Ymonie is currently a student majoring in Communication at Georgia State University. Her interest in live performances led her to a path of music PR. Her hobby allows her to interact with and interview emerging underground artists, helping them gain a larger audience.
Collectors, connoisseurs, and enthusiasts are on the rise. During the pandemic, numerous people became hobbyists. Physical media collection was the hot ticket. This is primarily a credit to the resurgence of the Y2K era.
Many of the collected items were based on individual nostalgia. CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, VHS tapes, MP3 players, and toys are the most commonly collected items, but also the easiest to collect. These items can be found in any thrift store or record shop for a low price.
By releasing physical media, indie artists can create a tangible relationship with their audience. This relationship can increase gross sales, boosting popularity and outreach.
@titanicfan97 The biggest Titanic haul yet from @Kevin #titanic #vhs ♬ original sound - titanicfan97
The complex reality is that streaming doesn't pay your favorite artist's bills; let me explain. The payout of a single stream isn’t even above ONE CENT! On average, Apple Music pays $0.008 per stream, Spotify pays $0.00318 per stream, and YouTube Music pays $0.002 per stream.
To earn $2,000, the artist must achieve between 250,000 and 1 million views. That's outrageous, but it's harsh. Another barrier for indie artists.
By releasing physical media, such as CDs, vinyl, and cassette tapes, artists can create something more tangible. This is because album sales are more valued than a stream. To make this possible, artists must allow their physical media to be affordably priced, typically between $7 for CDs and $ 20 or more for vinyl.
The increase in physical album sales is reflected not only in revenue but also in music charts. Sales also indicate the artist's popularity. This, in turn, creates more streams, which will lead to increased album sales, ultimately boosting revenue. This cycle allows artists to grow not only in revenue but also in popularity.
🚨| Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ has officially broken Adele’s ‘25’ record for the biggest debut in U.S. HISTORY, selling over 3.5 million units so far. pic.twitter.com/Cadrx1G5Sm
— Taylor Swift Updates (@TSUpdating) October 8, 2025
No worries for emerging artists, by implementing these growth hacking websites, artists access affordable CDs and vinyls in bulk to sell. Disc Makers is a website designated to create bulk custom vinyls, CDs, packaging, and even posters! Disc Makers is an amazing source for new artists to create custom physical media for their new blossoming fan base. Disc makers offer adorable pricing and payment plans!
Another website to manufacture physical media is A to Z media. A to Z media pride itself for three decades of successful service. Working with small indie artists to larger major conglomerates. They offer custom CDs, vinyls, DVDs, and even cassette tapes!
By incorporating these growth hacking websites, new artists can afford physical music media for adorable prices. Physical media is not only beneficial to the artist through sales, but also creates a connection between the artist and their audience. By allowing their fans to support them directly, the listeners are able to create tangible relationships that can increase popularity and streams.
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