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The Vinyl Guide

If you like records, just starting a collection or are an uber-nerd with a house-full of vinyl, this is the podcast for you. Nate Goyer is The Vinyl Guide and discusses all things music and record-related. Nate is a 40+ year vinyl collector, owns some of the most highly desired titles and enjoys them thoroughly. The Vinyl Guide is his journey through the history of music to speak with the artists and technicians who made music history and get the stories behind the records.

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  2. Ep561: Chad Kassem & The Road to The Vinyl Summit

Ep561: Chad Kassem & The Road to The Vinyl Summit

Aug 19, 2026

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

High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide