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
Ep489: Wolfgang Flür (ex Kraftwerk) & Peter Duggal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:55
Wolfgang Flür, formerly of Kraftwerk, and musical collaborator Peter Duggal, discuss musical journeys, memories from the Kraftwerk years, collaborating with members of Daft Punk and Joy Division for the new LP "Times" an…
Ep488: Mike Kennerty - Record Collector - All American Rejects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:58
Mike Kennerty of All American Rejects is a serious record nerd! Here he shares about his hobby, his collection, the rarities, the grails and the vinyl catalog of The All American Rejects, Screeching Weasel and more! Topi…
Ep487: Martin Rev - The Early Days of Suicide & beyond [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:28
Martin Rev shares stories of the early days of Suicide, the acetates, recording the debut album, audience reactions, continually creating solo music and more. Topics Include: Discussion of Rev's current relationship with…
Ep484: John and Robby of The Goo Goo Dolls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:07
John Rzeznik and Robbie Takac of The Goo Goo Dolls discuss their early punk rock roots, record labels, writing unexpected mega-hits, their harrowing plane crash, vinyl reissues and lots more. Topics Include: John recentl…
Ep483: Eddie Spaghetti of Supersuckers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:42
Eddie Spaghetti of the Supersuckers discusses the band's extensive vinyl catalog, upcoming releases, vinyl reissues, their unreleased Interscope album while sharing stories about merch table oddities & touring Australia.…
Ep482: Dez Cadena - Flag, Black Flag, Misfits and more [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:10
Former Black Flag singer/guitarist Dez Cadena traces his path from being the son of a jazz record producer to becoming a pivotal figure in the LA punk scene, discussing the records, rare recordings and eyewitness account…
Ep481: Stephen Malkmus - Pavement, The Hard Quartet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:54
Stephen Malkmus of Pavement and The Hard Quartet supergroup discusses his record collecting history and hobby, the curation and rarities of his collection and more. Topics Include: Discussion of California fires affectin…
Ep480: 45 Years of Adolescents with Tony Reflex [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:49
Tony Reflex of The Adolescents discusses the band's 45-year journey, from the early days, the Blue Album, the legacy of "Amoeba", working with Frontier Records to current day releases, rarities and more. Topics Include:…