77% of vinyl collectors would pay extra for sustainably produced records, survey reveals

A brand new survey of vinyl collectors has revealed two-thirds would purchase extra records in the event that they had been extra sustainably produced. Meanwhile, 77% would pay a premium for wax with a lowered environmental influence. 

The analysis, carried out by the UK’s largest dealer for bodily music manufacturing, Key Production, additionally reveals uncertainty across the worth of 180g heavyweight pressings. 70% of vinyl patrons both noticed no benefit to the product, or had been unsure it supplied tangible advantages. 

A earlier examine had revealed that Gen Z – these within the 18-24 age bracket – weren’t solely listening to extra vinyl, CDs and cassettes than every other demographic, however had been additionally prepared to pay extra for music on file if it had been made with extra environmentally-friendly supplies and processes. 

"As shopper consciousness of environmental points continues to develop, it’s evident that there’s a substantial market alternative for eco-friendly vinyl records. Regarding 180g records – whereas that is typically seen by the business as a extra wanted product, this survey reveals that the business is definitely getting it unsuitable as shoppers aren’t valuing the burden as they suppose," mentioned Key Production CEO, Karen Emanuel.

"High high quality records may be made at 140g, and this barely decrease weight can have a vastly constructive influence throughout the entire provide chain," she added. 

Lower influence vinyl manufacturing is changing into more and more seen. Billie Eilish’s newest album, ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’, reportedly had its personal sustainability plan. This included the music being pressed onto reground or bio-attributed plastic for bodily releases. 

Quite a lot of urgent crops now concentrate on sustainable processes, comparable to Amsterdam’s Deep Grooves, which featured in DJ Mag’s January 2020 lengthy learn on wax and the surroundings, and Green Vinyl. And, final 12 months, the "world’s first" biodegradable vinyl was pressed — a 14-track collaborative compilation from Evolution Music and Bye Bye Plastic, the non-profit run by Canadian artist BLOND:ISH. 

"What we’re seeing is a shopper shift in the direction of a requirement for bodily music made with minimal impact. Vinyl may be made extra sustainably with new compounds which replaces the fossil-fuel elements, and packaging may be made with utterly recycled supplies," mentioned John Service, Strategy & Sustainability Directory at Key Production Group.

While vinyl gross sales proceed to develop — 2023 marked the sixteenth consecutive year-on-year market progress — shopper demand is more and more at odds with the fact for artists. According to distribution firm DITTO, simply 12.8% of musicians can afford the price of releasing music on file. Further to this, 54.4% of respondents mentioned costs for urgent and logistics had been too excessive.