Streaming made music disposable. This vinyl seller is finding new ways to make records collectible

Sienna Spiro, an English singer-songwriter, debuted her album "Visitor" in July, which was available in multiple formats including MP3, cassette, CD, and colored vinyl records. Three thousand fans received special edition discs that differed significantly in appearance, with some discs featuring deep orange and black pigments, while others had nearly translucent colors.

The unique album pressing was produced by London-based Blood Records at their vinyl plant in Northern England. The process involved extruding black plastic, wrapping it around an amber PVC puck heated to approximately 225 degrees Fahrenheit, and then smearing the combination between a master cutting of the album using a hydraulic press.

Blood Records, established in 2018, has sold limited-edition pressings from indie acts like Spiro and chart-topping artists such as Olivia Rodrigo and Elton John. The company releases new pressings approximately every other day, with most selling out within 15 minutes of availability. Craig Evans, the founder and CEO of Blood Records, noted that their audience seeks unique experiences, and their goal is to evoke a strong visual impact when fans first lay their eyes on their records.

Rather than standard single-color vinyl, Blood Records' pressings offer multicolored starbursts, swirls, and zoetrope images that seem to move when the record spins.

In addition to Press On Vinyl, Blood Records has developed machines capable of mass-producing filled vinyl. Under its Bad World imprint, the company has created pressings that contain various fillings, such as powdered substances (as seen in Charli XCX's remix version of "Brat"), liquids (like coffee-colored liquid for a two-year anniversary pressing of Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso"), and even hair (for Chappell Roan's single "The Subway").