Music News / Reviews

TenderLovingKiller® said:
Sorry about the layoff. That blows.

So, did you create these coloring books? or are you enjoying coloring these as a mindfulness/stress-reducing type of activity?
Click to expand...
It was a bittersweet layoff, didn’t really care for the direction the company was headed, but liked the people and paycheck.

As for the coloring books, I created them (with an assist from AI).
 
To be fair, I'm a weirdo. For example, I know video reviews of albums have become super common, but I refuse to watch them because they take way too long to get through, so if I'm wanting reviews I read them from sites that write them. If someone shares a video of someone's 20-minute talk that looks interesting, I see if that person has written an article or book (to actually have the supported arguments and data for the points made in the shorter talk version) and read that instead...
 
Last edited:
LeSamourai said:
To be fair, I'm a weirdo. For example, I know video reviews of albums have become super common, but I refuse to watch them because they take way too long to get through, so if I'm wanting reviews I read them from sites that write them. If someone shares a video of someone's 20-minute talk that looks interesting, I see if that person has written an article or book (to actually have the supported arguments and data for the points made in the shorter talk version) and read that instead...
Click to expand...
Same, I find articles I can also take in at my own pace (which many times, means multi-tasking). Not the case with videos.
 
LeSamourai said:
I clicked, hoping NPR still included the transcripts on their website because reading so much faster than listening... but alas, it's just the audio.
Click to expand...

I just use Whisper Transcription to transcribe the audio recording and then created a summary with ChatGPT as the full transcript was too long to post.

🎙️ Summary:



The episode explores the surprising rise of GZ Media, a Czech company that has become the largest vinyl record manufacturer in the world. Hosts Darian Woods and Justin Barney discuss the history of vinyl, GZ’s evolution from a communist-era monopoly to a capitalist powerhouse, and the impact its dominance has had on smaller vinyl manufacturers in the U.S., especially following the recent vinyl resurgence during the COVID-19 pandemic.





📌 Key Points:

• Kendrick Lamar’s new album GNX is a hot vinyl seller, moving close to 100,000 copies recently.

• The global vinyl shortage is now over, largely thanks to GZ Media, based in a Czech village.

• GZ Media’s history:

• Originated as Gramophone Zavodi, a state-run music factory in communist Czechoslovakia.

• Transitioned to private ownership after the fall of communism in 1989.

• Benefited from its long-time monopoly and industrial infrastructure.

• During the 1990s, vinyl declined as cassettes and CDs took over. GZ’s output hit a low point of 400,000 records in 1993.

• Around 2005, vinyl made a comeback, especially among hipsters and collectors.

• GZ seized the moment by:

• Expanding globally, acquiring plants in Canada and the U.S. (Memphis, TN).

• Building a new facility in Nashville, close to major U.S. vinyl plants.

• Becoming the only fully vertically integrated vinyl manufacturer, producing everything in-house, making it faster and cheaper.

• This vertical integration gives GZ a huge advantage. Smaller competitors (like Piper Payne’s plant) can’t keep up due to:

• Outsourcing steps.

• Old, inefficient machinery (often purchased from GZ).

• The COVID-19 pandemic triggered another vinyl boom as people bought more music at home.

• Vinyl sales more than doubled from 2019 to 2021.

• With vinyl demand now returning to normal 7% growth, there’s overcapacity in the industry, and smaller manufacturers are struggling.

• GZ produces over 70 million records per year, dwarfing competitors like United Record Pressing (9 million/year).

• Concerns are rising about GZ’s dominance, which may lead to the collapse of smaller, independent vinyl manufacturers.
 
Melt Face Molly Drop said:
May also lead to poor quality control, which I think is already GZ's reputation
Click to expand...
Oh, I bet. That wasn't covered in the story. But they were talking about small US pressing plants expecting to go out of business within 10 years and don't see any other alternative. They can't compete with GZ when it comes to pricing and output.

Because we once again have more than enough capacity to press vinyl, the industry is moving away from who is available to who is the cheapest.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top