VHS promo tapes are supplied by record companies to radio and
television stations, and sometimes to record stores, for
promotional purposes and are not for sale.
Why use VHS
tapes?
VHS tapes were used to promote forthcoming releases, in many
cases singles (music videos). But in some cases they were also
used as trailers (Like the WTLO trailer).
Are they
rare?
It seems that all forms of video promos are in some way or
another rare. Since they are only given away to media, and
record stores. And that they tend not to pop up on auction sites
like Ebay too often.
So far I have got over 40 VHS promo tapes, and many of them I
have only seen once on Ebay.
A new
format.
In the later years the VHS promos has been replaced by DVD-R
promos, as the dvd has a much better sound and picture quality.
The latest Nirvana VHS promos I have found is the In Bloom (Sub
Pop version) made by
Ascent
Media Polydor. and a vhs
trailer for the With The Lights Out box set called "
ALTERNAVISION #124".
Both of these video tapes were made in 2004.