Baroness’ Loss Could Be Your Gain

Baroness is currently healing after a devastating bus accident that took place earlier this year. Thankfully, everyone appears to be recovering, with singer/guitarist John Baizley haven gotten the worst of it. At any rate, the band had pressed up some ultra-limited copies of Yellow & Green on vinyl to take on the road and sell. Of course, fate intervened, and since they’re unable to tour they’re selling the albums online, with all proceeds going directly to the band.

The double-album hardbound book vinyl editions were pressed in four different colors: orange cream, dark green,  yellow/green split and yellow opaque. The orange, green and split copies are limited to 500, while the yellow opaque is a one time pressing of 1500. All of them have immediate digital downloads of the album in most digital formats. They cost $50 each and can be picked up here. This is a great opportunity to pick up one of the year’s most acclaimed albums and help out the band, presumably with their medical bills.

 

 

 

Your Ashes Make The Most Collectible Vinyl Ever

If you like vinyl, and who doesn’t, a company called andvinyly (get it?) have come up with a new way to give back to the loved ones in your life after you depart this mortal coil: they’ll press your ashes into a playable vinyl record. For $4,700, you supply the audio and cover art, identify a family member to take your ashes to the pressing, and give up to 30 friends and family the most limited edition piece of vinyl they’ll ever listen to. Here’s the rundown of the starter package. We’re particularly taken by #6:

 

Basic Package: Up to 30 Discs
Includes Standard R.I.V artwork with your name, d.o.b. & d.o.d. on cover & labels. The audio must be supplied by you. This can be music, a vocal recording or complete silence to let loved ones hear your pops & clicks and should be no more than 24 minutes.

1. Confirm with us your location and the viability of these services in your area
2. Identify a family member or a chosen representative who will accompany you (your ashes) to the pressing of your records
3. Establish audio and cover art content
4. Attend the mastering of your record
5. Receive playable proof sample of your record and cover
6. Die
7. Get cremated
8. Your family member or chosen representative books and attends the sprinkling and pressing of your records
9. Your chosen recipients will be sent details of where to collect their copy of your personal record
10. Live on from beyond the groove

We can imagine that a lot of musicians might be signing up for this right now. It would be both creepy and somewhat rewarding to hear a song or EP recorded solely for people to hear after they’re gone. Or a “if you’re hearing this, it’s because I’m not here anymore” message imparting life lessons upon those receiving it. Also, what’s more metal than an album made out of people?

[via geekologie]

 

Vinyl Sales Experience Big Increase

The Nielsen Wire’s latest report on music sales has a lot of positive news for the industry. Digital and track sales have been experiencing dramatic growth since the beginning of 2011, while this past year’s Record Store Day was unarguably the most successful out of its four year history. But what is probably the nicest surprise for music junkies to hear is the big sales increase vinyl records have received as well.

Vinyl sales have reportedly increased by 37% at the in the beginning of 2011 over the same period last year. Considering how the physical CD is close to extinction during a time of digital dominance, this boost in vinyl sales is very impressive. Granted, there has always been an interest amongst music collectors to own vinyl editions of albums, and it still only marks a small percentage of broader physical sales (1.6% to be exact). But this sales increase shows how strong of a market there really is for vinyl.

In regards to the increase the industry has seen (both in vinyl and digital sales), Dave Bakula of SVP Analytics, Entertainment for The Nielsen Company had the following to say:

“Strong releases and aggressive promotions by the labels and retailers are among the many contributing factors to the strength we’re seeing in the music industry. Overall, the data reflects a continuing strong demand by music consumers.”

This nice boost in sales doesn’t mean that the industry is out of the dark just yet. It also doesn’t mean that vinyl is coming back in full force again. It does, though, show promise for the industry that this Summer might not be as horrid as recent months have been in regards to sales. It’s also simply nice as music fans to see more people purchasing vinyl. You can read the Nielsen Wire’s full report online.