There’s probably a (collector’s) market for it, but is Tiny Vinyl really practical? A 4-inch record can have a certain appeal.
We all know those singles you had to play at 45 RPM. Now there’s a 4-inch version called Tiny Vinyl, designed for 33 RPM. Because of its very limited diameter, each side can hold only about four minutes of music. It’s also supposed to be eco-friendly, as it’s made from “bio-vinyl.” On the other hand, one could wonder about the environmental impact of manufacturing and shipping what is essentially a pointless medium.
Most will likely end up in the hands of collectors. The big question is how long it will take before this very specific market is saturated. And while vinyl is indeed popular, the actual percentage of people who listen to it is very small. Large enough to support a niche market for a few big pressing plants, but probably far too small to make such special releases profitable.
Still, time will tell! Who knows — the micro-single in the form of Tiny Vinyl might turn out to be a real hit. After all, most young people’s attention spans aren’t particularly long, so 2 × 4 minutes of listening might be just right.