We've said it multiple times, but this is not a sermon: retro is back, and that's a fact. We see it in indie games with 8-bit graphics, in classic movies returning to theaters, and of course, in the latest music trends. That brings us to vinyl records, whose sales keep growing. The problem is convincing the big record labels that there's a real market out there, but the new service Qrates proposes something different for artists: creating their own vinyl records.
One of the drawbacks of vinyl records is that they aren't exactly user-friendly for consumers and artists. What do I mean by that? While an optical disc recorder and a blank CD can be found anywhere, vinyl cutters range between 3,000 and 8,000 euros, depending on the weather and the position of the planets. The "Mystical Audio Elders" (read: the Internet) also indicate with their infinite wisdom that mixing "for digital" is not the same as mixing "for analog", so every master needs special attention when jumping from one medium to another. Despite all these technical details, vinyl sales continue to rise. Nielsen reported last April that across the pond sales grew almost 300 percent in six years, and only in 2014 (a catastrophic year for CDs) 9.2 million units were sold. That is 6 percent of the physical market.
How Qrates Works
Now, the question is how to get on that train. Imagine a band that managed to introduce its first hit to the market. Soon, their "sponsors" will demand a tour to play that hit in foreign markets, followed by the production of the first album in record time. How could a band in such conditions consider a vinyl release? That's when Qrates comes in. Basically, what Qrates offers is the creation of vinyl records, funded through crowdfunding. The band or independent artist is not obligated to face the full cost from the start (although it's a valid option), but can offer the records through a pre-sale system, and when the desired goal is reached, the cutting of the records will begin. Qrates allows a high level of customization, not only from a technical point of view (size, speed, weight), but also aesthetic (images, color, packaging).
Pricing and Business Model
Qrates offers a minimum of 100 vinyl records and a maximum of 500, so each interested party will have to calculate all the options and determine the most convenient volume. What is Qrates' business? In short, 15 percent of what is generated, whether from record cutting or sales on the site, since it also works as a digital store. Honestly, I have no idea how Qrates will do, or if demand will be large enough, but it tries to fill a specific need, and it might be that more than one professional in the music world can appreciate its benefits.
