Opinion: PRP's Best of 2020 (Editorial)
By Simon Daley
After an incredible year for our website’s blog, we look back over the past twelve months and revisit some of the most popular articles according to our readers.
When we relaunched the Precision Record Pressing website back in June 2019, we never could have predicted the popularity of our new blog and the various editorial features that were to be written. The opportunity to interview and learn from some of our clients, suppliers as well as contemporaries has helped us share insights into the industry and shine a light on individuals and labels that are doing great things.
We’ve compiled some of our most viewed and shared articles in 2020, in case you missed them:
1) News: New MOMENTUM Program Announced
As spring turned to summer this year, it was clear that the ongoing global situation’s effect on the music industry was going to be profound. To support independent artists and bands dealing live show cancellations and the move towards online sales, we announced a brand new program to reduce the upfront cost of pressing vinyl records.
2) Interview: Jenn D’Eugenio (Women In Vinyl)
Back in May we interviewed Jenn D’Eugenio, a vinyl collector, chief of sales at Furnace Record Pressing and founder of the website Women In Vinyl. The website highlights some of the women working across the music industry and those helping to redress the gender balance. In a year of raised attention towards inclusivity, diversity and empowerment, it’s no surprise that this was one of our most popular articles.
3) Opinion: PRP’s Best of 2020 (Staff Picks)
So popular in 2019 that we brought it back for another year. Unsurprising then that within a couple of weeks our Staff Picks roundup for 2020 shot to number 3 in our most popular articles of the year. Find out what you missed and whether you agree with the eclectic choices of our Burlington & Toronto teams.
4) Label Feature #6: Carpark Records
A year after Carpark Records celebrated their 20th anniversary, the label proved their continued supremacy by cleaning up in our aforementioned 2020 Staff Picks (with three team members selecting their releases). Back in June we caught up with founder Todd Hyman to reflect on the label’s enviable catalog and learn about some of the challenges this unusual year has presented.
5) News: Record Store Day 2020
Normally taking place in mid-April, Record Store Day took on a different form this year with staggered “drops” in September, October and November. In October we did a roundup of just some of the RSD 2020 releases that Precision Record Pressing had produced and announced a special collaboration 7″ with Toronto label Paper Bag Records.
6) Label Feature #5: Stratford Ct.
In a year in which many record labels bunkered down, bided their time and pushed back releases into 2021, Stratford Ct. opted instead to kick into a higher gear and had one of their best years yet. Back in April we spoke with founder Andrew Walker to find out about the label’s origins and what advice he had for those looking to start a new label now.
7) Opinion: 5 x Artists To Watch 2020 (UK)
A rising star in our industry, Emily Waller (Rough Trade’s Head of Marketing) provided us with her prediction of UK-based artists to watch this year… and what predictions they turned out to be! Look out for a special Rough Trade livestream in January with Arlo Parks as she celebrates the release of her debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams.