In the six decades since United Record Pressing released the Beatles’ first U.S. single, the Nashville establishment has resisted a host of new music formats, from 8-tracks and cassette tapes to CDs, Napster, iPods and now streaming services.

Today, the nation’s oldest vinyl record producer is experiencing an unexpected revival, upgrading its equipment to meet the growing demand for classic vinyl.

United Record Pressing, once focused primarily on jukebox hits, has transformed under the leadership of CEO Mark Michaels, who bought the company in 2007 as vinyl faded into obscurity.

At the time, its 38 employees were mostly producing singles for rap artists, mostly promotional tracks for clubs.

Rich Heritage

Michaels focused on stabilizing the business but never anticipated the revival that would come.

The company also has a rich heritage as the first record pressing facility in the South; including a historic apartment building that was once housed within. black artists and music executives during the breakup.

“You walk into this building and you feel 50, 60 years of history. You’re overwhelmed; it’s a big deal,” Michaels said.

Currently, United Record Pressing operates a state-of-the-art facility six times the size of the original and employs approximately 125 staff producing up to 80,000 records a day.

The resurgence of vinyl is due to a number of factors, from independent artists’ insistence on physical albums to major retailers embracing the format once again.

Why Is Vinyl Becoming Popular Again?

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, U.S. vinyl revenues are up 10 percent to $1.4 billion in 2023, marking the 17th consecutive year of growth.

Vinyl now accounts for 71 percent of revenues from non-digital music formats, and for the second time since 1987, vinyl sales have surpassed CDs.

Founded in 1949 as part of Nashville’s Bullet Records, the original pressing facility transitioned to Southern Plastics Inc. in the 1950s and focused on 7-inch singles for jukeboxes.

By the early 1960s, he was producing more than a million albums each month and even signed a contract with Motown, eventually resulting in The Beatles’ first US single, “Please Please Me”.

But as the music industry changed in the 1980s and 1990s, records became a niche market and were replaced by CDs.

Can Retro and Modern Technology Coexist?

The situation reversed again in the late 2000s, when independent artists insisted on releasing records.

By 2015, the format had regained widespread popularity, but manufacturers were struggling with outdated presses from previous years.

The pandemic has revived demand and revival further.

“Vinyl is art,” Michaels said. “Artists and fans want something tangible. Streaming is convenient, but it’s essentially sonic wallpaper.”

A mixture of retro and modern technologies coexists in the factory. The work area is filled with old audio equipment used to test master versions of records, as well as sleek new machines that produce records more quietly and efficiently.

Recycled materials are also being transformed into new records that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press.