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May 26, 1990. Billboard Magazine.
Smaller Labels In Forefront Of Trend Away From Vinyl
NEW YORK - While the flagship labels of the six majors all still maintain a vinyl presence, some smaller imprints in their camp are beginning to make the move out of the configuration.
A survey by Billboard found that Polygram, CEMA, and CBS are making vinyl available on less than 50% of new releases, while MCA, WEA, and BMG still generally print Lps for most of their new titles (Billboard, May 19). But Charisma, distributed by WEA; I.R.S., distributed by MCA; and Enigma, distributed by CEMA, appear to be headed towards releasing titles mainly on CD and cassette.
Charisma, a new label under the Virgin umbrella, is not making any of it’s initial four releases---Brent Bourgeois, Kirsty MacColl, Something Happens, and Age of Chance----available in vinyl, but Jerre Hall, VP of sales, says the configuration has not been eliminated at the label. “If I had a straight urban album or a straight country album, I’d have vinyl” Hall says.
Vinyl is still necessary in other countries, so Charisma will have artwork and can print vinyl at a moment’s notice, should demand emerge for it on the four titles. But at this point it does not look like any of it’s first releases will be available in vinyl, Hall acknowledges.
Enigma generally is getting out of vinyl, with the exception of certain urban and alternative acts, says Jayne Simon, VP of sales. “The sales don’t warrant it and so it becomes economically unfeasible” she adds.
At I.R.S., Barbara Bolan, senior VP of sales and marketing, says, “We are getting very close to looking like a label with no vinyl.” All of the new releases currently scheduled will not come out in vinyl, she says. One of the reasons I.R.S. is moving in that direction is that label executives had 35 meetings with retailers and wholesalers at the NARM convention in March and there were hardly any concern about the elimination of vinyl, she says.
While the label is moving towards doing business solely through cassettes and Cds, it realizes that there is still a place for vinyl. For instance, Bolan notes that most college radio stations still want vinyl servicing. “So we are doing limited pressings for Concrete Blond and sending it over in a generic sleeve with the CD booklet. We sent an open letter to college radio, via an advertisement, explaining that while we will still serve their vinyl needs, there are internal cost considerations at work here.”
Label executives are aware that the elimination of vinyl is an emotional issue for the consumer. But Bolan points out that artists also are concerned about the elimination of the configuration. “Most artists find it difficult to come to grips with not having records out in vinyl” Bolan says.
ED CHRISTMAN
Smaller Labels In Forefront Of Trend Away From Vinyl
NEW YORK - While the flagship labels of the six majors all still maintain a vinyl presence, some smaller imprints in their camp are beginning to make the move out of the configuration.
A survey by Billboard found that Polygram, CEMA, and CBS are making vinyl available on less than 50% of new releases, while MCA, WEA, and BMG still generally print Lps for most of their new titles (Billboard, May 19). But Charisma, distributed by WEA; I.R.S., distributed by MCA; and Enigma, distributed by CEMA, appear to be headed towards releasing titles mainly on CD and cassette.
Charisma, a new label under the Virgin umbrella, is not making any of it’s initial four releases---Brent Bourgeois, Kirsty MacColl, Something Happens, and Age of Chance----available in vinyl, but Jerre Hall, VP of sales, says the configuration has not been eliminated at the label. “If I had a straight urban album or a straight country album, I’d have vinyl” Hall says.
Vinyl is still necessary in other countries, so Charisma will have artwork and can print vinyl at a moment’s notice, should demand emerge for it on the four titles. But at this point it does not look like any of it’s first releases will be available in vinyl, Hall acknowledges.
Enigma generally is getting out of vinyl, with the exception of certain urban and alternative acts, says Jayne Simon, VP of sales. “The sales don’t warrant it and so it becomes economically unfeasible” she adds.
At I.R.S., Barbara Bolan, senior VP of sales and marketing, says, “We are getting very close to looking like a label with no vinyl.” All of the new releases currently scheduled will not come out in vinyl, she says. One of the reasons I.R.S. is moving in that direction is that label executives had 35 meetings with retailers and wholesalers at the NARM convention in March and there were hardly any concern about the elimination of vinyl, she says.
While the label is moving towards doing business solely through cassettes and Cds, it realizes that there is still a place for vinyl. For instance, Bolan notes that most college radio stations still want vinyl servicing. “So we are doing limited pressings for Concrete Blond and sending it over in a generic sleeve with the CD booklet. We sent an open letter to college radio, via an advertisement, explaining that while we will still serve their vinyl needs, there are internal cost considerations at work here.”
Label executives are aware that the elimination of vinyl is an emotional issue for the consumer. But Bolan points out that artists also are concerned about the elimination of the configuration. “Most artists find it difficult to come to grips with not having records out in vinyl” Bolan says.
ED CHRISTMAN
