The Forty-Dollar Record
A forty-dollar vinyl record passes through manufacturing, distribution, retail, labels, and contracts before an artist gets paid. Follow the money.
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The journal
July 2026
How the Gay Club Built the Pop You Stream
Disco, house, remix culture, and ballroom grew through queer Black and brown clubs. The hidden lineage beneath the pop you stream now.
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Madonna, Confessions II, and the Record You Can Hold
Madonna's Confessions II reunites her with Stuart Price into a vinyl market that just crossed one billion dollars for the first time since 1983.
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The DCU Is Selling Genre, Not Spectacle
James Gunn's new DC slate sells genre, not spectacle. Why the strategy remains the most interesting bet in studio filmmaking after Supergirl's opening weekend.
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