New vinyl is about to get a whole lot more expensive!

[simon moon]

For those of you into reissues and new releases on vinyl, buy now, don't put it off. Prices are going to go up, a lot, with no end in sight. Waits for new releases will get much longer, also.

There are only 2 companies in the entire world that produce lacquers used in the cutting of vinyl, one in Japan, the other in Banning, California (Apollo/Transco Masters). The one in Banning, that makes 75% of the world's supply, was a complete loss in a fire on 2/06.

The Japanese company made a statement, that they will not be accepting new clients, or tooling up to increase production. They have been operating at peak capacity for quite a few years.

Apollo is also the only manufacturer for cutting styli for Westrex cutting heads. So, anyone cutting on Westrex machines, lost their source.

Once the backsock of blank lacquers around the world is gone, who knows what will happen.

This is a real disaster for the vinyl market, with unknown consequences.

https://www.desertsun.com/story/news...ed/4737599002/

https://www.analogplanet.com/content...ansco-disaster

[Fracktured]

Oh the humanity!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[aith01]

It's definitely sad news, but I think that to some degree it's being blown out of proportion.

https://blog.discogs.com/en/why-the-...n-vinylgeddon/

[LASERCD]

More labels are cutting DMM than you realize. The labels that will be seriously affected are the audiophile imprints. Many of the pressing plants such as RTI and QRP have an inventory of lacquers so there won't be a shortage immediately. Good chance that labels will shift to DMM.

Long term there needs to be a solution. Pretty safe to assume other companies will enter the market, perhaps with new formulations and technology.

[rcarlberg]

Long term there needs to be a solution.

Maybe Compact Discs will come back

[LASERCD]

Maybe Compact Discs will come back

OK with me!

[Staun]

More labels are cutting DMM than you realize. The labels that will be seriously affected are the audiophile imprints. Many of the pressing plants such as RTI and QRP have an inventory of lacquers so there won't be a shortage immediately. Good chance that labels will shift to DMM.

Long term there needs to be a solution. Pretty safe to assume other companies will enter the market, perhaps with new formulations and technology.

Maybe other companies will get involved but to get up and running will take some time. Wonder if this will effect vinyl that's already on store shelves?

[ronmac]

Wonder if this will effect vinyl that's already on store shelves?

It shouldn't, but probably will. Just like when the price of crude oil increases and you see it reflected the next day at the pumps, even though it takes weeks to truly impact the retail price. Of course, when the price of crude goes down, you don't see that at the pumps the next day.

[Staun]

It shouldn't, but probably will. Just like when the price of crude oil increases and you see it reflected the next day at the pumps, even though it takes weeks to truly impact the retail price. Of course, when the price of crude goes down, you don't see that at the pumps the next day.

I used to work in the oil industry in geo science and you are correct. Strange. Ron, I was taking my time about getting new vinyl I wanted but now, well, who knows. Think I'll go ahead and pick up a few things in short order.

[simon moon]

Maybe Compact Discs will come back

NO!!!

I am scoring so many great CDs (especially jazz and classical), for next to nothing.

I've added so many late 20th century and contemporary classical CD's to my connection in the last couple of years for under $5 each.

Last thing I want, is for them to become popular again.

[Yodelgoat]

I need to bulk up on classical CD's - if they are cheap now. I lost a ton of my CD's - I'm not sure how. The kids raided the rock stuff, but Classical??? dunno what happened there.

[progmatist]

It would seem the industry is in for a shellacking.

[ronmac]

It would seem the industry is in for a shellacking.

Looks like the revolution is over.

[Shadow]

Looks like the revolution is over.

[rcarlberg]

I am scoring so many great CDs ... Last thing I want, is for them to become popular again.

Me too. Used prices are generally $5 now, half of what they were five years ago. But I credit that to the popularity of streaming, and the consequent diminishing of the market for hard product.

It’s a golden time to be collecting music.

[Mister Triscuits]

Looks like the revolution is over.

Must you needle us?

[rcarlberg]

Looks like the revolution is over.

You misspelled “fad.”

[ronmac]

Must you needle us?

Sorry, man, I'm in a bit of a groove.

[rcarlberg]

It would seem the industry is in for a shellacking.

I C wot U did there

[moecurlythanu]

I always laugh when I read the predictions (or announcements) of the demise of vinyl here. The wishing, the hoping, on the part of those making the predictions is so palpably thick that you can cut it with a knife. Yet, for all the hopes and wishes, there's never fulfillment.

You guys must have blue balls the size of houses.

[aith01]

^ Some of these articles seem to assume that DMM doesn’t exist and there’s only one way all records in the world are made, or that no one will step in to fill the void left by Apollo should they not start back production.

Ramifications, sure. But the demise of vinyl? Color me skeptical.

[rcarlberg]

I always laugh when I read the predictions (or announcements) of the demise of vinyl here. The wishing, the hoping, on the part of those making the predictions is so palpably thick that you can cut it with a knife. Yet, for all the hopes and wishes, there's never fulfillment.

And yet, there were only two places in the world to get a lacquer made. And one of them just burned to the ground.

Is the vinyl market strong enough for somebody to invest in creating a new one? Or maybe, as Ken predicts, other means of mastering will take over? Only time will tell. I actually hope physical product does not disappear, despite worrying sales figures. But nobody's going to rescue the industry out of nostalgia. It must make good business sense.

[Staun]

Looks like the revolution is over.

I will keep my gatefold point of view.

[yamishogun]

Of course, when the price of crude goes down, you don't see that at the pumps the next day.

Actually, price changes downward pretty quickly. Look at the connection between crude oil and gasoline prices:

https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/...uctuations.php

[progmatist]

Must you needle us?

Good point!