Vinyl records fight digital death Vinyl record sales are actually up but heyday is obviously past
(By Michael Cooney)
GZ Media located in the central area of the Czech Republic, has been in the vinyl record business for 61 years and says it is now the world's biggest vinyl record producer, working for industry giants like Sony Music and Universal Records.
Vinyl sales continue to resist the threat posed to them by digital music. In fact Nielsen SoundScan says nearly 3 million vinyl LPs have been sold in the U.S. in 2013.
While that number is less than 2% of any albums sold this year, the number is actually on the rise. Still, in the age of smartphones and iPods, they are a niche.
A very cool niche. Here Reuters took a look at GZ Media.
Employee controls the matrix as it is used to carve on a copper master record during the creation of vinyl records at the GZ Media factory.
Technicians maintain press machines used for the creation of vinyl records at the GZ.
With 7 million records made in 2012 and an expected 10 million this year, GZ Media says it is the world's biggest vinyl record producer, making records for Universal Music Group, Sony Music and now beginning to cooperate with Warner Music.
An employee carves information onto a master record before pressing as part of the creation process for vinyl records.
A worker at a press machine as part of the creation process for vinyl records at the GZ Media factory.
Another new record comes off the press machine.
An employee removes master record and a matrix copy from galvanization as part of the creation process for vinyl records.
An employee controls the matrix during its carving on copper master record as part of the vinyl records creation process.
An employees takes a break in front of the GZ Media factory in Lodenice.
http://www.networkworld.com/
(NETWORK WORLD, 9 Wednesday October 2013 The Roman)
(Photo DPA/AFP - Bodo Marks)[/caption]
