Our risk-free pre-fund model lets you launch and fund a physical vinyl release using fan support before paying anything out of pocket.

• Set Up Your Campaign: Mock up your release in the HOT WAX app, set your retail price, we launch the pre-fund campaign across our network.
• Fan-Funded Production: You market the campaign to fans. As fans purchase the record, we collect payment information and reserve their order.
• Automated Pressing Trigger: You decide the funding goal threshold, and one you approve, we capture payment and kick off production immediately.
• Zero Inventory Risk: If a campaign doesn't hit your target, fans are never charged and there is zero financial or inventory risk to you.

Our base package is built to meet the absolute highest retail and collector standards, balanced with price:

• Vinyl Format: 12" 140g black vinyl pellets.
• Metalwork: High-fidelity lacquer cutting, electroplating (3-step), and production of 1 stamper (good for ~1000 records).
• Printwork: Full-color, single pocket jacket (or widespine for Double LPs).
• Center Labels: Full-color
• Inner sleeve: Black or White, paper.
• Packaging: shrink-wrapping.
• Test Pressing: 5 physical Test Pressings shipped directly to the artist for review and audio sign-off before the main production run begins.

We offer a highly flexible, accessible minimum order quantity of 100 units for single LP packages and 200 units for double lp packages

Estimated 6-8 weeks after final assets are submitted, 4-6 weeks faster than the industry norm. Our pressing plant infrastructure has a large operational capacity and commercial grade machinery to ensure reliable turnaround times.

To eliminate manufacturing risks and protect your sound, HOT WAX executes an end-to-end Quality Control Protocol spanning pre-flight checks, artwork proof approvals, physical test pressing sign-offs, in-line press monitoring, and warehouse receiving integrity.

1.Pre-Flight File & Track Checks (HOT WAX App)

Right when you upload your artwork and audio into the HOT WAX dashboard, our system runs immediate pre-flight checks before anything goes to production. We verify that your master audio meets high-res pressing standards, ensure your track ordering and PQ sheets line up perfectly, and confirm everyone is 100% aligned on the exact assets being used.

2. Parallel Pre-Production Proofing

• Artwork Pre-Press QC: High-resolution design files route to specialized print technicians who perform pre-flight checks on resolution, color space (CMYK), spine alignment, and bleed specs. A digital proof is generated and sent to the artist for formal review before printing begins.
• Audio & Lacquer Pre-Cut Review: Master audio files undergo pre-cut analysis by veteran mastering engineers. Once verified, the audio is precision-cut onto a lacquer disc and processed through a rigorous 3-step electroplating sequence (master, mother, stamper) to build durable nickel production stampers.

3. Physical Test Pressing Sign-Off

Before full mass production begins, five physical test pressings are manufactured directly from the production stampers and shipped straight to the artist. This allows you to verify acoustic fidelity, noise floor, and track sequencing on real audio equipment. Production remains paused until the artist formally approves the test pressing.

4. In-Line Mass Pressing QC

During the active manufacturing run, facility technicians maintain real-time quality checks on the press floor. This includes continuous monitoring of hydraulic press temperatures, vinyl compound melt consistency, visual surface inspection for micro-imperfections, and periodic acoustic sample pulls throughout the run to prevent groove degradation or pressing flaws.

5. Warehouse Receiving & Freight Verification

Upon arrival at our warehouse, receiving specialists inspect bulk shipments to verify total unit counts, carton seal integrity, and pallet condition to ensure zero freight or transit damage occurred during transport from the pressing facility.

6. Defect Remediation & Protection Policy

Our rigorous multi-stage QC protocol keeps production and transit errors exceptionally rare. However, if a manufacturing defect or shipping damage ever slips through, you are fully covered. Our team immediately investigates the root cause—identifying whether the issue occurred during pressing, printing, or freight—to resolve it right away. If the flaw is on our end or with our manufacturing and shipping partners, we handle the complete resolution, including priority re-presses or replacements, at zero cost to you.

We operate a streamlined, multi-plant production network anchored by top-tier North American and European manufacturing facilities. By maintaining non-exclusive, commercial accounts across a vetted network of pressing plants and print houses, we optimize costs and timing depending on the project needs. Our primary pressing operations run through our North American partner facilities (utilized by the world's largest major labels), so artists can benefit from enterprise-scale machinery and operations (industry best pricing and turn-around times) with boutique-level experience (low minimums and white-glove project management and support).