinyl is just around the corner. Rallyannounced they are in the process of acquiring and listing a signed release of The Beatles single ‘Love Me D…
Conclusion
- The resurgence of vinyl presents an exciting investment opportunity in a unique, special asset class. In the past, vinyl was seen as more of a personal collectible for music buffs than a moneymaker. After all, music can be a deeply emotional and private form of art. Those vinyl records which were serious assets (signed original pressings or extremely scarce records) price…