Sony Music Japan will start producing its own vinyl records again in 2018, NPR reports. The company is reportedly in the process of installing record-cutting equipment and seeking the assistance of older engineers whose expertise lies in reproducing the best sound on vinyl.
The move comes as the vinyl market continues to grow worldwide. In 2016, vinyl sales made up up 3.6 percent of total global revenue, says NPR’s Andrew Flanagan. Vinyl pressing plants in Japan, the U.S. and around the world have struggled to keep up with demand.
Sony made its last in-house vinyl in 1989, ten years after releasing the original Sony Walkman portable cassette player.
