This Vinyl Format Could Redefine the Rules of Record Collecting

It’s giving hi-fi enthusiasts a new way of experiencing the physical media format.

A close-up of a hand adjusting the tonearm of a black turntable with a small vinyl record labeled "Superstar" and "TINYMUZ" on the platter. The turntable has a textured black mat and a silver dotted edge.

Published 1 hour ago

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Vinyl is so hot right now that a Nashville-based audio company has been able to create an entirely new way of experiencing it. And it’s apparently all the rage.

The company, called Tiny Vinyl, makes miniature vinyl records that you can play on the turntable you currently own. And the records are all legit. Not only that, they’re super collectible.

Meet Tiny Vinyl

Hands holding a miniature vinyl record and its cover titled "Rainbow Kitten Surprise" with an image of a ballerina on a music box, placed on a wooden table near a turntable. — Each of Tiny Vinyl’s miniature records is officially licensed, with songs and artwork picked by the artist.

Officially licensed, four-inch vinyl

Tiny Vinyl produces four-inch vinyl records, which are approximately one-third the size of standard 12-inch vinyl records.

Naturally, these miniature records don’t hold the entire album, but instead can hold a total of two songs (one on each side), which comes out to eight minutes of listening (four minutes a side).

A black vinyl record partially inside a red album cover featuring a silhouette of a man leaning forward with a rope tied around his neck. The record label reads "Bruno Mars" and "Side A Renade 33 1/3 RPM." Below the record and cover is a black comb with fine teeth, all set against a red background. — Bruno’s tiny record features two songs: “Grenade” and “Talking To The Moon.”

These miniature vinyl records are officially licensed and the artist actually selects the two tracks that go on it. Also, the sales of these are kept track of and charted, which is important to artists (as, in today’s era of streaming, this type of thing goes missing).

As for the audio quality, each pocketable record promises to deliver the sound as the full-sized record. Tiny Vinyl works with Nashville Record Pressing, a vinyl production facility that opened in 2022, to ensure it.

A cream-colored vinyl record partially inside a cover featuring the Backstreet Boys dressed in white with a blue background. The cover has the word "millennium" in large white letters and the song titles "I Want It That Way" and "Larger Than Life." Two ballpoint pens, one with a blue cap and one with a clear cap, are placed below the record and cover for size comparison. — The Backstreet Boys tiny record features two songs of their Millennium album, “I Want It That Way” and “Larger than life.”

33 RPM compatible

The neat thing is that each of these four-inch vinyls can be played on any manual turntable that supports 33 RPM speeds. (You’ll need to turn off the auto-stop function off, if you have a semi-automatic turntable.)

Therefore, those listening to the records get the same vinyl experience as on the larger records. The experience is just shorter, which is more in line with today’s modern listener. Also, tracks are less easily skipped.

A vinyl record with a black disc and a white label that reads "That's So True," "Side A," "Gracie Abrams," and "tinyvinyl." The record is partially inside a square album cover featuring a soft-focus portrait of a woman with short dark hair looking to the side. The cover has a parental advisory explicit content label in the bottom right corner. Below the record and cover is a white sleeve with a circular photo of a stage performance. The background is a muted green. — Gracie Abrams’ record features “That’s So True” and “I Love You, I’m Sorry”

Each tiny record is individually numbered. Inside, there’s artwork and a miniature inner sleeve. They’re packaged just like a 12-inch record, but everything is scaled down.

As for which artists are getting in on the action … the answer is a lot, both big and small. Tiny Vinyl is open to working with any artist, so long as they have the rights to their music.

A vinyl record and its cover are displayed against a red background. The cover features a black-and-white photo of a brick building with multiple windows, and text that reads "the notorious BIG" and "BIG POPPA / HYPNOTIZE." The vinyl record has a red label with similar text, including "BIG POPPA (2025 Edit)" and "tinyvinyl." In front of the record and cover is a silver and black Rolex watch with a black rubber strap. — The Notorious B.I.G.’s tiny record features “Big Poppa” and “Hypnotize.”

Albums galore

Tiny Vinyl currently makes albums for some of the biggest current artists in the world, including Ariana Grande, Gracie Abrams, Doja Cat, Chappell Roan, as well are older artists’ albums from the likes of Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and Frank Sinatra.

According to the company, more than 40 new tiny records will be released in the next two months.

A person wearing a white shirt is holding two vinyl records, one large with a red label and one small with a white label that reads "Hi-Country" and "TINVINYL." The smaller record is held closer to the camera, while the larger one is held behind it. — Most Tiny Vinyl records are exclusively available at Target.

These miniaturized vinyl records appear to be a win-win for all parties involved. Artists gain a new revenue stream and an additional item to sell at their merchandise tables, while fans acquire a new collectible and, more importantly, a new way to experience the magic of vinyl.

If you’re looking to buy these tiny records, you have one primary place to look: Target. Tiny Vinyl struck an exclusive partnership with the massive retailer and therefore, most of these records can be purchased there.

Some artists also sell these Tiny Vinyl records directly from their online shops and merch stands.

Most records cost around $15, which, like regular 12-inch records, isn’t cheap.

To shop Tiny Vinyl, check out most of the available albums at Target, here.

About the Author:

Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. As a Tech Staff Writer, he tracks everything in the consumer tech space, from headphones to smartphones, wearables to home theater systems. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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