Free weekly vinyl newsletter · US-focused · all genres
The vinyl drops worth buying, and which pressing to get.
Every Friday: the vinyl drops worth buying this week, and whether the pressing is any good, before they sell out. About 400 records come out every week. We read the label notes, mastering credits and reviews, and send you the 10 worth your money in a 5-minute email.
Pressing
Report
Before they sell out
Limited pre-orders, numbered audiophile runs and indie exclusives, flagged while you can still buy them at retail.
Which pressing to get
Analog tape or digital file? Who cut it? Which plant pressed it? We cite the source, or we say it isn't confirmed yet.
916 local
Every issue spotlights a Sacramento-area record shop or event. Dig local.
Latest issue · Friday, October 16, 2026
#1: Rush on One-Step, a $28 Blue Note, and an all-analog Costello
Issue #1: 10 vinyl drops and pre-orders worth your money this week, plus which pressings have the receipts.
How we judge a pressing
- Source. Original analog master tape, a high-resolution digital transfer, or an unknown or CD-quality file?
- People. Who mastered and cut the lacquer (e.g. Kevin Gray, Chris Bellman, Bernie Grundman)?
- Plant. Where it was pressed (e.g. RTI, QRP, Optimal, Fidelity Record Pressing) and on what vinyl.
- Receipts. We link the label notes and reviews. If there's nothing published, it says pressing details not yet confirmed.
FAQ
What is The Pressing Report?
The Pressing Report is a free weekly email newsletter, published every Friday by MonroeMedia916 in Sacramento, California. Each issue lists about 10 vinyl releases and pre-orders worth buying that week, with a note on how each was mastered and pressed when that is publicly documented.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. The newsletter is free and paid for by clearly labeled sponsors and affiliate links.
When does it come out?
Every Friday morning, Pacific Time. Every issue is also published on the web at pressingreport.com/issues/.
How do you decide whether a pressing is good?
We look for published facts: the source (original analog tape vs. a digital file), the mastering or lacquer-cutting engineer, the pressing plant, the vinyl weight and speed, and reputable reviews. If none of that has been published, we say 'pressing details not yet confirmed' instead of guessing.
What does AAA mean on a vinyl record?
AAA (all-analog) means the record was made from analog tape, mastered on analog gear, and cut to lacquer with no digital step. A chain like tape → DSD → lathe is high quality, but it is not AAA.