Ian Shirley stands as the preeminent chronicler of physical music media, currently shaping discourse through Record Collector's Rare Record Price Guide. His work bridges academic rigor (Ed.D, Sheffield University) and trade publishing, offering unique insights into:
For three decades, Ian Shirley has served as the foremost cartographer of recorded music's physical legacy. As editor of Record Collector's Rare Record Price Guide since 2002, he's transformed niche collecting into a global phenomenon. His 1,460-page 2024 edition (Diamond Publishing) remains the gold standard for dealers and enthusiasts alike, tracking values across 100,000+ releases from 1950-present[5][9].
"The crackle of a needle on vinyl isn't nostalgia - it's the sound of cultural DNA being preserved."
Shirley's 2022 Bonhams analysis traces how specific pressings shaped musical evolution. The piece examines:
Through auction records and studio logs, he demonstrates how physical artifacts reveal artistic intent often lost in digital formats[4].
This 17th edition introduces revolutionary valuation metrics accounting for:
Shirley's team tracked 23% value increases for 70s jazz-funk promos, while prog-rock rarities stabilized after 2021's speculative bubble[5][9].
Shirley prioritizes stories where physical artifacts reveal cultural shifts. Successful pitches might examine:
Rather than mainstream trends, target niche movements like:
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Music, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
