Wax Poetics Announces Auction of Rare Archives, Including Mariah Carey Demo

Wax Poetics, the New York–born music journal revered for its deep-dive storytelling into music and record-collecting culture, announces its most historic archival release to date: an ultra-rare early Mariah Carey demo tape sourced from legendary producer Arthur Baker’s archive. The auction has officially opened and runs through December 11th. Explore the auction and submit your bid here.

Originally launched in 2001 as one of the most revered print journals dedicated to the roots and evolution of music culture, Wax Poetics relaunched last year as a premier, editorial-driven collectibles marketplace, blending archival journalism, video features, and cultural documentation with authenticated artist-sourced ephemera and memorabilia. The platform connects iconic artists, producers, and estates directly with collectors, preserving musical heritage through historically significant items.

At the center of this drop is one of the only original demo tapes in existence, handed to Arthur on the same night Mariah Carey was discovered. Containing early, unreleased recordings that sparked the beginning of one of the most influential careers in modern pop and R&B, the tape represents a pivotal piece of music history – a life-changing recording for the legendary artist that has gained mythical status over the years.

Alongside the news, Wax Poetics and Arthur Baker share a video detailing how he unexpectedly stumbled upon a young Mariah Carey while attending a Christmas party in New York, where Carey personally handed him the demo tape featuring covers and raw, self-written songs she recorded with Brenda K. Starr. Baker took her to his studio that night, and upon hearing three tracks realized he discovered a once-in-a-generation talent.

Arthur Baker recalls, “I stick the cassette in and the first three songs are all hits and I’m thinking holy shit it’s Madonna meets Whitney. She writes like Madonna sounds like Whitney. This is it, I’ve discovered gold.” 

The auction will include the tape along with a verified certificate of authenticity, archival notes, and historical context from Baker’s collection and the Wax Poetics archive team.

“This tape is one of the most sought after items we have come across. It captures the exact moment an era-defining artist was emerging, before the world knew her name. Our mission has always been to preserve and grow music culture with care, context, and respect. This release honors one of the greatest singers and songwriters of our time by preserving a rare piece of her story .” - Alex Bruh, co-owner and CEO of Wax Poetics

This release follows highly successful auctions with Don Blackman, Bootsy Collins, Louie Vega, DāM-FunK, and Arthur Baker, marking the platform’s continued evolution into a leading curator of significant verified memorabilia and collectors  items.