
Vinyl never did really die out. 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
How do I Sell my Vinyl Records?
In addition, you’ll need to work to find vinyl records to buy at a low price. You’ll need to work and test out the best selling venues. Additionally, you’ll need to be patient as you wait for buyers. There will be some tests — and some fails — as you buy in order to resell. You may find out you paid far more for an album than you can sell it for.
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.
Why do people love vinyl records so much?
Although vinyl records were decreasing in popularity in the 2000s, they’ve been making a comeback. According to this Forbes article, vinyl record sales have seen a steady resurgence since 2007. So what is it that people love about vinyl records? Experts say it’s the nostalgia factor.
Do bookstores buy vinyl records?
Stores like Half Price Books often buy vinyl so they can resell it. Note that you won’t make as much money on your vinyl when you sell it to a store that’s going to resell it. As with music stores, bookstores will give you far less for your albums so they can resell it at a fair price.

Can vinyl records be an investment?
The cleaner digital versions often filter out many beneficial elements and although small, the differences allow vinyl to provide a richer, fuller sound. This means that investing in vinyl isn't just about investing in music and art, it's about investing in the quality of the experience. Vinyl never did really die out.
Do records go up in value?
The plural for vinyl is vinyl. Most records will go down in value.
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 vinyl records profitable?
According to the Recording Industry Association, vinyl is now the most profitable physical format in the business.
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.
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...•
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.
How much are Beatles 45 records worth?
That record is probably worth about 2,500 dollars. On the memorabilia side, the things I treasure most are my autographs. An autograph is very personal, it wasn't manufactured, it wasn't a toy. I have an authorized, authentic set of Beatles autographs.
Why is vinyl 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.
Why is vinyl getting popular again?
By 2019, vinyl sales continued healthy growth at the expense of other physical media and despite the growing prominence of streaming, presently the cheapest (legal) way to listen to music. In the first half of 2020, vinyl recordings outsold CDs (in terms of revenue) in the US for the first time since the 1980s.
Are records an investment?
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.
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.
What percentage of album sales come from vinyl?
While people are still buying CDs and downloading mp3s from iTunes, 26% of American album sales come from an antiquated format: vinyl. The vinyl record industry exploded in the last several years, with millions of people buying records of new and legacy recordings.
When did you buy an album on a cassette?
In 1985, you could buy an album on a cassette, CD, or record. In 2017, the cassette format is only available as a sales gimmick and the CD is on its last legs. Today, when a record label releases a new or archived album on vinyl, they do so to treat the record as a collector’s item.
How do musicians make money?
Now, musicians make most of their money through touring, licensing their songs to commercials, and pretty much anything but album sales. Yet album sales aren’t going away any time soon. In fact, the U.S. music industry recently had its best year in a while, and album sales made around $3 billion in revenue.
Is there a rush for vinyl pressing plants to go public?
If vinyl surges in popularity, expect revenues and the number of vinyl plants to increase over time, but there’s no rush for any pressing plant to go public. You can invest in music labels that sell records, like Sony ( $SNE) and Vivendi ($VIV, parent company of Universal Music Group).
Do Vinyl Records Appreciate?
Some rare vinyl records appreciate over time. However, it’s hard to predict which vinyl records will indeed appreciate. A vinyl record doesn’t become more valuable just because it’s rare.
Vinyl Records Worth Investing In
If you want to know which vinyl records are worth investing in, check out new presses of established and unknown artists. You’ll also want to learn about classic first presses and records with a history; records from the 90s might be worth checking out.
Conclusion
People collect vinyl records because they love their warm, accurate sound, not because they’re a great monetary investment. However, if you’re smart about your purchases, you might be able to win some money.
How much does discogs charge?
There is a minimum fee of 10 cents and a maximum fee of $150. Discogs helps you determine a selling price by suggesting an automated price. However, you can adjust that suggested price as you see fit.
What is discogs music?
Discogs. Discogs is an online music marketplace and community started in 2000. You can use it to sell — or to buy — music in several formats. You can sell vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, cassette tapes and more on Discogs. To sell on Discogs, you need a valid PayPal account.
Do record stores sell used vinyl records?
Record stores often have collections of used vinyl records for sale. New vinyl record lovers and long-time collectors trying to build their collection will both buy used from record stores. Expect to get paid a deep discount from what the record stores will sell your used vinyl for.
Can you scratch vinyl?
You had to be extra careful not to scratch the vinyl as you used it. A scratch made it certain the music would skip over parts as it played. These days vinyl records have been largely replaced by CDs and cloud music such as Spotify. However, vinyl records still sell enjoy quite a bit of popularity.
Is selling vinyl records a 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.

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…