Having a knowledge of the business model of LP reissues, it would take 3000 sales of a single title to break-even. That assumes typical royalties, mastering, stamping, packaging and distribution to retailing. Few titles would get that demand.
The economics of LP reissues
If an out-of-print LP is selling for $150 or more when it (rarely) shows up for sale on an auction site, shouldn't this be indication of sufficient demand for a reissue? I won't claim to know how much it would cost to reissue a record, but I should think that someone who does know (and who holds the license) would be taking note of these sales and then putting things out at something like normal prices.
Phrased another way: If a couple dozen people show that they are willing to pay $150 for a particular album, does this mean that a few hundred (or more, one hopes) would be willing to fork over $25 for a new pressing of that same album? There is no easy way to answer that question, of course, but I'd bet it's often a yes.
Phrased another way: If a couple dozen people show that they are willing to pay $150 for a particular album, does this mean that a few hundred (or more, one hopes) would be willing to fork over $25 for a new pressing of that same album? There is no easy way to answer that question, of course, but I'd bet it's often a yes.