SoundCloud Taps elasticStage to Offer On-Demand Vinyl Production — Though Artists are Understandably Cautious

Photo Credit: SoundCloud + elasticStage

SoundCloud has announced a new partnership with elasticStage, aiming to make vinyl production accessible for artists through on-demand printing. Artists are understandably wary of on-demand vinyl outfits, though.The collaboration introduces a print-on-demand model that enables creators to offer vinyls to their fans without upfront costs, minimum orders, or inventory management. SoundCloud Artist Pro users can now join a waitlist to access the service, according to details shared with DMN this morning. Once approved, artists can select tracks from their SoundCloud catalog, upload custom artwork, and submit their release for review.

Each vinyl release gets its own webpage, allowing fans to purchase records directly. As orders come in, elasticStage handles manufacturing, shipping, and customer service. Currently the vinyl manufacturer can ship out records to over 90 countries. The service debuts with releases from artists including AM.RADIO, Blonde Maze, Diorvsyou, Kelcey Ayer, and Raina Simone.

“We created elasticStage’s on-demand vinyl technology to make physical music as accessible as streaming for artists and music fans everywhere,” says Steve Rhodes, CEO & Co-Founder of elasticStage. “SoundCloud’s artist-centric platform is a perfect fit for us, and we’re thrilled to be collaborating with them to help independent artists connect with fans and build long-lasting music careers.”

It all sounds like the perfect solution for artists needing a quick and affordable vinyl production solution. But previous startups in this realm have suffered overnight crashes — while ghosting artists (and their accounts) in the process.

Cautions About On-Demand Vinyl Printing ServicesFor artists, the promise of on-demand vinyl printing can alleviate a lot of headaches. No inventory to manage, a web page that is freely available for superfans to discover, and physical albums printed for those who want them. But there are a few considerations artists should be aware of before deciding to jump on board the on-demand vinyl train.

Print-on-demand platforms often take a significant cut, leaving artists with less revenue per sale than traditional print runs. Artists are also not directly overseeing the manufacturing of these vinyls, which can result in inconsistent product quality or errors in the final product.

Many platforms retain customer information, limiting an artists’ ability to build direct relationships with superfans who purchase physical music. Despite the platform’s reach, artists must still drive demand and visibility for any vinyls they plan to release. And if the provider fails, both artists and fans can be left without records or refunds.That latter concern is highlighted in recent history where on-demand vinyl outlets like Leesta Vall in Brooklyn and Qrates in Colorado called it quits. Leesta Vall closed its doors with some artists reporting not being notified and left with undelivered records and unpaid royalties. Meanwhile, Qrates unexpected closure left artists with outstanding orders unfulfilled and unrecovered funds as the on-demand print shop faced financial difficulties.

Both of these closures highlight the risks of on-demand vinyl businesses. When they falter, artists may lose revenue and superfans can be left disappointed, sometimes permanently.