As one of vinyl’s most beloved subscription services shuts down, smaller players may be feeling the pressure too.

The end of Vinyl Me, Please

Denver-based record club, Vinyl Me, Please (VMP), has announced it is entering liquidation. The record club built a loyal subscriber base with its exclusive and carefully created selections, some of whom were paying as much as $654 a year for the highest-tier membership. But now, many long-time members are left without records, refunds, or answers.

For months, VMP subscribers complained of unfulfilled orders, lack of refunds, unresponsive support, and ongoing membership charges despite a lack of product deliveries. Some subscribers say they are owed over $1,000 in pre-orders and annual fees. This news comes despite VMP reassuring customers late last month that operations would “return to normal” in mid-May.

“It seems VMP has stopped shipping records entirely and they’re still charging for memberships that promise new releases. There has been zero communication and no response from customer support for over a month now.”

Stewart Eastham, a long-time member of VMP

According to The Denver Post, part of the company’s instability stemmed from the firing of three senior staff members in March 2024. The board accused them of trying to divert company funds to build a new pressing plant.

VMP’s unresolved customer obligations are now being handled by Vinyl Liquidators LLC, a third-party liquidation service that aims to benefit creditors. These creditors, primarily subscribers with outstanding orders and unfulfilled subscriptions, have been notified they have until October 1, 2025 to file claims.

Wider ripples across the vinyl ecosystem

VMP’s downfall may be a symptom of larger issues brewing in the vinyl market. While vinyl sales have grown for 18 consecutive years and surpassed CDs in recent years, signs of strain may be materializing.

Vinyl sales in the US are up in 2024, actually

Increasing demand for vinyl put a strain on pressing plants. In response, more manufacturing facilities helped to increase capacity. During the pandemic, supply shortages meant that there were longer lead times, meaning that only major artists could put the time and resources into a vinyl option for an album release. 

As sales appear to slow, there is an increasing concern that manufacturers may begin to close down in a similar way to the one that occurred in the late 80s and 90s, when vinyl demand dropped and plants shut down.

With economic uncertainty and shifting consumer habits, the collapse of VMP may be just a sign of turbulence ahead for smaller vinyl businesses.

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