when you talk about the 9 months of down time I assume you're referring to the record pressing backup but my understanding is a big part of that is big acts who can jump the line, such as harry and possibly louis with BMG backing, making the wait long for everyone else. But anyway I'm curious where you're getting 9 months and just about the source/more info generally if you are up for sharing?
Everything serious I've read has suggested the idea that big acts were the reason that smaller acts had to wait was simplifying click bait. I did a round up of links while talking about the issue a while back.
I think it's taking big acts around nine months to get their vinyl pressed - and smaller acts longer. I haven't seen any evidence of quick turn arounds for anyone. It was taking Taylor Swift six months to get vinyl done for Evermore back in the first half of 2021, when there were still very limited other releases.
The nine months comes from Harry. He locked his album just before he started rehearsing for tour. And if he hadn't been able to tour he was planning to do a movie, which I think is evidence that he was facing a hard deadline for getting his album finished (he might not have quite needed all of that nine months, but I think it's a good benchmark. It fits with what I could find from Adele who was finishing up in February 2021 (and was probably a shade under 9 months in total, but she was also really big). I also think this helps explain the long time between Taylor's re-releases. Unlike Evermore Taylor's versions have had day and date vinyl (I suspect Fearless was finished before Evermore, as it was released before Evermore's vinyl was). I wouldn't be surprised if multiple different Taylor's version are in different stages of being pressed right now.
If you can find examples of big acts getting their vinyl printed in less than 9 months then I'd be interested to hear, but it seems like a reasonable estimate at the moment.
I personally think that nine months may be optimistic for Louis. BMG definitely don't have the pulling power of the major labels and in particular they're not pressing enough to move things Louis will have had to book his vinyl slot well in advance, and will not have wiggle room if there are any difficulties.
