Has Adele’s ’30’ Inadvertently Caused Vinyl Shortages?

Adele’s ’30’ is subject to a half-million strong vinyl run, it is being reported.

The mammoth vinyl order comes as the album breaks pre-save orders on Apple Music, while lead single ‘Easy On Me’ is a global smash.

Variety reports Sony insiders discussing the vinyl run, which including a 500,000 strong initial pressing.

Ed Sheeran seemed to corroborate this in remarks on Australian radio, discussing the roll out of his own ‘=’ project.

Speaking to Australian radio hosts Kyle and Jackie O, he said: “There’s like three vinyl factories in the world… so you have to do it like really upfront — and Adele had basically booked out all the vinyl factories, so we had to get a slot and get our album in there. It was like me, Coldplay, Adele, Taylor, ABBA, Elton (John), all of us were trying to get our vinyls printed at the same time.”

Music ICON @edsheeran reveals he had to hurry his album so that @Adele didn’t book out all the vinyl factories!!

LISTEN HERE: https://t.co/za5kl9i0IY #KJshow pic.twitter.com/xSPCK8pf6r

— Kyle and Jackie O (@kyleandjackieo) October 28, 2021

The news, however, wasn’t greeted well by everyone. Several independent labels and artists expressed discomfort at record plants – which are already hugely over-stretched – being solely booked out for major releases.

Ok, I lied. The 500,000 vinyl copies of Adele’s new album is my actual joker origin story

— Light In The Attic (@lightintheattic) November 4, 2021

Well that’s obnoxious. How big is the Adele fan/vinyl aficionado crossover market anyway? https://t.co/w8DM62u1k9

— Sean Biggerstaff is scared (@Seanchuckle) November 4, 2021

Who the hell buys an Adele vinyl? They stream her. We buy vinyl. Bastards. https://t.co/Qqm6tAKCzV

— Donovan (@donomite5) November 4, 2021

Is this backlash Adele’s fault, however? Structural failings with the vinyl industry shouldn’t be placed on her shoulders, after all.

’30’ will be released on November 19th.

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