Originally Posted by
RMC
A PRECISION RE LP RECORDS
Recently was somewhat pissed-off at vinyl records reissue prices (posts # 382 and 384), more so when trying to get younger folks interested in playing these. Also wondered if those were premium or had some magic.
There's a piece of fine print information I missed when I first looked at the music catalog previously mentioned. The evil is in the details isn't it. Today had another look at that catalog and there it was.
I enlarged the small print note at the bottom of vinyls page: "Advertised prices apply to regular vinyls." So they're not premium ones, no magic, standard vinyls. No wonder its small print down there. Nothing to help the cause nor my mood.
With all due respect for some of my colleagues here who somewhat quickly justified such prices (e.g. inflation) I still can't buy that as THE explanation. Taking say 70's price, adjusting it for inflation, then saying this is it, seems like a shortcut to me.
I think that would sweep under the carpet the fact that with reissues a number of important costs were all paid and amortized decades ago: studio time, recording equipment costs (e.g. tapes, rentals), musicians cost, jacket design and artwork, record company marketing of the group and album, etc. Not to be considered again.
Today's record costs are mostly record pressing, jacket printing/packaging and a royalty to artist. Mentioned before smaller production numbers may also increase a little unit cost. But there's no new music creation, they don't reinvent the wheel, simply copy what already existed. By analogy, similar to members who clone 43 series boxes for example. They save big by not having to pay for engineering, lab time, marketing costs, etc.
The catalog's vinyl records page title is "Vintage, but so trendy". So vinyl reissues appear to be marketed as fashionable items, insisting on vintage aspect and trend. Possibly reasons for fat margins?
Concluding on a funnier note, if you're into "Love songs for robots", barely shown at top of pic, well its $35. plus 15% taxes, so $40. plus ship. Up to you to decide if yours deserves that treat or needs it. Maybe robots do need love songs too? Amen.
Richard
P.S. Tom, any good for Alexa?