Vinyl and Cassette Sales
Why physical media is making a comeback and how to profit from it.
The Vinyl Resurgence
Vinyl isn't just nostalgia—sales have grown year-over-year for over a decade. Collectors, audiophiles, and younger fans discovering physical media create a real market. Margins on vinyl are solid (often 40–60% profit), and fans who buy physical formats are invested listeners. Cassettes are experiencing their own mini-resurgence, especially in niche genres.
Pressing Options and Costs
Vinyl pressing runs typically start at 300 units and cost $1–3 per unit depending on order size and customization. Cassettes are cheaper to press ($0.50–1.50 per unit) with lower minimum orders (100+). Calculate break-even carefully: if you spend $1,000 on 500 vinyl units, you need to move inventory at a healthy markup. Work with distributors like Bandcamp, Spotify, or Amazon to reach wider audiences beyond your direct channels.
Cassette Economics
Cassettes offer lower barriers to entry and appeal to specific communities (indie, lo-fi, experimental). They're cheaper to produce, easier to customize, and feel intentional rather than mass-produced. The downside: smaller market than vinyl. But for building deeper fan connection, the ROI can be excellent.
Direct-to-Fan vs Retail
Selling directly on your website or at shows gives you maximum margin and customer data. Wholesale through retailers (Bandcamp, independent record shops) gives you wider distribution but lower per-unit profit. Many artists do both: wholesale for discovery, direct sales for community-building and higher margins.