The Castle Awards: Celebrating the Winners of 2025
The Castle Awards: Celebrating the Winners of 2025
Music lovers hold the true power when it comes to defining a great record. We launched the inaugural Castle Awards to find out exactly what the Vinyl Castle community has been spinning this year. Over 10,000 dedicated record collectors cast their votes across multiple categories. The results are finally in, and they paint a beautiful picture of our shared passion for physical music.
The Power of the People
Industry critics do not decide these awards. You do. Asking our community to choose the winners means we get a true reflection of what actually matters to music fans. Record collecting thrives on shared excitement, passionate debates, and discovering new sounds.
Your votes proved that our members have incredibly diverse and exciting tastes. You do not stick to a single sound or era. You respect the rich history of music just as much as you champion bold new artists breaking through the noise.
A Monumental Year for Yungblud
One artist completely dominated the conversation this year. Yungblud took home the massive Artist of the Year award, alongside securing Best Rock/Pop Release for his explosive album Idols.
He won these categories because he built a profound, honest connection with his fans. He delivers raw energy and unfiltered lyrics that resonate deeply with listeners. Pressing play on his records provides a heavy, physical experience that perfectly suits the vinyl format. He captured the mood of 2025 perfectly, and our community rewarded him for his authenticity.
Celebrating Soulful Brilliance
The Castle Awards also highlighted the absolute best in modern soul and rhythm. Coco Jones claimed the top spot for Best R&B/Rap Album with her stunning release, Why Not More?.
Her rich vocals and deeply personal storytelling struck a major chord with voters. She brings classic vocal techniques into the modern era with flawless production. Dropping the needle on her album fills the room with warmth, proving that our community deeply values emotional vulnerability and pristine audio quality.
Respecting Heavy Metal Legends
While we celebrate the new, we never forget the foundations of our record collections. Black Sabbath took the crown for Most Iconic Reissue with their heavy metal blueprint, Paranoid.
Over fifty years after its original release, this monumental record still commands massive respect. You voted for this heavy, untamed classic because it demands to be played loud. The thick sound of the vinyl pressing preserves the grit that made the band famous. It shows that true musical greatness never ages.
Discover the Defining Records of 2025
We want to send a huge thank you to every single person who voted in the Castle Awards. You made this celebration of music a massive success.
These winning records belong in every serious collection. Head over to the Vinyl Castle store today to browse the award winning albums. Drop the needle on a fresh record and celebrate the artists that defined 2025.
