A Tip from Wingo: Hype Stickers

We’ve become increasingly enamored with record hype stickers during the past several years. Hype stickers are the cover stickers that record companies use to highlight specific tracks on an LP or to draw attention to other attributes like Grammy Awards, multiple LPs, musicians featured on the recording, etc. We read lots of blogs on new vinyl that disregard these stickers but we strongly disagree! In fact, we encourage buyers to seek out covers and shrink with these stickers intact. In the world of vintage vinyl, hype stickers add a “cool factor” that gives insight into the pressing and reminds us of the old fashioned “point of purchase” promotional efforts of various record companies.

In terms of the collectability and value of hype stickers, think of it this way: to what extent does the value of an LP increase if it has it’s original inserts? how much does the value of an LP increase if it is still in its original shrink? what is the value of new vinyl if it still has its original download card? From our perspective, if you’re choosing between a cover with a hype sticker and a cover without a hype sticker–buy the sticker. If you are opening a sealed LP with a hype sticker, keep the shrink in tact and sleeve the cover. Remember, it’s always the things that people throw away that become sought after.