AFTER THE FIRE: VINYL PROS SEE DAYLIGHT

The Vinyl Alliance, a new group of industry players committed to promoting music on vinyl, are finding some bright light in the clouds following the fire at lacquer manufacturer Apollo Masters.

“There are already alternatives available,” Alliance President Günter Loibl said. “This can also be an opportunity to embrace new technologies and to strengthen collaboration within the industry.”

MDC, the remaining manufacturer of lacquers, is rationing supply to satisfy demand for as many customers as possible. The group says there are several start-ups planning to manufacture lacquers and they are expected to enter the market in the coming months.

Direct-to-Metal-Mastering and still-in-development HD Vinyl are two ways that do not require a lacquer to press records. Most DMM plants, however, are in Europe.

“This is definitely not business as usual, but there are alternatives available,” said Nike Koch, Sony Music’s Senior Manager, Product Compliance & Supply Chain.

The Banning, Calif., plant of Apollo Masters, one of only two places that produce the lacquer discs needed for pressing vinyl records, burned on 2/8.

Scott Hull, a mastering engineer in New York, said, “For the time being we have to be more careful with how we use lacquers, but I doubt that the consumer will feel the shortage before our industry will come up with a solution."

A story on Discogs headlined “Why the Fire at Apollo Masters Plant Doesn’t Mean Vinylgeddon Is Upon Us” points out that the majority of vinyl is pressed outside the U.S., and those plants use processes that don't require lacquers.

“This means that the territories where the majority of vinyl is already being produced will be largely unaffected,” an unnamed executive said. “Yes, there will be a ripple effect as U.S. businesses adjust to where their boat will rise. Will those plants and mastering houses positioned to supply lacquer cuts via MDC or DMM gain marketshare in the short-term, you bet. Will that last? Only time will tell that tale.”