Steve Aoki Launches First-Ever Grading and Authentication Platform for Physical Music Assets

Audio Media Grading will doubtless be of curiosity to devoted collectors who view music in its place asset.

Steve Aoki is bringing new infrastructure to the world of bodily music.

It’s lengthy been extensively accepted that sure vinyl points, CDs and extra maintain an inherent worth based mostly on their demand, high quality and rarity, however placing a value on these illiquid property has traditionally confirmed a difficult job.

Aoki’s new enterprise, which he says is the primary of its form, is aiming to level-set the market by creating a suitable trade normal. With the launch of his new firm, Aoki is betting that the favored follow of grading various property—one which’s been utilized to merchandise resembling Pokémon and baseball playing cards—can be adopted by the audiophile neighborhood.

Steve Aoki acting at Electric Zoo 2022.

Brian Rapaport/EDM.com

Partnering with Collector Archive Services (CAS), Aoki’s enterprise will help in facilitating the evaluate and authentication of bodily music property, together with vinyl, CDs, cassette tapes and extra. The finish consequence will showcase the asset in a laminated plaque with an assigned rating based mostly on a scale of 10, relying upon on the asset’s situation.

Collectors will even obtain a certificates of authenticity with their graded asset, ought to the merchandise move inspection. Per the corporate’s web site, Audio Media Grading will conduct a evaluate of every asset beginning at $50.

“Introducing Audio Media Grading, the world’s first music grading company,” Aoki writes. “I’ve partnered together with the folks from @CASGrading to create a new business where you can grade your vinyl, cassettes, CDs, and 8Track to classify and log your audio media. A tool for music collectors and audiophiles, you’ll now finally be able to see how your content grades in comparison to others saved pieces.”