Rounder Records Launches Vinyl Subscription Service

Rounder Records has launched vinyl subscription service Roundup Vinyl. The direct-to-fan service will include quarterly mailings of three albums, curated by Rounder founders Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton Levy, and Bill Nowlin. Each package will be accompanied by a letter from the founders that frames each collection, and details the selection process.

Subscriptions are offered on a quarterly, half-yearly, and yearly basis.

The inaugural bundle from Roundup Vinyl showcases three luminaries in contemporary roots music: 15-time Grammy winner Béla Fleck’s Juno Concerto, featuring the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and string quartet Brooklyn Rider; singer-songwriter, actor, and style icon Pokey LaFarge’s Manic Revelations; and Universal Favorite, a solo album by banjo innovator and multi-instrumentalist Noam Pikelny, a founding member of Punch Brothers.

Irwin recalls, “Rounder recording artist Hazel Dickens was to play a New York Film Festival show at Lincoln Center in 1974. She called her usual banjo player Tony Trischka, but was disappointed when he told her that he wasn’t available. He recommended a 16 year old banjo student. Hazel had reservations because it was such a high profile gig, but trusted Tony and made the hire. The boy was named Béla Fleck. 43 years later, and with more Grammy nominations in varying categories than any other artist in history, we are humbled to present Béla’s 15th Rounder release, Juno Concerto.”