Kindercore Vinyl
{{short description|Vinyl record pressing plant}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Kindercore Vinyl
| image = Logo_for_Kindercore_Vinyl.jpeg
| alt =
| caption =
| built =
| foundation = {{Unbulleted list|1996 (Record label)|2017 (Pressing plant)}}
| location = 147 Fritz-Mar Lane
Athens, Georgia, United States
| industry = Music
| products = Vinyl Records
| employees =
| owner =
| defunct =
}}
Kindercore Vinyl was a vinyl record pressing plant based in Athens, Georgia. It began as an independent record label, founded in 1996 by Ryan Lewis and Daniel Geller to help create a unified music scene of Athens.{{Cite web|date=2018-04-20|title=Athens' Kindercore Finds Second Life In Vinyl|url=https://www.wabe.org/athens-kindercore-finds-second-life-vinyl/|access-date=2020-06-12|website=90.1 FM WABE|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Harnish|first=Matt|date=July 25, 2001|title=Core Values|url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/core-values/Content?oid=2470786|access-date=2020-06-13|website=Riverfront Times|language=en}} After the dissolution of the record label, Lewis and Geller partnered with Cash Carter and Bill Fortenberry to revive Kindercore as a vinyl pressing plant. During its time in operation, Kindercore Vinyl was the only vinyl pressing plant in the state of Georgia.{{Cite web|last=Daunt|first=Lesley|date=20 September 2017|title=Kindercore Vinyl Brings Innovation and Sustainability to Record Pressing in Athens, GA|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kindercore-vinyl-brings-innovation-and-sustainability_b_59c1422ce4b082fd4205ba14|access-date=2020-08-03|website=HuffPost|language=en}} As of 2023, the plant operates as Classic City Vinyl Works under different ownership.
Record label
Kindercore Records began in the mid-1990s by musicians Lewis and Geller in response to the variety of musicians in Athens, but no unifying music culture. Early releases of the label include music by of Montreal and Kincaid (Geller's own band), singles from various Athens musicians, and bigger bands such as Japancakes.{{Cite web|title=Athens {{!}} Georgia Music Hall and Education Resources|url=https://gamusichall.com/athens/|access-date=2020-09-03|language=en-US}}
Kindercore's scope grew from a regional to national level as their records could be heard on radio stations and their bands networked with other touring bands. In 1998, the label moved to New York and joined with Emperor Norton records, creating better finances and more national exposure for Kindercore. In 2000, Kindercore moved back to Athens.
Pressing plant
The idea of creating a record pressing plant began in 2015. Cash Carter suggested reviving the label, to which Lewis refused. Carter then suggested a pressing plant. Lewis at first rebuffed the idea, but soon agreed upon further consideration. They then partnered with Geller and Bill Fortenberry to begin plans for the plant.
After struggling to find financial backing, the group found a local investor interested in their idea to use plant-based PVC for the records.{{Cite web|last=Oyer|first=Kalyn|date=April 9, 2019|title=SC musicians and vinyl shops revel in the unexpected resurgence of the record|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/charleston_scene/sc-musicians-and-vinyl-shops-revel-in-the-unexpected-resurgence-of-the-record/article_75d2a08e-5651-11e9-9292-33ec47765408.html|access-date=2020-06-15|website=Post and Courier|language=en}} With a $1,000,000 investment, the plant acquired three brand new pressing machines, each costing $200,000, created by Canadian company Viryl Technologies. The presses, named “Warm Tone”, are fully automated, contrasting with former manual pressing machines; Kindercore was among the first factories to use such machines.{{Cite web|last=Denty|first=Red|date=July 30, 2017|title=Athens group aims to make impression on record industry|url=https://www.onlineathens.com/local-news/business/2017-07-30/athens-group-aims-make-impression-record-industry|access-date=2020-06-13|website=Athens Banner-Herald|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Vodicka|first=Gabe|date=March 15, 2017|title=Kindercore Is Bringing Record Manufacturing to Athens|url=https://flagpole.com/music/music-features/2017/03/15/kindercore-is-bringing-record-manufacturing-to-athens/|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Flagpole|language=en-US}} Kindercore pressed its first record on Halloween of 2017{{Cite web|last=Gardiner|first=Sarah|date=November 1, 2018|title=Spin me right 'round: Kindercore Vinyl celebrates one year of local record manufacturing|url=https://www.redandblack.com/culture/spin-me-right-round-kindercore-vinyl-celebrates-one-year-of-local-record-manufacturing/article_50f590ae-dd62-11e8-bed7-4b9c9fd25f78.html|access-date=2020-06-12|website=The Red and Black|language=en}} and presently can press up to 3,000 records in one day.{{Cite journal|last=McCarthy|first=Rebecca|date=February 1, 2018|title=The Beat Goes On|journal=Georgia Trend Magazine|volume=33|pages=17}} In 2023 the plant was sold by Kindercore in a "friendly foreclosure" and became Classic City Vinyl Works; None of the Kindercore founders remain at the plant. The plant was acquired by Athens-based record pressing company Echo Base in March 2024{{cite web |last1=KERSH |first1=LILLY |title=The end of Kindercore Vinyl: Turmoil and change at local record pressing plant |url=https://www.redandblack.com/culture/the-end-of-kindercore-vinyl-turmoil-and-change-at-local-record-pressing-plant/article_80d2c736-d35a-11ed-ad96-3300b9a1f70a.html |website=The Red and Black |language=en |date=6 April 2023}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.kindercore.com/ Official website]
- [https://performermag.com/band-management/music-promotion/4-pro-tips-for-pressing-vinyl/ Kindercore’s Tips on Pressing Vinyl]
- [https://www.onlineathens.com/news/20180219/athens-kindercore-vinyl-making-environmentally-kinder-music Kindercore’s Environmental Process]
{{Athens, Georgia}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:American independent record labels
Category:Record labels established in 1996
Category:Companies based in Athens, Georgia
Category:1996 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:2017 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)