If you’re a record collector, there is no doubt that you have seen the prices go up a tremendous amount recently. Records have skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years. In 2015, the record industry had a value of $7 billion, but most recently in 2022, it was worth $25 billion, according to RIAA.

Because of this resurgence, an aging industry has been placed under pressure. Before vinyl had a comeback, records were at an all-time low. In 2006, less than 1 million records were sold, according to the RIAA. As a result, many record presses closed, and production equipment aged. When sales began rising rapidly over the past decade, the industry struggled to keep up with demand, creating delays and limited supply.

Additional strain has come from rising material costs since the pandemic. According to Statista, PVC plastic, used to create records, has more than doubled in price in recent years, while nickel, used for record stamps, has increased roughly 20 to 30 percent since 2020.

Overconsumption has also added pressure. Large releases with multiple variants, such as Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl,” create overwhelming demand for pressing plants.

With aging infrastructure, rising material costs, and growing demand, vinyl prices are already high, and will likely continue to rise.