Records might seem old-fashioned at times, but record of the month clubs are still going strong. They're perfect for anyone who hopes to expand their collection or enjoy a new experience.
And, why not? Records have certainly stood the test of time. The initial record player was a gramophone invented in 1867 by Emile Berliner. Though there were some similarities between the two, the gramophone operated by hand-crank, and instead of playing vinyl records, it played rubber discs.
By 1930 RCA Victor released the first long-playing (LP) record though it was under the name Program Transcription Discs. However, the timing was off as the launch occurred during the Great Depression, and sales were significantly lower than they had hoped. Though the vinyl records were not the hit RCA Victor had hoped for, they were not a complete flop either.
In 1948, Columbia Records released its version of a 12-inch LP vinyl, and in response, RCA Victor came out with a competing 7-inch record. It took two years before Columbia's vinyl records won the “war of speeds.”
Over the years, records were replaced with cassettes, which in turn were replaced by CDs, and finally, digital storage became the preferred music distribution choice.
However, many would argue that music sounds best when played back on vinyl, which is why some companies are still producing vinyl albums. Today there are still several record stores, both brick and mortar and online. Some stores specialize in selling preowned records where others sell only new vinyl.
So for those who love the sound, look, and feel of a 12-inch vinyl playing your favorite music, a record of the month club is the ideal way to grow your record library.
Record of the month club subscriptions are available for reasonable monthly fees and are delivered conveniently to your door. Many of the clubs allow you to choose your favorite music style. However, there are a few that aim to introduce hidden gems to your music library.
These clubs could be perfect for anyone who enjoys a little style in their life. You could also pair them with other sophisticated clubs, like a tie of the month club, a watch club, or even a whiskey club.
Table of Contents
Record of the Month Clubs
- Blind Tiger
- The End of All Music
- VNYL
- Vinyl Me Please
- Black Box Record Club
- Magnolia Record Club
Blind Tiger
Blind Tiger is a record subscription club. The records found in the club are all-new 12-inch records from current famous artists. Blind Tiger posts the next month's selection online, including their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.
If the next selection is not something you are interested in, you can always choose to skip that month's shipment. All records are hand-picked by other music enthusiasts. The staff at Blind Tiger have hundreds of albums to choose from, all of which are 180-gram vinyl. All records are full-length, and some are even double albums.
Blind Tiger Record Club offers three different club durations: 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months.
After choosing your plan, you then select your preferred music style from songs, singers, and songwriters. Plus, if you sign up by the 25th of the month, you can still get that month's record.
Blind Tiger's record subscriptions are very flexible and allow you to change your plan at any time. Each month you will receive a vinyl and some surprise goodies.
All memberships include monthly discounts, member exclusives, free shipping, and more.
The End of All Music
The End of All Music, located in downtown Oxford, Mississippi, is a physical store that sells both new and used vinyl. The store is made up of three rooms full of various vinyls, including Soul/R&B, Jazz, Gospel, Country, Blues, and Rock. In addition to records, The End of All Music also carries CDs, turntables, headphones, speakers, and more.
The End of All Music also has an online store, so those who are not local can still enjoy shopping the store's vast selection from the comfort of their computer. In addition to the many individual records and music equipment they offer, The End of All Music has a record of the month club.
The record of the month club is perfect for those looking to build their vinyl library or expand specific areas of their existing collection. Every month members receive one hand-selected vinyl plus some bonus goodies. The selections encompass a variety of genres and include both new releases and classic reissues.
Though the staff chooses each month's selection, they base their choices on sharing a variety of music and albums considered hidden gems. Often the albums chosen are less common, but from quality artists who are occasionally overlooked.
There are four different clubs available:
- Monthly for $25 per month
- 3-month prepay for $75
- 6-month prepay for $140
- 12-month prepay for$280
VNYL
VNYL is a subscription record company. Though they do sell records individually, you must already be a VNYL member to take advantage of their wide selection.
When you sign up with VNYL, they will ask you a variety of questions to ensure the records that are chosen for you are the perfect match. In addition to filling out their questionnaire, they also encourage members to connect their Spotify, SoundCloud, Discogs, and Instagram accounts to your profile so that the staff at VNYL can customize the selection to you.
Each month members receive three new records, all of which are yours to keep and are non-returnable. Plus, when you choose a #VIBE every month, you will receive additional records in addition to what you will already get in your plan. For example, if you are part of their three record membership, you will receive two more vinyls after choosing a #VIBE.
Though it may take 2-3 weeks to receive your first shipment, the wait will be well worth it. The staff at VNYL studies your profile and evaluates different options before hand-selecting your month's records. Memberships start as low as $39 per month and include free shipping in the US.
Vinyl Me Please
Vinyl Me Please is an online record shop that sells individual new vinyl albums. But their specialty is their record of the month club. The club allows members to experience music on vinyl to its fullest.
The people at Vinyl Me Please search high and low looking for the perfect records. They take special care to ensure each of the albums are gems their customers will appreciate. Though they do their best to choose the various records, they know that the choices may not be the perfect match every month, so they came up with a swap program.
The swap program allows its customers to change out their vinyl choice before they even receive that month's selection. The record choices you choose from are from their archive section as well as some of their store selections.
There are three different club choices:
- Classics – Soul, Blues, and Jazz
- Deluxe edition vinyl
- Listening notes
- Essentials – Variety of genres from various eras
- Deluxe edition vinyl
- Collectible art print
- Custom cocktail recipe
- Rap and Hip Hop – From old school to SoundCloud
- Deluxe edition vinyl
- Street art stencil
All memberships include exclusive store access. Record of the month club memberships can be canceled or paused anytime.
Black Box Record Club
Black Box Record Club‘s owner and founder, Kyle Matthiesen, is a music lover and vinyl enthusiast. Black Box is strictly a record club and does not sell its records individually.
First, when you sign up for Black Box, you will choose which plan best suits your needs. Next, they will send you a link so you can connect your Spotify account to your Black Box profile. Also, if you have a Discogs account, they can use that too to help choose your music. They use your top picks from Spotify and Discogs to customize your monthly record selection.
Don't worry if you don't have a Spotify account; you can still sign up for their record of the month club. Instead of using your account, they will ask you some questions about your music preferences to get a better feel for what you like.
Every month you will receive two new records. Shipments go out the first week of the month, and you will receive an email notification with tracking information. And don't worry if you ever get a record you already own, Black Box will send you a return label and vinyl album replacement for free.
Magnolia Record Club
Magnolia Record Club is not just a club, they are a full online record store that offers a wide selection of records. In addition to their vinyl selection, Magnolia Record Club also offers select merchandise such as mugs, turntables, speakers, and Magnolia Record club gear.
Even though they sell records individually, their focus is their record of the month club subscription. There are three subscription options:
- Monthly for $27 per month
- 3 months for $26 per month
- 12 months for $25 per month
Each membership includes 1 curated LP each month, an original art print, listening notes from a curator, free shipping, and unlimited replacements.
All of the records in the club are limited edition vinyls that are only available to club members. And you can trust that the staff choosing your records are music lovers just like you and not some computer program preselecting your music choices.
Plus, every month, they have a $20 add on option. Each month Magnolia features a new artist, and you have the opportunity to add that album to your box.
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