LA / LBC / OC
Long Beach’s Magic Lantern have finally gone and released a new sonic document after what seemed like an eternity of waiting. Eagerly anticipated by those who have been biding their time waiting for the band to get on with their uber limited cassette only and CD-R releases (their Self-Titled CD-R was limited to 30), “High Beams”, the band’s latest opus [...]
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I don’t know Virgil from Suburban Home/Vinyl Collective, but I feel like I do. If you are not aware of the Vinyl Collective, it is a both a vinyl only label and mail order vinyl distributor run by Virgil of Suburban Home Records, who even before the popularity of blogging took off has been more than open with his label’s customers when it comes to the goings on of the label. Even the stuff that is not so fun to broadcast to the world- see here, here and here. But what began with open letters regarding his label’s checkered financial history has given way to the Vinyl Collective blog where Virgil is more than open about all goings on of his new venture into vinyl, including both the fun and the frustrating parts of running the business.
Much has been made over blogging CEOs - mostly at the corporate level - in the last couple of years and how important it is for their business and the transparency its represents to both their brand’s consumers and employees alike. For Virgil and Vinyl Collective I believe that it is not only his impeccable timing in focusing on the vinyl distribution and mail order business, but the transparency of his blogging that has been paramount to the success of the Vinyl Collective. Take a scroll through the blog and between restock updates are pictures of newly arrived LPs taken out of their packaging for people to see what the vinyl color and gatefold art looks like, and Virgil’s open and honest thoughts on the VC’s successes and missteps. It all makes for a compelling read and it makes so that one can’t help but want to support Virgil, Vinyl Collective and the artists he distributes.
So here’s a tip to bands and labels who just got their new pressing of their ultra deluxe colored vinyl of their new album, take a damn picture of it, ALL OF IT, gatefold, insert and the vinyl itself, and post it up for your fans to see.
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