Old school sound just got pocket-sized. With Tiny Vinyl’s new four-inch mini records, collectors can play a song that lasts up to four minutes per side, on any standard turntable. Co-founders Jesse Mann and Neil Kohler began Tiny Vinyl in Nashville. “I was talking to the General Manager at Nashville Record Pressing (NRP), Drake Coker, and asked him if they could make a 4 inch vinyl record that could fit inside a standard Funko POP box,” Kohler tells Micromansional. “NRP went to work, and the result was Tiny Vinyl, which I shared with my friend, Jesse Mann. Jesse and I thought Tiny Vinyl was so cool by itself that we decided to start a company.”
While Tiny Vinyl handles the manufacturing, it is the artist and their labels who handpick the songs and artwork used for each mini record. Artists choose the quantities they order, and can distribute them to fans through their channels. “Artists love them,” says co-founder Jesse Mann. “Their tour managers like carrying Tiny Vinyl as well as 12 inch vinyl in their merch trailer and on their merch sales table. It gives their fans the ability to purchase playable connections at multiple price points and sizes.”
Lots of Tiny Vinyls are available at Target for US$14.99, with some exclusive records found only at their stores. Establishing these records as a collector’s item, Tiny Vinyls are all limited edition prints with a Tiny Vinyl (TV) number, so collectors know which printing run their record came from.
Each mini record uses 100 percent bio-attributed vinyl, made from some plant materials, rather than fossil fuels. Yet Tiny Vinyl says their records are chemically identical to traditional vinyls, once made. Weighing just 15 grams (0.5 oz), the mini nature of these records reduces the environmental impact of producing and shipping music, while still allowing fans to enjoy their favorite songs with a classic vinyl sound.
The company suggests using manual turntables for their miniature vinyls, which spin at 33 RPM; the same speed as traditional records. As record players with auto-stop or auto-return features may pose problems for smooth playing, they suggest users ensure the tonearm can reach the center while it’s still spinning and to disable any auto-stop features.
While Tiny Vinyl wants to hear suggestions from consumers, they advise fans to pass their requests on to the artists, who have the ultimate say in what two songs will be etched on the next vinyl. Fans can keep an eye on new releases on the company’s Instagram @TinyVinylRecords.
