The music’s past and present has met: vinyl records are slowly making its way back in the music industry. A small company in Czech Republic is taking advantage by making itself the biggest record manufacturer in the world.
Source: Giphy
A little-known company from a small town southwest of the Czech Capital lies GZ Media, who is on its way to become the biggest producer of vinyl records. They have extended plans to expand in North America and Asia, with deals already made among major music labels. Its plant now runs day and night to cater to the increasing demand.
A scene in GZ Media. Source: AP
A brighter future awaits GZ Media in Canada and America, having to open a new plant in the former and finalizing to acquire a majority stake in a factory in the latter.
The roots of the company, previously called Gramofonove zavody Lodenice, come way back in 1951. But after the Cold War, their sales declined because of the emergence of CDs. They hit an all-time low of about 300,000 records a year in 1990s.
Source: Vinyl Gif
However, records in 2010 made a comeback, and soon the company made an output of 18 million in 2015 and a target 25 million this year. Their production is among the biggest in the world.
Michael Sterba, the company’s director said, ““Nobody expected the vinyl records production to come back in such a strong fashion.”
