With "VinylPhyle" Series, UMe Jumps Stylus First Into the HQ AAA Vinyl Release Pool
AAA mastering, Tip-On Gatefold packaging, 180g RTI Pressings
(press release): Los Angeles – November 3, 2025 – UMe, the centralized global catalog division of Universal Music Group, is proud to announce the launch of Vinylphyle, a new audiophile vinyl reissue series dedicated to presenting essential albums across multiple genres with uncompromising sound quality and packaging. Billed as “A premium vinyl experience for people who love vinyl,” the series will debut on November 14 with four landmark titles: The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967), Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Exodus (1977), The Band’s Northern Lights–Southern Cross (1975), celebrating its 50th anniversary, and Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song (1962). All albums will be available exclusively at uDiscover Music and via the artist’s official online stores where applicable. Following the launch, Vinylphyle will continue with two releases per month, spanning genres and eras to build a library of must-own records.
Pre-order Vinylphyle titles now: https://UMe.lnk.to/vinylphylePR
Each Vinylphyle release will feature all analog mastering from original sources by an elite group of today’s top vinyl cutting engineers. The LPs will be pressed at the world-class Southern California-based audiophile vinyl record pressing plant Record Technology, Inc. better known amongst vinyl lovers as RTI, on 180-gram black vinyl. Similar in presentation and execution to Blue Note’s acclaimed Tone Poet series, the production and packaging seek to honor the stature of these recordings and will include tip-on wrapped gatefold jackets in satin matte finish, printed on clay-coated board, with archival poly sleeves and a four-panel insert featuring new liner notes by notable music journalists, personalities and fans. Backed by RTI’s craftsmanship, these releases are produced at the highest levels and include extensive quality controls at every step of the process, from mastering to plating to pressing and printing, ensuring a superb final product.
Joe Nino-Hernes of Sterling Sound has mastered the first four titles from the original analog master tapes and each album boasts new liner notes by an assortment of contributors: “the internet’s biggest music nerd” Anthony Fantano of “The Needle Drop” for The Velvet Underground & Nico, filmmaker, DJ, musician and cultural commentator Don Letts aka The Rebel Dread for Exodus, author and veteran music scribe Rick Florino for Northern Lights – Southern Cross and actor and award-winning writer James Ritz for The Christmas Song.
“We are excited to launch our Vinylphyle series to provide best-in-class, audiophile quality pressings of some of the most legendary and timeless records,” said Bruce Resnikoff, President & CEO of UMe. “This series is built on uncompromising quality and all albums have all been meticulously mastered by renowned mastering engineers from analog and packaged with the utmost care and attention to detail. This new series allows both longtime record enthusiasts to hear some of their favorite albums sounding better than ever and for those just discovering vinyl to experience the warmth and richness that only vinyl can deliver and to become Vinylphyles.”
Together, these inaugural selections span the underground, the political, the pastoral, and the timeless. The Velvet Underground & Nico captures New York art rock at its most provocative, a record that reshaped the boundaries of popular music. Bob Marley’s Exodus stands as reggae’s global breakthrough, marrying militant resistance with songs of joy and uplift. Northern Lights – Southern Crossreflects the maturity of roots rock in the mid-1970s, blending mythic storytelling with lived experience. The Christmas Song presents Nat King Cole’s definitive voice in holiday music, a recording that continues to return each season as if untouched by time.
