Know those records that you insert into a vinyl record player? Basically those, but pirated since a real one costs money when you purchase them at official music retailers. It involves the process of obtaining a legal copy then using wax molds (to recreate a record) and specialized tools (prevent quality loss) duplicating the record. (Also, “Bone Music” existed in the Soviet Union by printing music by using x-ray films).
Most people I know bought records, but used reel-to-reel to copy them.
Later it was cassettes to copy them.
Never saw anyone try to copy the physical record itself.
If you don’t know what it feels like to try and save your prized In Utero cassette with a cheap BIC pen after it had been chewed up by your buddy’s car player, have you even lived?