Metallica is entering the vinyl production business with the purchase of Furnace Record Pressing. The move comes after the foundational heavy metal group pressed over 900,000 pieces of vinyl in 2022.
In the face of ever-present supply chain issues and what Furnace called “massive demand” for Metallica vinyl, the band has seized the means of production by acquiring the independent Alexandria, VA facility. The band has a history with Furnace dating back to 2014, during which time the plant has pressed over five million pieces of Metallica vinyl.
Though Metallica hasn’t released a new album since 2016’s Hardwired…To Self-Destruct, the band has continued to deliver box sets like the recent “Black Album” reissue featuring the original double LP, three live LPs, 14 CDs, and 6 DVDs. Metallica has a new album, 72 Seasons, due out next month which Furnace has been pressing since January.
“We couldn’t be more happy to take our partnership with Furnace” and its founders “to the next level,” Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich said, with singer/guitarist James Hetfield adding, “Furnace has been great to Metallica and more importantly to our fans. This deepened relationship between Metallica and Furnace ensures that fans of vinyl everywhere, particularly our Fifth Members, will have continued access to high quality records in the future.”
Those fans have made Metallica one of the best-selling vinyl acts in the U.S. Last year, the band sold 387,000 albums domestically, ranking #6 in the country according to Luminate. Typically, the U.S. accounts for roughly half of the band’s worldwide album sales.
Metallica’s plant purchase drew praise from fellow musician-turned-presser Jack White. The White Stripes co-founder launched his own Third Man Records in 2001 and in the wake of COVID-induced supply chain issues–also the title of his current solo tour—urged record labels to invest in their own pressing operations to meet historic demand for vinyl.
“Huge congratulations to the boys in Metallica for purchasing their own vinyl record pressing plant,” White wrote on Instagram. “Metallica announced it bought the Furnace record pressing plant in Virginia today! Welcome to the cause gents! And thank you for putting your money to amazing creative use! Here’s hoping the major labels will also see this as further proof, and finally start investing in themselves. Outstanding.”
View this post on Instagram
The post Metallica Bought Its Own Vinyl Pressing Plant To Meet “Massive” Demand appeared first on L4LM.
