Daylight NZ and The Spinoff bring vinyl back to life with The Long Play Podcast
New Zealand creative agency Daylight NZ and The Spinoff have launched The Long Play, a four-part podcast that dives into the unlikely resurgence of vinyl in the digital age. Led creatively by Daylight, the series examines why this physical format has captured the attention of a new generation of music fans while featuring leading voices from across Aotearoa’s music industry.
Says Charlie Godinet, Executive Creative Director, Daylight: “Vinyl has a rich, surprising history here. We wanted this project to celebrate collectors, support record stores, and give people a reason to experience music in a tangible way again.”
Tracing the roots of vinyl back to 1879 in Christchurch, The Long Play charts the rise of New Zealand’s record industry—from its golden era of pressing local legends and global icons, through the decline of cassettes, CDs, and streaming, and into its remarkable modern-day comeback. As streaming fatigue grows, vinyl offers a tactile, intentional listening experience in stark contrast to the ephemeral digital world.
Hosted by music journalist Charlotte Ryan alongside The Spinoff’s Duncan Greive, the series explores why vinyl has roared back into relevance, gathering insights from industry figures including Recorded Music NZ’s Paul Kennedy, music historian Peter McLennan, Flying Nun’s Ben Howe, Real Groovy’s Kayla Anthony, JB HiFi’s Karl Lock, Slowboat Records’ Jeremy Taylor, Vinyl Selector Miss Dom, artists Gussie Larkin and Christoph El Truento, and Holiday Records’ Ben Wallace & Joel Woods.
Digitally available on The Spinoff, the series has also been pressed to vinyl by Holiday Records, creating a tangible version of the story it tells. A nationwide “vinyl dig” on Saturday, 11 October, will hide copies across more than 40 record stores, allowing collectors to discover the double LP for free.
Adds Godinet: “This nationwide dig is about more than just the podcast—it’s an excuse for people to head into their local record store, support them, and maybe pick up a record from a local artist along the way.”
In parallel, Recorded Music NZ has released a vinyl-specific Official Aotearoa Music Chart, spanning 22 years of sales. The chart includes All Artists Top 40, All Titles Top 40, New Zealand-focused Artists Top 20, and Titles Top 20, highlighting the albums that have captured the public imagination in this revival.
Founder of The Spinoff and Daylight, Duncan Greive, says: “This chart is a milestone for vinyl in Aotearoa. For the first time in decades, we can see exactly which albums have resonated—there are plenty of surprises, and a strong local flavour.”
The Long Play is now available at thespinoff.co.nz/thelongplay and wherever you get your podcasts. The series was made in partnership with Holiday Records, Recorded Music NZ, and Coffee Supreme. For details on the nationwide vinyl dig, check The Spinoff and your local record store’s social channels.
