Frank Ocean’s “Blonde,” or “blond,” vinyl regularly sells for over $1,000 on secondary markets. That’s nearly 30 times its original $35 retail price. This price hike makes it one of the most expensive modern vinyl releases you can buy, and fans naturally wonder why exactly Blonde’s vinyl version is so expensive.
Frank Ocean, the R&B artist, released his second studio album “Blonde” in 2016 after a four-year hiatus, which also named his Apple Music show the Blonded Radio. During those years of silence, Ocean’s fanbase grew increasingly hungry for new material. This helped set the stage for a chaotic album release and a rare vinyl release.
Blonde is widely considered a modern classic, but it’s not the music that makes this vinyl so expensive; it’s how Ocean chose to release it.
Why is Blonde vinyl so rare and expensive?
Frank Ocean’s “Blonde” vinyl is rare and expensive because of scarcity and demand. The “Blonde” vinyl became expensive because it was deliberately limited and highly anticipated.
Here are the key factors that turned a $35 record into a four-figure collector’s item:
- 24-hour exclusive sale window: The vinyl was only available for purchase during a single day on Black Friday 2016.
- Limited production: Industry estimates suggest only around 1,000 copies were ever produced, but exact numbers aren’t confirmed.
- Reseller market explosion: Early buyers realized they owned something valuable and drove up the secondary market prices.
During the peak levels of hype, finding an affordable “Blonde” vinyl would have worse odds than backing the biggest underdog on betting apps. Music fans can also be quite devoted, like sports enthusiasts. While some can turn this devotion into motivation to bet on competitions like Eurovision, others may focus on collecting rare pieces of music.
Is Blonde on vinyl worth it?
Frank Ocean’s “Blonde” is worth it on vinyl if you’re a collector or a devoted fan of the artist. However, you can skip the vinyl and stream the album online in high quality for a fraction of the cost if you’re a casual listener.
Overall, it’s worth it if you’re:
- A devoted Frank Ocean superfan
- A serious vinyl collector
- A completist who needs to own physical copies of their favorite albums
It’s probably not worth it if you’re:
- Working with a limited budget for music purchases
- Fine with just streaming music online
However, things have gotten noticeably better in recent years. Finding an authentic Blonde vinyl is easier now. Frank Ocean occasionally restocks the vinyl on his official website, Blonded.co, for around $65. These drops are still rare, and they sell out within minutes.
On secondary markets, like eBay, you’ll find copies ranging from $100 to $200. Some of these can be unofficial bootleg versions, so you’ll need to do your due diligence as a buyer.
