Ep561: Chad Kassem & The Road to The Vinyl Summit

Chad Kassem of Analogue Productions, Acoustic Sounds, QPR breaks down vinyl's post-COVID boom and bust, the fragile global supply chain behind every record, and his new Vinyl Summit celebration.

Extended version of interview at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Topics Include:

• Nate welcomes back Chad Kassem to discuss vinyl and Vinyl Summit
• Chad recalls moving to Kansas in 1984 as CDs launched
• He rebuilt his collection, going against the CD trend
• Vinyl grew slowly for decades before COVID hit
• Chad bought his pressing plant and presses starting 2010-2011
• CD had a 30-year lifespan; Chad always believed vinyl would survive
• COVID caused explosive demand, "gasoline on fire" growth
• Overbuying during the boom led to storage and inventory problems
• Chad had to borrow millions for the first time post-COVID
• Uneven state shutdown rules gave some competitors unfair advantages
• Post-COVID growth normalized back to its long-term slow trend
• Chad discusses his own taste: blues, jazz, rock from the 50s-70s
• Younger collectors now chase 90s titles like Alice in Chains
• Collecting interest shifts as older genres' fans age out
• Comparison to toy collecting trends fading with generations
• Rising interest in audiophile pressings like UHQR and One-Steps
• Chad explains why quality mastering and pressing both matter equally
• Originals aren't always better than modern remasters, and vice versa
• Small improvements across many steps add up to great records
• UHQR picks focus on undisputed classic albums Chad genuinely loves
• Kind of Blue UHQR sold nearly 40,000 copies combined
• Debate over pressing records at 33 vs 45 RPM speeds
• Vinyl compound and material costs rising, but slower than expected
• SACDs, reel-to-reel, and cassettes seeing renewed collector interest
• Only one lacquer manufacturer remains, a major industry vulnerability
• Skilled cutter-head repair techs are extremely rare and aging
• Chad discusses fragile supply chain: lacquers, tape, cutter heads
• Vinyl Summit announced: October 15-18, Salina, Kansas, 40th anniversary
• Event replaces old Blues Masters concerts, adds vinyl-industry access
• Details shared: tickets, guests, and proximity to Austin Record Fair

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