How and Why I Turned My Hobby into a Product: The Launch of Onerecord.club
I love music and collect records. My go-to style is British and North American indie (here’s my Discogs profile, in case you’re curious about my collection), but honestly, I’ll listen to anything.
The part I love most? Discovery. Finding new artists—and finding them on a record. Why? Because the record demands attention. It makes you pause. In a world dominated by streaming, algorithms, and snippets of songs, we’re stuck consuming bits and pieces—never the whole story. A record forces you to slow down. You look at the cover art, read the liner notes, flip sides, and listen to an album as it was intended. It’s inconvenient in the most beautiful way.
That’s why, when I buy records, I go all-in on discovery. I often pick up albums I know nothing about—maybe a recommendation from someone, or a song I stumbled across. If it catches my interest, I’ll grab the album and dive in at my own pace. This habit has led to some gloriously random moments, like walking into a record store while traveling, asking the clerk for their favorite local band, and leaving with whatever they suggest. It’s a bit crazy, I know—but also kind of magical.
A while back, I reached out to Álvaro from Meritorio Records (an indie label based in Madrid) via Twitter. I had this crazy idea: “What if I give you €30 every month, and you send me whatever you think is worth hearing from the international indie scene?” He said; Hell yeah!.
And that’s where it all started.
The Moment I joint the points
Fast forward to a typical dad moment: waiting to pick up my kids from school. I was flipping through a book I’d been reading, Don’t Read This Book: Time Management for Creative People, and came across a graphic about “Overlaps.” It’s simple but brilliant: three circles, each representing something you love to do, overlapping in the middle to reveal your sweet spot.
I started thinking: Records. The Internet. Building things. And click—that middle overlap lit up. What if I turned my little subscription experiment with Álvaro into something bigger? What if others could have this same discovery experience I’ve been enjoying?
Sure, subscription record services exist in the U.S., but in Spain? Nada. Cero. Kaput.
So, I wrote this email to Álvaro:
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Subject: Let’s Talk about Records (and an Idea?)
Hi Álvaro,
How’s it going? It’s been a while since I last asked you for some records. A shame because I absolutely love them, but honestly, I just keep forgetting to ask.
Today, I’ve been thinking about this, and it got me to an idea I wanted to run by you.
For 14 years, I ran a tech company called 47 Degrees, which I sold two years ago to a large consultancy. Now, I’ve decided to leave and take a sabbatical.
But, as you know, I can’t sit still. While thinking about ordering another batch from you, my brain wandered off to subscriptions—something I bet has crossed your mind too.
Would you be interested in teaming up for something? I’d invest (both time and resources) in this kind of project.
I believe we could combine forces and create something that would attract loads of subscribers and gain traction. Plus, while I think we could open up to include records beyond Meritorio (maybe even add a curation system using Spotify, Discogs, etc.), this could also be an awesome way to distribute Meritorio records. Heck, we could even offer a package exclusively featuring them.
I don’t know; it’s just an idea that popped into my head while picking up the kids. But, hey, everything starts like this, right?
Here’s my website for a bit of context about me: jorgegalindo.me.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Cheers,
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From Idea to Reality
A couple of months (and plenty of meetings, music sessions, and bursts of passion) later, onerecord.club was born—the first subscription service for indie international records in Spain.
Our goal? Fun and learning. I’m in a creative momentum right now, and it’s essential to follow that energy. This project is about doing what I love: discovering music, building something meaningful, and sharing the joy of discovery with others.
We’re launching in January, and we’d love for you to join us. Whether you’re a vinyl enthusiast or just curious about discovering new indie music, this club is for you.
And hey, it’s the perfect gift for someone who loves music. Because what’s better than the gift of discovery? ☺️
