Record labels are companies that market recorded music and corresponding videos. They engage in a wide range of functions in the music industry, including new artist recruitment and development (known as A&R, which stands for artis and repertoire), music publishing, and copyright enforcement.

As detailed last month in Rolling Stone, pay-for-play continues to be a common practice in the radio business, with money or goods passing from the record labels to the radio stations to influence airplay.

Until the recent rebound, annual vinyl LP/EP shipments never got higher than 3.4 million in 1998, ultimately cratering at 900,000 in 2006. If vinyl died at a certain time, you could say it was either in the late-’80s — when the music medium suffered its first massive blow — or the mid-’00s, when it reached its nadir.

The pricing for records in the 50s would vary depending on the musicians or how popular the song was. Commonly, records and pieces of vinyl cost a mere $0.85 for older records and the latest releases were $1.25.

New releases cost either $2.98 or $3.44 in the early 1970’s.

In the 60’s LP’s cost $1.99 to $2.69 for mono, and 2.99 to $3.69 for stereo, at Korvette’s or at a record store, from what I remember. Singles were 69 cents.

Determine if it is a rare or valuable record. Rock and roll and R&B 45s with picture sleeves that were pressed in the 1950’s have a value of at least $10, with many being valued at more than $100. Rock and roll and R&B 45s with the cardboard sleeves are worth at least $20, with many being worth more than $200.

The turquoise-lettered version will fetch upwards of $1,000 if it’s kept in good condition.

• Miles Davis, Kind of Blue (1959)
• The Who, The Who Sell Out (1967)
• Nirvana, Bleach (1989)
• XTC — Science Friction (1977)
• David Bowie — The Prettiest Star (1973)
• ABBA — Hova’s Vittne (1981)
• The Quarrymen — That’ll Be the Day (1981)

Label Variations One is worth $10; one is worth $10,000! A significant factor in determining a vinyl record’s value is the label on the record itself. A given album or single might have been released with several different labels on the disc itself, even among releases by the same record company.

Here are 10 DIY projects you can try with your records.

• Wall Art:
• Dream Catcher:
• Clock:
• Frame the Album Covers:
• Make a Mirror Frame:
• Record Hat & Coat Rack:
• Record Cupcake Stand:
• Vinyl Record Bookends:

You can sell vinyl records directly to collectors or to a store. Selling directly to collectors will typically net the most money, though it can take longer to sell. Selling to retailers and other stores is faster, but you’ll get less money since they need to resell at a profit.

It can also be a good financial investment if you know what you’re doing, (I don’t). I have records that I bought within the last several years, for less than $30, that are selling for from $100 to $300 now on Discogs. If you like music, of course it’s a good investment!

6 Ways to Sell Vinyl Records for Cash

1. Record/Music Stores. One of the best (and fastest) ways to sell your vinyl records is by bringing them to record or music stores near you.
2. eBay. Another popular place to sell vinyl records is on eBay.
3. Discogs. Discogs is an online music marketplace and community started in 2000.
4. Flea Markets.
5. Used Bookstores.
6. CDandLP.com.

10 Records You Might Have Owned That Are Now Worth a Fortune

• BOB DYLAN // THE FREEWHEELIN’ BOB DYLAN (1963)
• THE BEATLES // THE BEATLES (WHITE ALBUM) (1968)
• DAVID BOWIE // DIAMOND DOGS (1974)
• SEX PISTOLS // “GOD SAVE THE QUEEN”/”NO FEELINGS” 7-INCH (1977)
• HANK MOBLEY // BLUE NOTE 1568 (1957)
• THE BEATLES // PLEASE PLEASE ME (1963)
• THE BEATLES // YESTERDAY AND TODAY (1966)

Longtime Blues record collector and expert John Tefteller was the winning bidder at $for a super rare Blues 78 rpm record by Blues legend Tommy Johnson. This is highest price ever paid for a single 78 rpm Blues record and one of the highest prices ever paid for ANY record.

TOP 14 Most Creative Uses for Old Vinyl Records

1. Vinyl Record Clock. Make this simple vinyl clock using just an old record and clock mechanism. (
2. Magazine Holder. Keep your magazines nice and tidy by making this simple DIY magazine rack. (
3. Vinyl Record Bowl.
4. Vinyl Record Book.
5. Vinyl Record Cake Stand.
6. Record Wall Photobooth.
7. Broken Record Ombre Wall Art.

10 Country Records You Might Own That Are Worth Good Money

• Waylon Jennings’, At J.D.’s — $300 – $400.
• Bob Wills’ Old Time Favorites — $300.
• Micky Gilley’s Lonely Wine — $300.
• Marty Robbins’ Rockin’ Rollin’ Robbins — $300.
• David Allan Coe’s Requiem For a Harlequin — $350.
• Cousin Herb Henson’s Trading Post Show — $400.
• George Jones’ Country Song Hits — $400.

Tefteller said in a phone interview. He said that on average a rare jazz 78 might sell for $1,500 to $5,000, whereas sales for a comparable blues record would start at $5,000.

Donate them: Goodwill still sells CDs and DVDs and collects them at its drop-off locations. Many libraries — including those in Hennepin and Ramsey counties — also take them and will either stock them for checkout or sell them at sales or their used stores.

If you want to SELL YOUR OLD 78s and have a COLLECTION or ACCUMULATION of VINTAGE 78 RPM RECORDS from your ATTIC, or BASEMENT, from AUCTIONS or the inside of your OLD VICTROLA, from your PARENTS or GRANDPARENTS and want GREAT PRICES for them, you’ve come to the right place.

The accompanying album covers of 78 vinyl records are often worth as much or more than the actual record discs. 78 records and their covers that were released between the 1950s and 1980s are particularly collectible with often elaborate and iconic art images and artist likenesses.

If you have old 78s you’d like to donate, the Great 78 Project will accept your old 78 records and digitize them to post online. But reading their FAQs, it does not appear they will ship those old records back to you.

Any flat disc record, made between about 1898 and the late 1950s and playing at a speed around 78 revolutions per minute is called a “78” by collectors.

A really old 78 (like pre-1950) will have wider grooves than a modern record. A newer 78, pressed with modern technology, will have grooves the same size as other modern records, but if you look at the grooves carefully, they’ll appear straighter or smoother than slower format records.

You can’t play anything but 78 RPM records on a Victor or Victrola; to be safe, they should be pre-1935 shellac recordings to avoid premature wear (picture below) You can’t adapt your Victor or Victrola to play anything but 78 RPM records.