Discogs is the world’s largest crowdsourced music database and marketplace, launched in November 2000 by programmer Kevin Lewandowski in Portland, Oregon. It lists millions of releases, catalogues every individual pressing of a record, and lets collectors and DJs buy and sell vinyl, CDs and cassettes with each other. For house music DJs it is the go-to place for tracking down original 12-inch singles.
Discogs at a glance
- Launched: November 2000
- Founder: Kevin Lewandowski, then a programmer at Intel
- Based in: Portland, Oregon
- Owner: Zink Media
- Database: more than 19 million user-submitted releases
- Most popular genre: electronic music
From a hobby to a global database
Kevin Lewandowski started the site as a hobby to catalogue his own electronic music collection, running it from a computer in his closet. It began as an electronic-only database and grew, wiki-style, into a catalogue of every genre, built entirely by its users.
Every pressing, listed separately
What makes it special is detail. Each version of a record gets its own entry, with label, catalogue number, country, year, credits and matrix numbers. The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack alone has over 400 versions listed. For DJs, that means you can find exactly which 12-inch has the mix you want.
The Discogs Marketplace
Anyone can sell records through the marketplace, with sellers paying a fee on each sale. Buyers can check the price history of a release before buying, which helps avoid overpaying for rare house classics.
Tips for DJs using Discogs
- Search by catalogue number to find the exact pressing you need
- Check the tracklist and credits for the right mix and remixer
- Read a seller’s feedback and the stated condition before buying
- Add records to your Wantlist to get alerts when copies are listed
- Use your Collection to value and organise your crates
- Use VinylHub to find record shops when travelling
Understanding vinyl condition grades
Sellers grade both the record and the sleeve using a standard scale. Knowing it saves money and disappointment:
- Mint (M): perfect and usually still sealed
- Near Mint (NM or M-): nearly perfect, with no obvious marks
- Very Good Plus (VG+): light signs of play that don’t affect the sound; ideal for DJ copies
- Very Good (VG): noticeable surface noise and wear, fine for rare records
- Good (G) and below: heavy wear, best avoided unless the record is very scarce
For club play, VG+ or better is the sweet spot between price and sound quality. If a listing has no notes, message the seller before buying, especially for expensive original pressings.
Discogs vs Traxsource
The marketplace is for physical records, often second-hand and rare. For new digital house music, Traxsource is the main download store for DJs. Many DJs use both: Traxsource for new releases and Discogs for vinyl and classics.
Steve Bell’s Discogs store
Steve sells house music vinyl through his Discogs store, Delicious Grooves. Have a dig through the crates for soulful, deep and classic house.
Frequently asked questions about Discogs
What is Discogs?
A crowdsourced music database and marketplace where people catalogue, buy and sell physical music.
Who founded Discogs?
Kevin Lewandowski launched it in November 2000.
Who owns Discogs?
It is owned and operated by Zink Media.
Is Discogs good for DJs?
Yes. It is the best place to identify exact pressings and buy original vinyl, especially rare house and disco records.
Source: Wikipedia.
Keep listening
Steve Bell plays soulful, deep and vocal house across the UK, Ibiza and beyond. Catch his monthly DancersHip show and live sets, or see the media pack to book Steve for your event.
