The new series seeks to understand why this physical format has roared back into relevance in the digital age. Featuring leading perspectives from New Zealand’s music industry.
Vinyl has an unexpected — and surprisingly rich — history here in Aotearoa. It’s a warped timeline that can be traced as far back as 1879, with the first recorded sound echoing from the bustling High Street of Christchurch.
In its golden era, New Zealand’s record industry was booming — pressing both local legends and global giants, with a turntable at the heart of every home. Then came cassettes, CDs, MP3s and streaming in successive waves - vanishing vinyl to the fringes of a few subcultures.
But then something beautiful happened. As streaming fatigue kicked in, vinyl offered a return to listening with intention. Something tangible, to be collected and treasured, exists in stark contrast to the ephemeral digital world.
The Long Play is a four-part podcast series that unpacks this unlikely return to the mainstream and seeks to understand why this physical format is resonating with new collectors raised online. Hosted by music journalist Charlotte Ryan and The Spinoff’s Duncan Greive, the series garners perspectives from all corners of the music industry.
“I’ve watched vinyl roar back into relevance over the past few years, but I never stopped to ask why,” says Ryan.“It’s cumbersome, expensive and questionably sustainable, yet record numbers are being sold again, and to generations raised on algorithms. I had to dig deeper.”
This includes Recorded Music NZ’s Paul Kennedy, Music Historian Peter McLennan, Flying Nun’s Ben Howe, Real Groovy’s Kayla Anthony, JB HiFi’s Karl Lock, and Slowboat Records' Jeremy Taylor, along with Vinyl Selector Miss Dom, artists Gussie Larkin and Christoph El Truento, Holiday Records' Ben Wallace & Joel Woods and more.
Digitally available on The Spinoff, a limited run of The Long Play has also been pressed to vinyl by Holiday Records, releasing it on the very medium it’s documenting. The double LP will be made available for collectors in a nationwide dig on Saturday, 11th October - with over 40 practicing record stores hiding it amongst their crates across the motu. If you find it, it’s yours, free.
Executive Creative Director of Daylight, Charlie Godinet, says, “We really wanted our project to benefit both the collectors and record stores of Aotearoa - those at the heart of this story. This nationwide dig acts as an extra excuse to head into your local record store and support them, and better yet, buy a record from a local artist.”
In the making of this podcast, Recorded Music NZ examined vinyl sales over the last 22 years. The data set is now being released alongside the series as a one-off Official Aotearoa Music Chart, for vinyl. The new chart will feature an All Artists Top 40 and an All Titles Top 40, as well as New Zealand-focused Artists Top 20 and Titles Top 20 charts.
Founder of The Spinoff and Daylight, Duncan Greive says, “Having a vinyl-specific Official Aotearoa Music Chart is a milestone in the revival of this format – for the first time in decades, we know which albums have captured the imagination. It’s full of surprises and has a strongly local flavour.”
The Long Play is now available on thespinoff.co.nz/thelongplay or wherever you get your podcasts and was made in partnership with Holiday Records, Recorded Music NZ and Coffee Supreme. For information on the nationwide dig, please check The Spinoff and your local record store’s social channels for details.
