Vinyl Tag 2026 | Why We Collect, Not Just What We Collect

Every year, the Vinyl Tag asks us to slow down and think a little deeper not just about what we collect, but why we collect. Some questions are easy. Others catch you off guard. A few might even make you uncomfortable. In this video, I work through all 20 questions of Vinyl Tag 2026, reflecting on music, records, community, personal taste, and how collecting evolves over time. This is also the first video recorded in my new studio, which made this feel like the perfect moment to sit down, get honest, and really lean into the spirit of the Vinyl Community. This isn’t a quick video. It’s a long-form, thoughtful listen. So grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and hang out with me as we dig into records we don’t always talk about and stories that go beyond catalog numbers and pressings. Vinyl Tag is one of the best ways to discover new channels, connect with other collectors, and understand the person behind the record shelf. If you’re a vinyl collector thinking about starting a channel, this is a great place to jump in. The questions are already written. All you have to do is answer them honestly. 🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned in This Video Unboxing the Complete UHQR Mobile Fidelity Collection: https://youtu.be/ufVI24GXYHQ London Record Shopping: https://youtu.be/GIIAEspKwHk Emma Kok's Performance of “Voilà”: https://youtu.be/KdIhq1tb8Co Steven Wilson Jr. Live Performance at The Print Shop: https://youtu.be/jFMJat9OJOw 2025 Room Tour: https://youtu.be/2iZR2Ej0fxA Adagio for Strings (my final song): https://youtu.be/WAoLJ8GbA4Y 🏷️ Vinyl Tag 2026 Questions If you’d like to participate, feel free to create your own video and tag me, or answer the questions in the comments below. 1. Show your best vinyl purchase of 2025. 2. Share your favorite live musical experience of 2025. 3. Your vinyl record collection in 10 years - is it bigger, smaller, or about the same? Explain why. 4. You move into a new home. You play one record turned up to 11 to announce your arrival. What is it, and why? 5. Show two albums, one each for your favorite male and female singers. Why these two? 6. We like to have fun here - show your top 3 soul/dance records. 7. A real stinker. Nominate a track you hate from an album you love. Why the hate? 8. If you had to pick only one album from each of the last six decades, what would they be? 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s. 9. You get the opportunity to spend a day alone with one artist, walking a mountain trail, the beach, or hanging out in the city. Who would be that artist? 10. What would be your must-ask question? 11. Show a record that contains a track that always brings a tear to the eye, or are you a heartless bastard? 12. Show 3 albums from artists you’ve tried and tried to love, but you’re questioning why you bother. 13. Show an album from an artist whose character disappoints you, or can you separate the artist from the art? 14. If you had to sell all your records, along with your turntable, show the one album you would hold onto as a keepsake. 15. Discuss your VC highlight of 2025 - if that’s a video, link to it, but it could be a meet-up or some event. 16. Name your favorite musical biopic, if you have one. 17. Give 3 reasons why jazz matters and show a favorite album. 18. You’re an innocent man (or woman) on Death Row. They give you one last musical request. What do you ask for? 19. ‘Sell’ your favorite artist to a new listener. Show one essential album and explain why they should make time for it. 20. You’re arranging a VC meet-up in 2026. Excluding those you’ve already met, invite 3 people you’d most like to meet. Special thanks to @davidatkinson-Music-and-More for creating this year's questions. 📚 Chapters 00:00 Vinyl Tag 2026 | Best Purchases & Live Music 08:35 Why We Collect | The Long Game 11:25 Personal Taste, Favorites, & a Few Hot Takes 20:13 Albums, Artists, & Time 26:40 Emotion, Art, & What Really Matters 37:41 The Vinyl Community & Looking Ahead Follow along on Instagram for behind-the-scenes, daily spins, and studio updates: https://www.instagram.com/vinyllattecafe #VinylTag2026 #VinylCommunity #VinylRecords #RecordCollectors #VinylCollectors #RecordCollection #NowSpinning #MusicDiscussion #AlbumDiscussion #MusicLovers