Fans who pre-order vinyl albums are increasingly receiving incomplete or unpolished versions of the music, differing from digital releases, as seen with recent albums by Charli xcx, Olivia Rodrigo, and Raye.
Charli xcx and Cronenberg Collaboration Missing from Vinyl
Charli xcx's album Music, Fashion, Film debuted at No 1 in the UK, but fans who pre-ordered the vinyl version were surprised to find that the closing track, No One Lasts Forever, lacks the spoken-word contribution from film-maker David Cronenberg, which is included on streaming platforms. Charli explained on the Tape Notes podcast that the vinyl deadline was missed: "It was at a point where we had to deliver the vinyl audio [and] we didn’t get David in time."
Olivia Rodrigo and Other Artists Under Fire
Olivia Rodrigo's third album You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love also features vinyl editions with missing bridges, outros, and other musical passages across several tracks. Raye's second album on vinyl did not contain the final mix, prompting her apology: "I really apologise … the digital versions of some of these songs, some are quite different. And you just need to embrace that because I tried my best."
Widespread Issue Across the Industry
The Weeknd's Hurry Up Tomorrow first pressing included only 11 of 22 tracks, and Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter vinyl was missing five songs. Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday 2 and Lil Wayne's Tha Carter VI also have shorter vinyl editions. Ben Savage, manager of Skeleton Records, notes that vinyl plants require at least six weeks for audio masters and artwork, with complex packaging taking longer, while Spotify needs only five business days.
Fan Reactions and Industry Concerns
Fans express frustration, with one Reddit user saying, "It’s fair to assume when you’re buying a record that it’s the final recording. I ride for Charli, I love her as an artist, but a bait-and-switch isn’t cool." Savage warns, "It’s ripping off fans. We fear it may lead to buyer exhaustion and cause the bubble to collapse." Despite this, UK vinyl sales rose to 7.6m LPs last year, a 13.3% increase, according to the BPI.
