The White Label Auction of rare vinyl test pressings bids to achieve a record total for the BRIT Trust music charity
The White Label Auction in Aid of The BRIT Trust – the world’s only known auction dedicated exclusively to the sale of “white label” test pressings will take place on Tuesday 7th October 2025.
Around 170 lots will go under the hammer, featuring arguably the most stellar collection yet of test pressings1, leading as it does with rare artist-signed white label copies of new or classic albums by some of the world’s biggest artists. These include Coldplay (Music of the Spheres and Live In Buenos Aries), Chemical Brothers (Exit Planet Dust – celebrating 30 years), Ed Sheeran (Play), Iggy Pop (Free), Paul Weller (Find El Dorado), Public Image Limited (PiL) (various signed by John Lydon), Robbie Williams (Life Thru’ A Lens and I’ve Been Expecting You), Rod Stewart (Ultimate Hits), YolanDa Brown (Love Politics War), and 2025 Mercury Prize shortlisted Albums of the Year – Pa Salieu (Afrikan Alien), Pink Pantheress (Fancy That), and Wolf Alice (The Calling).
Another very special lot, which potentially could go for thousands of pounds, is a very rare white label 7” test pressing of Queen’s legendary single Bohemian Rhapsody, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. The ground-breaking song, which, across two spells in 1975 and then 1991, spent a total of 14 weeks at No.1 in the Official Singles Charts, has I’m In Love with My Car on its B-side – both featured on the band’s iconic studio album, A Night At The Opera.
In all, there are hundreds of albums and singles up for grabs for dedicated collectors and passionate fans alike. These cover a breadth of artists and genres, from the iconic soul pop of Amy Winehouse (including Back To Black), to the heavy metal classics of Black Sabbath and their much-loved front-man Ozzy Osbourne (including Paranoid), and everything in between. These take in classic or other albums by the likes of ABBA, The Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, PIL, The Killers, Nick Drake, The Who, Stone Roses, Gorillaz, Florence + The Machine, Pulp, Cocteau Twins, and many more, as well as from more contemporary artists including Little Simz, Wet Leg, and The 1975.
The White Label Auction, is now live and accepting bids ahead of 7th October at Omega Auctions.
In its five editions to date, the White Label Auction has generated well over £160,000 for music industry charity, The BRIT Trust, which works to improve lives through the power of music and the creative arts, and supports hundreds of causes across the UK that promote education and wellbeing, including The BRIT School, Nordoff and Robbins, ELAM, Music Support, and Key4Life.
The While Label Auction is being organised by its founder, Johnny Chandler, supported by Gennaro Castaldo of record labels association the BPI, and Julian Stockton of JMSPR. It will again be hosted by Newton-Le-Willows-based music memorabilia and vinyl records specialists Omega Auctions.
The event is made possible by the generosity of the UK music community – its many artists, managers, and record companies and labels, who every year donate hundreds of lot items between them, including Universal Music UK, who lead in contributing to it, Warner Music UK, Sony Music UK, AWAL, BMG, Cherry Red Records, Domino Recordings, and others.
White Label Auction founder and organiser, Johnny Chandler, said: “Once again huge thanks must go to all our supporters across the music community – the many artists, managers and labels – for their generosity and for helping to build awareness of the WLA via their socials, all of which has enabled the event to raise many tens of thousands for The BRIT Trust, and who this year have surpassed themselves, not least with the many signed albums and the hundreds of rare and collectible recordings from some of the biggest names in music. And we are honoured to also have in its 50th anniversary year a 7” single test pressing of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ that is generating huge global interest among Queen fans and collectors alike. I hope anyone with a love of vinyl will follow the auction, and, if they can, play their part in it.”
Dan Muscatelli-Hampson, Omega Auctions Auction Manager, added: “The love of vinyl extends from casual fans to the most ardent collectors, and we are now also seeing a new generation of admirers coming through, helping the market for collectible recordings and music memorabilia to stay buoyant. This auction is the only one of its kind in the world, which Omega Auctions is proud to host. It has clearly struck a chord with artists and fans alike, and with some special gems on offer, we invite collectors from around the world to again join us to bid for these rare items.”
This year’s White Label Auction forms part of the celebrations taking around National Album Day on 18th October, which this year has ‘rock’ as its theme.