Back Pay
Vinyl Reparations Project
Baltimore, MD
Our Mission
turning vinyl collections into
financial reparations
for musicians of
the 20th century
The Vinyl Boom
trades on the work of
generations of underpaid musicians
Creating within an unjust system,
these artists often signed away
ownership of their work
and a future financial stake,
for the privilege of recording.Today, with many rare records commanding between three
and five figures,
we have a second chance
to pay these musicians
for their labor
and cultural contributions.
The value of the artifact has grown exponentially.
The value of the artist?
Collectors
make the market
Many spend their entire
adult lives curating
personal vinyl archives.
For collectors and inheritors,
it can be hard
to let go of something so personal,
with the market offering
little in the way of meaning.
Could our collections have meaning
beyond the marketplace?
Back Pay will nurture connection between
musicians and collectors,
bringing valuable collections
to sale for the direct
financial benefit of
artists and their families.
Each edition of Back Pay
will pair a collector or inheritor
with an artist or heir.Leading up to the sale,
an audio-visual exhibition
will present their stories.Half of the proceeds
will go to our artist partner.Half will go towards
continuing our mission.
The Back Pay Pilot
could involve you
Collect heavy records?Played on them?Know someone who
never got their Back Pay?Get in touch!
