Protein’s recent forum on disruption in music explored some of the challenges faced by the music industry in the face of mass digitalisation.  While the benefits of embracing technology are clear, there’s still space for more traditional formats. For some it’s the live event, for others it’s analogue equipment, either way the popularity of music can be as prevalent off the web as on. Taking the latter of these traditional forms as its base, a new company, VNYL, is using the beloved LP in order to enhance listeners’ love of music.  

The concept goes like this: you let VNYL know what kind of vibe you’re after (it could be for a dinner party, a game night, etc.) and they’ll send you three hand-curated LPs which you can listen to for as long as you like before deciding which ones to send back or keep at a cost.  More LPs are shipped out once VNYL receives the return shipment.  

This isn’t just an exercise in celebrating the vinyl format; it’s also about creating a community of listeners, inviting them to share their memories of the LP on a paper sleeve insert.  

Vinyl Me, Please was a similar concept. Although this time instead of a focusing on a community theme, the company acted as absent barmen, supplying customers with an appropriate cocktail recipe for each LP.