Ep486: The State of Vinyl Collecting for 2025 w Billy Fields and Dillon Smith

Ep486: The State of Vinyl Collecting for 2025 w Billy Fields and Dillon Smith

Author: The Vinyl Guide February 17, 2025 Duration: 1:56:46

Three vinyl nerds – Billy Fields from Warner Music Group, Dillon Smith of Noble Records and Nate Goyer of The Vinyl Guide - discuss the state of vinyl collecting in the year 2025 - trends, changes, evolution and thoughts and predictions on what's to come in the near future.

Topics Include:

  • Introduction of Billy Fields as vinyl expert at Warner Music Group
  • Dillon Smith introduced as Noble Records owner
  • Initial discussion of 2024 vinyl market trends
  • Billy mentions focus on maintaining subscriptions with Third Man Records
  • Discussion of discovering Lee Dorsey records through social media
  • Impact of online discovery versus traditional record store hunting
  • Dillon reflects on personal collection growth in 2024
  • Store inventory mix discussion: 70% used, 30% new
  • Dillon describes efforts to prevent burnout through regular collection buying
  • Changes in modern vinyl collections coming to market
  • Impact of overpressed modern releases on secondary market
  • UK vinyl market showing strongest growth internationally
  • Release schedule alignment with digital affecting market success
  • Taylor Swift's impact on vinyl sales globally
  • Discussion of fewer bands in current charts versus solo artists
  • Evolution of vinyl market since 2006-2008
  • Economic factors affecting entertainment spending during tough times
  • Local UK pressing plants helping market stability
  • Changes in used record collections coming to market
  • Impact of deceased collectors' collections entering market
  • Discussion of subscription service impact on used market
  • Original pressings versus reissues value discussion
  • Impact of Tone Poet series on Blue Note original prices
  • Quality improvements in modern pressing techniques
  • Availability of better playback equipment today
  • Discussion of collecting original pressings versus reissues
  • Dillon's perspective on psychopathic collector mentality
  • Voice of America collection acquisition mentioned
  • Discussion of historical pressing quantities versus modern numbers
  • Billy's approach to collecting versus hunting original pressings
  • Impact of audio system quality on listening preferences
  • Youth market engagement with vinyl discussion
  • Different collecting approaches between generations
  • Modern retail challenges with Target/Walmart pricing
  • Discussion of variant pressings and market saturation
  • Impact of FOMO buying on market
  • Sustainability in vinyl production discussion
  • PET vinyl alternatives being developed
  • Plant efficiency improvements and environmental considerations
  • Declining genres discussion - 1950s rock and traditional pop
  • Rising interest in country music records
  • Discussion of 90s country potential on vinyl
  • Garth Brooks box set marketing strategy failure
  • Predictions for 2025 vinyl market
  • Direct-to-consumer strategy concerns
  • Sustainability developments in record pressing
  • Personal collection management strategies
  • Discussion of recent records giving participants "goosebumps"
  • Discussion wrap up

Video version available on the Noble Records YouTube channel

Commercial free, high resolution verion of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8


There's a particular kind of conversation that happens when two people who are deeply passionate about music get together, surrounded by shelves of records. The Vinyl Guide-Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds captures that feeling perfectly. Hosted by Nate, a dedicated collector and enthusiast, this podcast feels less like a formal interview and more like you're overhearing a great chat in the back of a record store. The discussions naturally weave through artists' creative processes, the stories behind iconic albums, and the tangible magic of the format itself. You'll hear from musicians, producers, and other insiders who live and breathe vinyl, offering perspectives that go far beyond the liner notes. But it's not just about the artists; it's for the collectors, too. Episodes often delve into the practical, nerdy details that make this hobby so compelling-like distinguishing between a common pressing and a rare, valuable find, or learning how to properly care for your collection so it lasts for decades. It’s that blend of artistic insight and collector-focused knowledge that gives this podcast its unique character. Whether you're a seasoned cratedigger or just appreciate the warmth of an analog recording, these conversations offer a rich, human connection to the music you love, all centered around the grooves of a vinyl record.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds
Podcast Episodes
Ep547: Greg Ginn - Black Flag, SST Records [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:13
In a rare interview, Greg Ginn opens up about the latest Black Flag lineup, the SST catalogue, the possibility of long-overdue reissues and the legacy of one of punk's most beloved bands. Tickets for Black Flag's 2026 Au…
Ep546: One-Step Audiophile Vinyl w Tom Grover Biery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:35
From funding the first Record Store Day to producing limited one-step pressings of Pet Sounds, Prince, and Dr. Dre, Tom "Grover" Biery is one of the most influential figures in modern vinyl culture - Hear all about his n…
Ep545: Zev Feldman Returns for Record Store Day 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:24
Zev Feldman returns to reveal 11 Record Store Day 2026 releases, including stunning discoveries from the legendary Joe Siegel Jazz Showcase tape archive featuring Ahmad Jamal, Yusef Lateef, Freddie King, and more never-b…
Ep543: Remembering Rozz Williams & Christian Death [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:31
Rikk Agnew, James McGearty, and David Glass share stories about Rozz Williams & Christian Death, the making of Only Theater of Pain, and completing his final recorded wish with the new song Flowers. Tickets for April 18…
Ep542: Music Documentary Producer Jeanne Elfant Festa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:45
Documentary producer & record collector Jeanne Elfant Festa has made films about The Beatles, Foo Fighters, Pavarotti, Bee Gees and more. Today she discusses her latest movie on Billy Preston — revealing rare archive foo…
Ep541: TV Smith - 50 Years of The Adverts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:15
TV Smith joins Nate to discuss the 50th anniversary of The Adverts, an Australian tour backed by The Hard-Ons, and a career full of great songs and terrible label luck. Topics Include: TV Smith is touring Australia in Ap…
Ep540: Swami John Reis - Record Collector [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:37
Swami John Reis of Rocket from the Crypt and Drive Like Jehu digs deep on record collecting, the thrill of the hunt, running Swami Records, and why the next release always matters most. Get yer tix to the Punk Rock Museu…
Ep539: Dr Strange Records' Summer Bash Festival [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:00
Dr. Strange Records' Bill Plaster talks Summer Bash and the chaos of booking a festival, punk history, record collecting, Live Strange, and how punk rock can genuinely change lives. Get Summer Bash tix here | Follow Dr S…
Ep538: John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants Returns! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:06
John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants talks rare vinyl rarities, the chaotic story behind the new album's cover art, why re-recording old music is almost always a mistake and lots more Order the new album "The World Is…