Paul Mawhinney was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. Over the years he has amassed what has become the world’s largest record collection. Due to advancing age, financial issues, health issues and a struggling record industry Paul has been forced to sell his collection…. AGAIN.
- 3 Million Records
- 300,000 Compact Discs
- More Than 6 Million Song Titles
Back in February, Paul put the entire collection up on ebay. The bidding got up to a whopping $3,002,150 (albeit much less than the collection is actually worth.) The news of the auction and the collection were widely reported at this time, however as it turns out the winner of the auction was a deadbeat non-paying bidder. The user’s (now suspended) account name was “jopsoup ” and he later claimed that someone had stolen his identity. Ya, right.
After dealing with this headache, Paul is now putting the collection up for sale once again.
Every genre of American music is represented: rock, jazz, country, R&B, blues, new age, Broadway and Hollywood, bluegrass, folk, children’s, comedy, Christmas music (!) and more. No other collection in the world even comes close.
More than half of the recordings are actually NEW, and many of the records are worth hundreds or thousands themselves.
Every recording in this amazing collection was purchased by its owner, over a period of 50 years, and stored in a 16,000 square foot climate – controlled warehouse. The estimated value of the entire collection is now greater than fifty million dollars.
Of course the price tag is the greatest obstacle in selling the collection, but I think it could be argued that the value of the collection is much greater than the sum of its parts. It is absolutely the greatest collection of music from the 20th century and has a tremendous historical value.
Other than selling the whole lot to to a private collector I have no idea what attempts have been made to preserve the collection. Has anyone approached any archival instututions, maybe the library of Congress? Would they even want it? The collection must be preserved in it’s entirety. To break up a collection as comprehensive and rare as this would be absolutely unthinkable.
Perhaps some crazy music-loving billionaire out there wants to acquire it. If you’re listening – this is your call to action! Buy it, preserve it, and maintain this historical and cultural treasure.
In any case, an individual named Sean Dunne has created a documentary about it called “The Archive”. It is a must watch. Below is a short video describing the documentary:
And here it is in it’s entirety (you can click on the arrows it to see it full screen).
Paul is also the publisher of Music Master, the definitive guide to buying and selling music, used by record collectors the world over. More information on the collection can be found here and you can browse the complete database of music if you fill out a form here .
Oh, the first record he ever bought? It was a 45 rpm Frankie Lane song.
calling Paul Allen. Paul Allen to the courtesy phone please.
The guys from the Pirate Bay should take up a collection. It could become the biggest haul of booty ever!
Digital Signal Processing > Records.
-sorry
Hmm, FINALLY a person with more than I.
he has 6 million songs, i have 1.7
but i have a long life ahead of me and he is 69 today.
the sad part, NOBODY but me and he cares. I mean nobody.
its like collecting all the MIDI files and MOD files in the world… no one cares about them.
Id be better off playing video games for a hobby.
Seems more like a hoard then a collection. It might actually be better to cherry pick the important records in each genre. There may be a lot of junk.
@gridface: The importance of the collection is how complete it is and the historical significance that it holds; would we keep all the “good” pictures from World War II and throw out the others because they are junk?
shhhhhhh … don’t tell my husband about this sale. He might want to buy these.
Buy the entire collection for 2 million. Digitize all the albums published before 1923. Since all publication copyrights before 1923 have expired, you could sell the downloads!
Analog sound remains superior due to it’s constant nature rather than the grid of the digital world. Vinyl stills lives! I hope these go to a good home. Hopefully the home of someone who loves to share
In very round numbers, the man has 2,000,000 records that cannot be had, by anyone, anywhere, at any price.
And we still think that copyright that exists for more that 14 years is really in anyone’s interest?
Let’s make it a generation – 20 or 25 years, tops. Keep it civilized.
Your clip really hit home with me and made a small tear in my eye..What wonderfull heart to heart music Phill must have..I,d like to take a few years to listen to the rare ones..Good luck Phill and GOD be with you in music
SORRY FOR PAUL BUT ROGER V. K. FROM MONTENEGRO IS THE BIGGEST RECORDS COLLECTOR ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH 12 MILLION RECORDS AND 475,000 CD’S…
HE HAS EVERYTHING FROM ALL THE COUNTRYS INCLUDE ALL DJ’S PROMOS AND DEMOS FROM ALL THE 236 COUNTRYS…..
[...] http://www.noiseaddicts.com/2008/09/biggest-record-collection-in-the-world-paul-mawhinney/ [...]
I’m looking for CD from A&M records Canada. For a Promo Blue,& Orange Disc of Veronique (Beliveau) CD-23065. I’m going make you love. 4 same tracks, in 4 different songs.
Of you have any information anywhere in North American
Please E-mail me ASAP.
Thank you.
if i had the money i would by them and take good care of them but i don’t its sad that not a lot of people care.
I don’t think vinyl records are dead, they do sound as good and in some cases better than digital sound on my stereo, in fact the only music I bought in the last few years have only been vinyl records. Its just a cooler product with the larger artwork and stuff. Its a great medium, just takes up more space…
Is my husband is has a collection. He has everything. Form records to reel to reels to 8 track , 78s,45s.to Lps.He has reel to reel players,records players.He even has 4tracks and 8 tracks.Have to send you a picter some time.
I do not understand why he feel bad.He has many records ,he have heard so many things and he is sad.
I am 42 ,i love rock music but i do not have money to buy records.I use
youtube to download and listen MP3 which is nothing but the only i can do.The records ,music is to listen ,not to sell.If i had these records i would give them to my children.
thanks
@rolen Can you show any proof of this “Roger V.K.” having this 12 million record collection or are you just telling tall tales? I’m a few years late on this comment, oh well.