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What are the print sizes for big artists (Foo Fighters, Taylor Swift, Pearl Jam etc) vinyl releases?

Spiritual_ChaosSpiritual_Chaos Posts: 30,525
in Other Music
The new Foo album. Or Gigaton. 

The big artists and new releases - what are the print runs? 
"Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"

Comments

  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    edited January 2021
    Based on sales charts, I’d say tens of thousands for a single pressing run depending on the artist. 

    Phish’s new album just sold 9,000 in its first week. They are comparable to PJ and Foos. 

    TS did the same with Folklore. 

    I’d guess initial runs are probably 15,000-30,000 for bigger bands depending on how their fan base consumes vinyl.
    Post edited by Tim Simmons on
  • jerparker20jerparker20 Posts: 2,501
    Tim Simmons said:

    I’d guess initial runs are probably 15,000-30,000 for bigger bands. 
    I feel that this is a solid estimate.
  • F Me In The BrainF Me In The Brain Posts: 31,265
    Tim Simmons said:
    Based on sales charts, I’d say tens of thousands for a single pressing run depending on the artist. 

    Phish’s new album just sold 9,000 in its first week. They are comparable to PJ and Foos. 

    TS did the same with Folklore. 

    I’d guess initial runs are probably 15,000-30,000 for bigger bands. 
    Are PJ and TS selling on similar levels?  Or, just with vinyl?
    I would have guessed she told way more.  (I don't pay attention to such things - just based on how many people seem to love her vs the "Pearl Jam guys are still alive and making music?" Crowd.)
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    Vinyl probably. She maybe does a bit more.
  • F Me In The BrainF Me In The Brain Posts: 31,265
    Interesting...
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    edited January 2021
    She has a bigger fanbase. They have a fanbase that has more disposable income. Probably levels out. 
    Post edited by Tim Simmons on
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    Also, PJ has championed vinyl for 30ish years. So fans have been conditioned to respect if not buy it. And a significant portion of her fanbase barely know what it is and sees it more as a hot trend.
  • F Me In The BrainF Me In The Brain Posts: 31,265
    Yeah that does make sense.  
    Older people who tend to like records.
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • dankinddankind Posts: 20,839
    Some of our kids know what records are, though. So if we keep buying turntables, records, and all the accoutrements until they have disposable income, maybe they’ll pick up the tonearm when we shuffle off. 
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • JeBurkhardtJeBurkhardt Posts: 4,858
    When my kids were younger, they called records "big black CDs".
  • cp3iversoncp3iverson Posts: 8,693
    I think for major artists the numbers above are pretty spot on.   

    As a vinyl addicted guy im loving this resurgence.  It was hard to buy in the 90s.  Indie record stores and then Cdnow.com later on in the decade.  Got tougher in the 2000s.  Now it’s available everywhere.  You already know Target and Walmart will have greatest hits and big new releases.   Every artist has a website.  Etc. 

    Now i just wish mastering by artists and quality control at plants would be a major focus for everyone.  
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    IDK why, but I've always been curious as to what the volume of sales were for vinyl. I always watch the billboard year end lists, especially when the resurgence really started going in the mid aughts. Bigger albums were selling 10k, 15k copies in 2007/8 something like that, now we are seeing upwards of 100,000 for the top 3 (usually catalog titles) or so. Its pretty bonkers. 

    heres 2020's top 10 in the US and volume. That should give you the scope of what pressings runs end up being. 

    TOP 10 SELLING VINYL ALBUMS OF 2020 IN U.S.
    1. Harry Styles, Fine Line (232,000)
    2. Billie Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (196,000)
    3. Queen, Greatest Hits (176,000)
    4. The Beatles, Abbey Road (161,000)
    5. Soundtrack, Guardians of the Galaxy, Awesome Mix, Vol. 1 (152,000)
    6. Bob Marley and The Wailers, Legend: The Best Of… (148,000)
    7. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours (138,000)
    8. Billie Eilish, Dont Smile at Me (126,000)
    9. Michael Jackson, Thriller (125,000)
    10. Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (117,000)  

  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    dankind said:
    Some of our kids know what records are, though. So if we keep buying turntables, records, and all the accoutrements until they have disposable income, maybe they’ll pick up the tonearm when we shuffle off. 
    Yeah, I'm definitely overstating it as a "hot trend". Thats probably unfair. I was trying more to convey the reverence an older fanbase may have for it given that its been prevalent throughout our lives, even if a bulk of it was the nadir for the format. 

    I know I've helped a few TS fans get setup on table recommendations. So there is reverence there too.

  • pjpitt89pjpitt89 Posts: 1,848
    cp3iverson said:
    I think for major artists the numbers above are pretty spot on.   

    As a vinyl addicted guy im loving this resurgence.  It was hard to buy in the 90s.  Indie record stores and then Cdnow.com later on in the decade.  Got tougher in the 2000s.  Now it’s available everywhere.  You already know Target and Walmart will have greatest hits and big new releases.   Every artist has a website.  Etc. 

    Now i just wish mastering by artists and quality control at plants would be a major focus for everyone.  
    Yes, last sentence 100%. I literally get nervous listen to a new vinyl for the first time. Especially after I pull it out of the white paper sleeves with paper and vinyl shards all over each side. I'm fine with charging a few bucks more if it's done correctly. Nothing is worse than a pricey vinyl that was cut poorly and pressed even worse, and this happens too often in my opinion.

    9/1/00, 4/28/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 7/12/03, 10/1/04, 9/28/05, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 6/1/06, 6/27/08, 6/30/08, 8/7/08 (EV), 6/12/09 (EV), 10/27/09, 10/28/09,10/30/09, 10/31/09, 5/21/10, 6/15/11 (EV), 9/2/12, 7/19/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 10/27/13, 4/28/16, 4/29/16, 8/7/16, 11/4/16 (TOTD), 8/18/18, 8/20/18, 9/24/21 (EV&Earthlings), 9/26/21, 9/11/2022, 9/14/2022, 9/7/2024, 9/9/2024, 9/12/2024
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,355
    Tim Simmons said:
    IDK why, but I've always been curious as to what the volume of sales were for vinyl. I always watch the billboard year end lists, especially when the resurgence really started going in the mid aughts. Bigger albums were selling 10k, 15k copies in 2007/8 something like that, now we are seeing upwards of 100,000 for the top 3 (usually catalog titles) or so. Its pretty bonkers. 

    heres 2020's top 10 in the US and volume. That should give you the scope of what pressings runs end up being. 

    TOP 10 SELLING VINYL ALBUMS OF 2020 IN U.S.
    1. Harry Styles, Fine Line (232,000)
    2. Billie Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (196,000)
    3. Queen, Greatest Hits (176,000)
    4. The Beatles, Abbey Road (161,000)
    5. Soundtrack, Guardians of the Galaxy, Awesome Mix, Vol. 1 (152,000)
    6. Bob Marley and The Wailers, Legend: The Best Of… (148,000)
    7. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours (138,000)
    8. Billie Eilish, Dont Smile at Me (126,000)
    9. Michael Jackson, Thriller (125,000)
    10. Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (117,000)  

    No way they printed 100,000 LP's.  I need to look this up as that is mind boggling if that chart is right!
    4/10 are modern wheras the rest have been albums from decades ago.  I'm including Guardians too since that is mostly 70's genre music.
  • hihobibohihobibo Posts: 1,092
    tempo_n_groove said:
    Tim Simmons said:
    IDK why, but I've always been curious as to what the volume of sales were for vinyl. I always watch the billboard year end lists, especially when the resurgence really started going in the mid aughts. Bigger albums were selling 10k, 15k copies in 2007/8 something like that, now we are seeing upwards of 100,000 for the top 3 (usually catalog titles) or so. Its pretty bonkers. 

    heres 2020's top 10 in the US and volume. That should give you the scope of what pressings runs end up being. 

    TOP 10 SELLING VINYL ALBUMS OF 2020 IN U.S.
    1. Harry Styles, Fine Line (232,000)
    2. Billie Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (196,000)
    3. Queen, Greatest Hits (176,000)
    4. The Beatles, Abbey Road (161,000)
    5. Soundtrack, Guardians of the Galaxy, Awesome Mix, Vol. 1 (152,000)
    6. Bob Marley and The Wailers, Legend: The Best Of… (148,000)
    7. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours (138,000)
    8. Billie Eilish, Dont Smile at Me (126,000)
    9. Michael Jackson, Thriller (125,000)
    10. Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (117,000)  

    No way they printed 100,000 LP's.  I need to look this up as that is mind boggling if that chart is right!
    4/10 are modern wheras the rest have been albums from decades ago.  I'm including Guardians too since that is mostly 70's genre music.
    Most of those I see at Target, and were on sale during the lead up to Christmas, so it makes sense that they could be top sellers. I did get Rumours from Best Buy, because I had a rewards certificate expiring and wanted to use it on something cheap so my final cost was something like $10. 
  • JeBurkhardtJeBurkhardt Posts: 4,858
    pjpitt89 said:
    cp3iverson said:
    I think for major artists the numbers above are pretty spot on.   

    As a vinyl addicted guy im loving this resurgence.  It was hard to buy in the 90s.  Indie record stores and then Cdnow.com later on in the decade.  Got tougher in the 2000s.  Now it’s available everywhere.  You already know Target and Walmart will have greatest hits and big new releases.   Every artist has a website.  Etc. 

    Now i just wish mastering by artists and quality control at plants would be a major focus for everyone.  
    Yes, last sentence 100%. I literally get nervous listen to a new vinyl for the first time. Especially after I pull it out of the white paper sleeves with paper and vinyl shards all over each side. I'm fine with charging a few bucks more if it's done correctly. Nothing is worse than a pricey vinyl that was cut poorly and pressed even worse, and this happens too often in my opinion.

    Take as an example last year's Son Volt Live at the Orange Peel RSD release that was pressed off center on side C. The tonearm wobbles so much you would think it was drunk, causing it to skip really bad on my turntable. I thought I just got a bad copy, got another one and the same thing. Later I saw notes on Discogs where other people had the same issue with theirs. 
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    tempo_n_groove said:
    Tim Simmons said:
    IDK why, but I've always been curious as to what the volume of sales were for vinyl. I always watch the billboard year end lists, especially when the resurgence really started going in the mid aughts. Bigger albums were selling 10k, 15k copies in 2007/8 something like that, now we are seeing upwards of 100,000 for the top 3 (usually catalog titles) or so. Its pretty bonkers. 

    heres 2020's top 10 in the US and volume. That should give you the scope of what pressings runs end up being. 

    TOP 10 SELLING VINYL ALBUMS OF 2020 IN U.S.
    1. Harry Styles, Fine Line (232,000)
    2. Billie Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (196,000)
    3. Queen, Greatest Hits (176,000)
    4. The Beatles, Abbey Road (161,000)
    5. Soundtrack, Guardians of the Galaxy, Awesome Mix, Vol. 1 (152,000)
    6. Bob Marley and The Wailers, Legend: The Best Of… (148,000)
    7. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours (138,000)
    8. Billie Eilish, Dont Smile at Me (126,000)
    9. Michael Jackson, Thriller (125,000)
    10. Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (117,000)  

    No way they printed 100,000 LP's.  I need to look this up as that is mind boggling if that chart is right!
    4/10 are modern wheras the rest have been albums from decades ago.  I'm including Guardians too since that is mostly 70's genre music.
    Thats right from Billboard.
  • Spiritual_ChaosSpiritual_Chaos Posts: 30,525
    ALTERNATIVE PRINTING VOLUMES
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    At this point, I have to wonder when we'll get another record selling a million copies in a year and what that record will be. 
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,355
    Tim Simmons said:
    tempo_n_groove said:
    Tim Simmons said:
    IDK why, but I've always been curious as to what the volume of sales were for vinyl. I always watch the billboard year end lists, especially when the resurgence really started going in the mid aughts. Bigger albums were selling 10k, 15k copies in 2007/8 something like that, now we are seeing upwards of 100,000 for the top 3 (usually catalog titles) or so. Its pretty bonkers. 

    heres 2020's top 10 in the US and volume. That should give you the scope of what pressings runs end up being. 

    TOP 10 SELLING VINYL ALBUMS OF 2020 IN U.S.
    1. Harry Styles, Fine Line (232,000)
    2. Billie Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (196,000)
    3. Queen, Greatest Hits (176,000)
    4. The Beatles, Abbey Road (161,000)
    5. Soundtrack, Guardians of the Galaxy, Awesome Mix, Vol. 1 (152,000)
    6. Bob Marley and The Wailers, Legend: The Best Of… (148,000)
    7. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours (138,000)
    8. Billie Eilish, Dont Smile at Me (126,000)
    9. Michael Jackson, Thriller (125,000)
    10. Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (117,000)  

    No way they printed 100,000 LP's.  I need to look this up as that is mind boggling if that chart is right!
    4/10 are modern wheras the rest have been albums from decades ago.  I'm including Guardians too since that is mostly 70's genre music.
    Thats right from Billboard.
    Does it include singles? Is it just US?

    Never would I thing to get excited about a 100k release, lol!  I was happy when something was 1000 copies and I knew I could get it...
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    Yeah, its just US. no singles. Vinyl LP sales only.
    https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9509163/harry-styles-fine-line-2020-vinyl-album-sales-us/
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    While I bet most of these are catalog albums, I'd love to see the top 50

    In 2020, there were a total of 51 albums that sold at least 50,000 copies on vinyl


  • JOEJOEJOEJOEJOEJOE Posts: 10,513
    In the old days when vinyl was more common, some releases from superstar acts would have a million albums pressed right off the bat.
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    we’ll get back there
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,355
    Tim Simmons said:
    we’ll get back there
    No way it goes that far off the pendulum.  I am shocked that ANYTHING sold more than 30k copies too.

    I would like to be wrong as I have bought a TT for my nephew and continue to buy him and his sister records so maybe there is hope?
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    edited January 2021
    A decade ago, I thought seeing 3 or 4 records in the top ten selling 20-30k was the ceiling, but here we are. 
    Post edited by Tim Simmons on
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    To be clear, I don’t think we’ll see a run of one million off the bat, but I do think we’ll see a few records every year selling a million copies. 
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