Vinyl Me, Please to Open ‘Audiophile-Grade’ Denver Pressing Plant

When month-to-month document membership Vinyl Me, Please (VMP) launched in 2013, 6.1 million vinyl LPs had been offered within the U.S. Almost a decade later, and 2021 wrapped with a complete of 41.72 million vinyl albums offered — which amounted to a couple of out of each three albums offered within the U.S. being on vinyl, in keeping with Luminate.

And whereas 2021 was the sixteenth consecutive yr vinyl album gross sales grew, it was the most important yr for vinyl album gross sales since Luminate began monitoring gross sales in 1991. Such regular, and continued, progress of the format has naturally led to longer-than-ever manufacturing delays as vegetation have struggled to satisfy demand — whereas additionally going through pandemic-related points resembling shortages of products and employees, amongst different issues.

(One bonus, nonetheless, is that the delays have helped a handful of artists rebound to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 when the bodily product of their previously-released album lastly ships. The latest instance of that is Tyler, The Creator’s Name Me If You Get Misplaced, which this week returns to the highest of the chart for a second nonconsecutive week).

That’s precisely why as we speak (April 25) VMP has introduced its very personal urgent plant. Billboard has solely realized that development is underway of the 14,000 sq. ft., audiophile-grade, Denver-based plant that can open by yr finish for manufacturing, excursions and particular occasions.

“High quality, management and availability are important to sustaining and increasing our management place within the vinyl business,” VMP’s CEO Cameron Schaefer mentioned in a press release. “With this in thoughts, we’ve determined to press information in a method that gives an unbelievable expertise for our prospects and guests to our plant.”

The VMP urgent plant can be led by Gary Salstrom, former normal supervisor of the famend High quality Report Pressings in Salina, Kansas. There, he oversaw the plating, high quality management and urgent departments. “I’m thrilled to have the sources and companions required to make the very best vinyl LPs ever produced, in a particular place the place the expertise issues as a lot because the completed items,” Salstrom mentioned in a press release.

Artist, producer, and Acony Information co-founder David Rawlings will function companion and “chief groove officer” of the plant, including: “It’s a dream to work with Gary refining and innovating to press the best information potential. In an business that has typically been too centered on amount over high quality, VMP at all times goals to honor the music and the musicians that create it.”

In mid-2021, Billboard reported that VMP had 80,000 lively prospects. On the time, the corporate simply completed its highest-performing quarter with a 74% progress in membership from the identical time interval the yr prior.

Based on the discharge, the VMP urgent plant can be an “experiential area” geared in direction of followers who’re desperate to see first-hand how information are made and “discover music collectively on this extraordinary setting.”