Vinyl Alliance Is Formed

Image Credit: Vinyl Alliance

After being almost devastated by the plastic CD and more recently digital downloads, vinyl, after almost 15 years, is now on the road to recovery as it continues year in, year out to make excellent gains in the market place.

At some point around 2007, vinyl started making a comeback, and while vinyl records account for less than 6% of current music sales, its popularity in some regions is approaching that of the late 80s. Just recently, it was projected that vinyl sales will surpass CD sales in the U.S. in the near future.

Vinyl Alliance is a new group founded by Bryan Ekus, the founder of Making Vinyl, it includes many high profile companies and individuals. It was formed back in 2019 to help strengthen the position of vinyl records in this new digital world and promote vinyl as a premium consumer experience in an era of ever increasing digital streaming. It is composed of manufacturers, dealers, record companies and other interested parties and has just announced that it’s just appointed an executive board to include:

• President Günter Loibl, Rebeat Innovation GmbH
• Vice President Michael Hosp, kdg mediatech GmbH
• Treasurer Thomas Neuroth, Rebeat Innovation GmbH
• Secretary Mickie Steier, Masterdisk USA
• Board Member Nike Koch, Sony Music Entertainment
• Board Member Kurt Van Scoy, Audio-Technica
• Board Member Leif Johannsen

Also appointed was Bryan Ekus to serve as Vinyl Alliance’s first Managing Director.

The aim of the alliance is to revamp the past and to promote vinyl as the modern way to consume music. Did something change?

The group also has a strong selection of founding high ranking companies to include:

• GZ Media – Vinyl pressing
• KDG Mediatech – Vinyl pressing
• Making Vinyl – Facilitator
• Masterdisk – Mastering Studio
• MPO Group – Vinyl Pressing
• Ortofon – Hardware
• Pro-Ject Audio Systems – Hardware
• Sony Music Entertainment – Hardware, Recording, Pressing
• Universal Music Group – Recording, Pressing
• Audio-Technica – Hardware
• Rebeat Innovation – the company behind the next-generation ‘HD Vinyl’ concept.
• The Analogue Foundation – Lifestyle
• Vinylize – Lifestyle
• CAF srl – Pressing compounds

Membership is now available to all organizations, companies, and individuals who want to turn up the volume and promote vinyl records as the perfect choice for music lovers of all ages.

As a golden oldie that grew up in the age of vinyl, watched the transition to the plastic CD and now digital downloads it warms my heart to see these emerging groups and organizations who’s prime focus is promote vinyl and keep pushing the boundaries so that the generations to come will have the pleasure, happy memories and listening euphoria that the vinyl album brings.

The question is, do you remember the first vinyl album you bought or do you remember your first digital download? That is an easy one to answer for many.