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Australian independent music and vinyl culture
Crate digging, local labels, and the records that matter.
Honest writing about Australian independent music, vinyl collecting, and record store culture from someone who's been behind the counter for two decades.
What we cover
- Australian indie labels and releases
- Vinyl collecting and crate digging
- Record Store Day and physical media
- The underground music scene
What you can expect
- No PR spin, just honest takes
- Deep dives on Australian pressings
- Tips for building a real collection
- Coverage of what the majors miss
Latest posts
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The Bandcamp Pullback: What Australian Independent Labels Are Doing Now
Bandcamp's reduced role in the Australian independent music economy has forced labels to rebuild their direct-to-fan strategies. Here's what's working in mid-2026.
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Vinyl Shop Margins Under Pressure: An Honest Look at the Numbers in 2026
Independent vinyl shops in Australia are running on tighter margins than at any time in the past decade. Here's what's squeezing the books and what some shops are doing to survive.
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Why Deadstock Pricing Is All Over the Shop Right Now
Same record, three different prices in three different Melbourne stores. Digger Brennan on why deadstock pricing has become genuinely chaotic in 2026.
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AI Music Discovery Is Changing What Walks Into the Shop
Customers are turning up asking for records they found via AI recommendations. Digger Brennan on what that's doing to the back catalogue and the discovery economy.
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Australian Vinyl Pressing Plants in May 2026: Capacity, Quality, Honest Read
Where Australian vinyl pressing actually sits in May 2026 — capacity, lead times, quality, and the labels making the call between local and overseas.
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Spotify vs Bandcamp in May 2026: The Honest Numbers
What an independent Australian artist actually takes home from Spotify versus Bandcamp in May 2026 — the real numbers nobody wants to spell out.
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Record Store Day 2026 Recap — What Actually Sold and Why
Recap of Record Store Day 2026 at Spank Records — the releases that moved, the surprises, and what the day says about the state of vinyl culture.
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Vinyl Pressing Plant Supply — Where Indie Labels Sit in May 2026
A working read of where the vinyl pressing plant supply chain sits in May 2026 from the perspective of independent Australian labels.
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Melbourne Independent Record Shops in Mid-2026 — A Walking Tour Read
A working read of where Melbourne's independent record shop scene sits in May 2026 — what's open, what's closed, and what's quietly thriving.
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Vinyl Pressing Lead Times in May 2026 — Where the Australian Market Is
A pragmatic read on vinyl pressing lead times and pricing for Australian independent labels and artists in May 2026.
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AI Mastering for Vinyl — A Cautious 2026 Take
AI mastering services are now selling a vinyl pre-master option. Whether they should be used depends on the record, the budget and the engineer.
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Bandcamp Friday in Mid-2026 — Where the Money Actually Goes Now
Bandcamp Friday is still in the Australian indie calendar in 2026. The numbers underneath the headline have shifted, and not in the direction the marketing claims.
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Record Store Day 2026: The Aftermath From the Melbourne Floor
RSD has changed. The flippers have changed. The crowd has changed. A morning behind the counter at Spank in 2026.
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The Finances of Running an Australian Indie Label in 2026
Vinyl margins, streaming revenue, sync placements, merch. The numbers that make or break an Australian indie label in 2026.
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180-Gram Pressings Are Not What They Used to Be
Heavyweight vinyl was supposed to mean better quality. In 2026, that link has broken. Here is what has gone wrong and what to listen for.