Canadian Musician Podcast - Does Selling Vinyl Make Financial Sense for Independent Artists?

Does Selling Vinyl Make Financial Sense for Independent Artists?

01/12/22 • 73 min

It’s common knowledge that vinyl sales have been steadily rising for the last decade or so, with 2021 being another record year for vinyl in Canada with 1.1 million records sold. And it isn’t just boomers buying another copy of Abbey Road. Current artists of all genres are learning that vinyl is a reliable revenue stream and that there is high demand for it among young superfans. But does it makes financial sense for independent, emerging artists to sell their new music on vinyl? And, if so, what are the upfront costs, production timelines, personal time commitment, profit margins, and so on associated with it? Those are the questions Mike digs into this week across a pair of interviews.

First, Mike chat about selling vinyl with artist manager Liam Killeen (5:25), who represents major indie artists like Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker (USS) and The Tea Party. Next, Mike chats with Taishi Fukuyama (37:10), the co-founder of Qrates, a vinyl crowdfunding platform and end-to-end solution for artists and labels that need short run and on-demand vinyl.

If you’re an indie artist, or work with indie artists, and have thought about selling vinyl, this is the show for you.

Previous Episode

Godmode’s Talya Elitzer on A&R, Artist Marketing & the Changing Music Industry

On the podcast this week, Canadian Musician Editor-in-Chief Michael Raine chats with Godmode Co-Founder Talya Elitzer from her home base in Los Angeles. Founded by Talya and Nick Sylvester in 2017, Godmode is behind high-taste breakouts such as JPEGMAFIA, Channel Tres, and Yaeji, and their Los Angeles-based headquarters has been a secret creative hub for artists and producers like Lil Nas X, James Blake, Take A Daytrip, Aluna, Omer Fedi, Grimes, SG Lewis, Noname, Rodaidh McDonald, and more.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Talya discusses her years working in A&R in the traditional record label system, which she likens to venture capitalism, and how that inspired her to take new strategic approach to working with artists at Godmode. She then explains her process for identifying talent and ambition, strategizing, career development, artist marketing, and more.

Next Episode

Steve Kenny on Project-Based Artist Management, Developing Happy Careers & More; PLUS, MCC Recording Studio Owner Dave Temple

First up on the podcast this week,Canadian Musician Editor-in-Chief Mike Raine welcomes back artist manager Steve Kenny (4:40). Steve is the co-founder of Traverse Music Management and he keeps an honest and insightful blog for indie musicians called The Ascender (www.traversemusicmanagement.ca/theascender). Mike and Steve chat about how managers themselves have been financially impacted by the pandemic, why he’s testing out a new project-based business model for artist management, putting more power back in the artist’s hands, and what a sustainable and happy artist career looks like today.

Then, after his chat with Steve, Mike shares a short conversation he had for Professional Sound magazine with MCC Recording Studio Owner Dave Temple (42:15). Calgary-based MCC was recently named Recording Studio of the Year for the third time at the 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards. Dave explains how MCC has made itself into a destination for artists; and about navigating the challenges facing high-end, urban recording studio prior to the pandemic; how they’ve weathered the storm of COVID restrictions; the importance of “vibe” is making a studio successful; investing in new gear; and more.