Author Archives: Lazlo Rugoff

With 21.8 million units shipped during the period.

US vinyl sales have risen by 22% in the first half of 2022, according to RIAA’s mid-year report.

Read more: US vinyl sales reach thirty-year high in 2021

While the increase is impressive on its own, it’s doubly interesting when compared to recorded-music revenue’s increase of 9%. Similarly, streaming revenue was only up 10%.

The number of records shipped is also up 15.7%, with 21.8 million sent out, compared to 18.8 million over the same period in 2021.

“Music lovers clearly can’t get enough of the high-quality sound and tangible connection to artists vinyl delivers and labels have squarely met that demand with a steady stream of exclusives, special reissues, and beautifully crafted packages and discs,” shares RIAA’s Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier.

Of course, streaming still makes up the majority of music revenue, representing 84% of total revenue, compared to physical at 10%. Notably, the number of paid subscriptions to streaming services rose to 90 million.

On our side of the pond, vinyl continues to perform well, with UK vinyl sales revenue set to overtake CD sales for the first time in three decades this year.

Head to RIAA’s website to read the report in full.

With 21.8 million units shipped during the period.

US vinyl sales have risen by 22% in the first half of 2022, according to RIAA’s mid-year report.

Read more: US vinyl sales reach thirty-year high in 2021

While the increase is impressive on its own, it’s doubly interesting when compared to recorded-music revenue’s increase of 9%. Similarly, streaming revenue was only up 10%.

The number of records shipped is also up 15.7%, with 21.8 million sent out, compared to 18.8 million over the same period in 2021.

“Music lovers clearly can’t get enough of the high-quality sound and tangible connection to artists vinyl delivers and labels have squarely met that demand with a steady stream of exclusives, special reissues, and beautifully crafted packages and discs,” shares RIAA’s Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier.

Of course, streaming still makes up the majority of music revenue, representing 84% of total revenue, compared to physical at 10%. Notably, the number of paid subscriptions to streaming services rose to 90 million.

On our side of the pond, vinyl continues to perform well, with UK vinyl sales revenue set to overtake CD sales for the first time in three decades this year.

Head to RIAA’s website to read the report in full.

With 21.8 million units shipped during the period.

US vinyl sales have risen by 22% in the first half of 2022, according to RIAA’s mid-year report.

Read more: US vinyl sales reach thirty-year high in 2021

While the increase is impressive on its own, it’s doubly interesting when compared to recorded-music revenue’s increase of 9%. Similarly, streaming revenue was only up 10%.

The number of records shipped is also up 15.7%, with 21.8 million sent out, compared to 18.8 million over the same period in 2021.

“Music lovers clearly can’t get enough of the high-quality sound and tangible connection to artists vinyl delivers and labels have squarely met that demand with a steady stream of exclusives, special reissues, and beautifully crafted packages and discs,” shares RIAA’s Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier.

Of course, streaming still makes up the majority of music revenue, representing 84% of total revenue, compared to physical at 10%. Notably, the number of paid subscriptions to streaming services rose to 90 million.

On our side of the pond, vinyl continues to perform well, with UK vinyl sales revenue set to overtake CD sales for the first time in three decades this year.

Head to RIAA’s website to read the report in full.

Originally composed for a theatrical piece fusing ballet, urban folklore, sound art and soap opera.

PAN is releasing Lala &ce, Low Jack’s new album, called Baiser Mortel, this October.

Read more: Cecilia Bengolea on grime and contemporary dance

The album was originally composed to soundtrack a theatrical performance of the same name at the Bourse de Commerce, with costumes designed by Marine Serre and choreography from Cecilia Bengolea.

The piece aimed to fuse ballet, urban folklore, sound art and soap opera.

The album was written by Lala &ce and produced by Low Jack, with artwork coming from Pierre Debusscher.

PAN will release Baiser Mortel on the 28th October; check out the artwork and tracklist below.

Tracklist:

1. Gouter
2. Rose
3. Bulles
4. Elle
5. Intro Gelati
6. Gelati
7. Lune
8. Aidee
9. Debout
10. Superficielle
11. Prisonniere
12. Etoiles
13. Top

Drawing on interviews, live performances, and previously unseen footage.

Sinéad O’Connor’s life and work is the subject of a forthcoming documentary, called Nothing Compares, premiering this September.

Directed by Kathryn Ferguson, the doc follows O’Connor’s meteoric rise to fame following the release of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’.

It subsequently touches on her complicated relationship with celebrity, as well as the backlash she would face from mainstream society.

In doing so, Nothing Compares draws on interviews, live performances, and previously unseen footage.

The documentary will be released in theatres on the 23rd September for a one-week run, before being available on-demand on the 30th September.

With independent LEDs and photo-detectors for both left and right channels to increase output voltage.

DS Audio is launching the third generation of its optical cartridge, called the DS-W3.

Read more: The best high-end turntable cartridges

The cartridge features independent LEDs and photo-detectors for both left and right channels to increase output voltage to 70mV, from 40mV.

DS Audio has also reduced the weight, using beryllium instead of aluminium to lower the cartridge’s weight to 0.74mg, compared to 1.56mg for the second gen iteration.

It requires its own equaliser / phono stage, with the company also upgrading its equaliser.

The DS Audio DS-W3 and equaliser are available together for £12,995, while the cartridge is available separately for £4,995, and the equaliser for £9,495.

Head to DS Audio’s website for more info.

Inspired by ‘90s London d’n’b.

!K7 has released a new 12” from Tim Reaper and Kloke, called ‘Museum’ / ‘Flow State’.

The collaborative record sees the pair drawing on “the myths and legends” of London’s 1990s d’n’b scene to summon rolling percussives, high-octane drums and melodic interludes.

‘Museum’ / ‘Flow State’ follows Cinthie’s take on the labels now iconic DJ​-​Kicks series — one of our favourite releases from April.

Purchase a copy of ‘Museum’ / ‘Flow State’ from Phonica Records, and check out the artwork and tracklist below.

Tracklist:

1. Museum
2. Flow States

Pedal to the … vinyl?

American band Brother O’ Brother’s new album, Skin Walker, is a double whammy: both a record and a guitar pedal.

Brother O’ Brother worked with Romanus Records/Audio Disruption Devices for the project, with the latter developing a record thick enough to contain the pedal’s electronics. The first record features overdrive/boost, while the second is a delay pedal.

The record is, impressively, completely functional, and can be played on any turntable that has an adjustable turntable, due to its thickness.

Only 35 copies are being produced, which will be available from Romanus’s website on the 17th September.

In other vinyl news, Seth Rogen’s Houseplant brand recently collaborate with Pro-Ject on a special edition of the company’s Phono BT turntable, which you can check out here.

With exclusives from Czarface & MF Doom, Billie Eilish, Madonna, Iggy Pop, and beyond.

This year’s RSD’s Black Friday vinyl offers have been announced, on sale Friday 25th of November.

Established in 2010 with a focus on exclusive vinyl, RSD’s Black Friday event features a combination of new music and reissues.

This year’s edition is set to be a blowout, with 175 releases on sale, including exclusives, ‘RSD First’ titles, and limited run records.

Highlights include a 30th anniversary edition of The Cure’s Wish, The Knife’s Live At Terminal 5, a 40th anniversary of Madonna’s Everybody, and Czarface & MF Doom’s ‘Nautical Depth’ 3”.

Head to RSD’s website for more the full list.

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Fronted by avant-garde icon Phew.

Japanese post-punk group Aunt Sally’s 1979 debut album is being reissued on vinyl, via Mesh-Key this September.

Co-founded by Phew in 1978, Aunt Sally also included Mayu, Takashi Maruyama, Yasuko Mori, and Yoshio Nakaoka.

Releasing their eponymous debut on Vanity Records in 1979, the group drew on experimental post-punk sounds.

While the band is no longer together, Phew has remained active, releasing a new album, New Decade, on Mute at the end of 2021.

Pre-order Aunt Sally from Norman Records in advance of its 23rd September release. Check out the artwork and tracklist below.

Tracklist:

1. Aunt Sally
2. Kagami
3. Sameta Kajiba De
4. Hi Ga Kuchite
5. Subete Urimono
6. Essay
7. I Was Chosen
8. Tenki
9. Frank Ni
10. Muyuu No Shonen
11. Loreley