Why are so many soundtrack LPs sold as pre-orders?

Specialist labels announce soundtracks well ahead of release to gauge demand and schedule pressing. Runs are often limited and split into color variants. Pre-ordering lets you reserve the edition you want before it sells out, since a repress of a given score is never guaranteed.

Does a soundtrack pre-order guarantee a colored vinyl variant?

Not automatically. Each color variant has its own listing, and some are exclusive to a single store. Check the store's product page to make sure the edition you are ordering matches the color or artwork you want. A cheaper offer is often the standard black vinyl edition.

What happens if a soundtrack vinyl release gets delayed?

Delays are common and do not mean the record is canceled. They usually come from manufacturing: test pressings, jacket printing, pressing plant schedules. Check the terms of the store you ordered from to see whether you can cancel and whether payment is only taken when the record ships.

Can you pre-order video game soundtracks on vinyl?

Yes, video game music is a growing share of soundtrack pre-orders. Labels such as Laced Records and iam8bit specialize in it, with illustrated jackets and colored vinyl. These editions often sell quickly, so it pays to follow this page and compare offers as soon as a title is announced.

Soundtrack Pre-orders

Soundtrack Vinyl Pre-orders: Upcoming Film, TV and Video Game Scores

Why pre-order soundtrack vinyl?

Soundtrack vinyl pre-orders are mostly about securing the pressing. Film, TV and video game scores tend to come out in limited runs, often with several color variants and new artwork made for the release. Once the first press sells through, a repress is never a sure thing, and resale prices climb quickly. This page gathers soundtrack records that have been announced but are not out yet, so you can compare offers from partner stores before release day.

The current lineup mixes film composers such as Hans Zimmer with game music from Jake Kaufman and the Jagex Audio Team, the in-house sound team behind RuneScape. That mix is typical of the category: soundtrack vinyl appeals to film buffs and gamers alike, and both crowds chase the same limited runs.

Soundtrack labels that run pre-orders

Soundtrack collecting is driven by a handful of specialist labels. Mondo and Death Waltz, Waxwork Records for horror, Milan Records, Varèse Sarabande and Lakeshore Records for film and TV, Laced Records and iam8bit for video games: most of them announce titles months ahead and open pre-orders on announcement day. Music On Vinyl also regularly brings back scores that had gone out of print.

Color variant: check whether it is exclusive to one store
Disc count: long scores often need a 2LP set
Contents: orchestral score only, or the songs from the film
Extras listed in the product page: booklet, poster, gatefold jacket

Delays and shifting release dates

A pre-order release date is an estimate. Between test pressing approval, jacket printing and pressing plant capacity, soundtrack releases often slip by weeks or even months. A delay is not a cancellation. Before you order, read the store's terms: when your card is charged, whether you can cancel, and what happens if the edition is never produced.

Also watch for multiple versions of the same score, for example a standard black LP and a deluxe edition with alternate artwork, at very different prices. Compare the exact edition, not just the title, and check whether you are getting the original score or a collection of songs "inspired by" the film.