Vinyl collecting has become a big business - so much so that collectors have started moving on to cassette tapes. The folks at Audio Ink Radio have listed a few of the most valuable cassette tapes sought by collectors:
Xero - this cassette demo was released by Linkin Park under their original name and has sold for over $4,500.
Pearl Jam, Ten: a sealed, first-edition copy of Pearl Jam's debut album can fetch up to $4,000.
Prince, The Versace Experience - Prelude 2 Gold - this rare tape from Prince was a giveaway for attendees of a Versace show at Paris Fashion Week in 1995 and has sold for nearly $4,400
Nirvana - Nevermind. While there’s been some controversy around Nevermind in recent years—Spencer Elden, the infamous naked baby featured on the cover, sued Nirvana in 2021, alleging sexual exploitation and emotional distress, among other things—it’s still considered an iconic part of the alt-rock revolution. Completely sealed, the tape could bring up to $1500 on eBay. No worries if you happen to have one that’s unsealed; those can be sold for about $50 and up.
Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill: If you have an unsealed version of this audio cassette tucked away in your attic, you could potentially sell it for up to $1500 on eBay. For copies that are already used, you might get between $25 to $40.
Nas // Illmatic (1994) - You can sell your sealed audio cassette of Illmatic on eBay for up to about $900. Used copies can turn a decent profit, too: Many have sold for about $150.
Alanis Morissette // Jagged Little Pill (1995) - Hits like “You Oughta Know” and “Ironic” still have a special place in the hearts of ‘90s kids, and if you have a sealed copy of Jagged Little Pill, you could sell it on eBay for up to $600. Unsealed? You can sell it for a modest $10.
The Notorious B.I.G. // Ready to Die (1994) - But there’s a bittersweet aspect to it, as sadly, it was the only complete album released by Biggie during his lifetime. His second album, Life After Death, was released on March 25, 1997, 16 days after his murder. You can sell sealed cassettes of Ready to Die for about $500 to $600 on eBay, whereas it will bring you around $90 if it’s already been used.