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Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Metallica Purchases Local Record Pressing Company

Popular 1980s rock band Metallica acquired a majority stake in Furnace Record Pressing (Furnace), a record pressing plant in Alexandria, Va., on March 14. 

Furnace and Metallica have previously collaborated on several vinyl projects, including the creation of deluxe box set editions for Metallica’s most popular albums. Metallica’s success in these projects and Furnace’s ability to sustain the demands of the growing vinyl record market were driving factors in the new partnership, according to a March 14 Furnace press release.

Lars Ulrich, the co-founder of Metallica, said he is excited to partner with Furnace because of its commitment to high-quality pressing.

“We couldn’t be more happy to take our partnership with Furnace — and Eric, Ali and Mark specifically — to the next level,” Ulrich said in the press release. 

As one of the largest record pressing companies in the United States, Furnace produces over 25,000 records a day. Its 70,000 square-foot facility in Alexandria houses 14 presses and manufactures standard and heavyweight pressings, color vinyl, custom vinyl etching and special effect color vinyl.

In recent years, manufacturers have struggled to keep up with the growing demand for vinyl records; yearly vinyl album sales have increased consistently over the past 17 years. Consumers bought 43.46 million vinyl albums in 2022, a 4.2% increase from the previous year. Metallica sold over 900,000 vinyl records in 2022, with roughly half of those sales coming from the United States, according to Billboard magazine.

As such, Eric Astor, the founder and CEO of Furnace, said partnering with Metallica will provide Furnace with the opportunity for stability and future growth. 

“Building Furnace into the dedicated and experienced family of experts that it is today has been a huge effort, but immensely gratifying,” Astor said in the March 14 press release. “Knowing our long-term future is secured while also being better able to take advantage of growth opportunities is really exciting for every member of the Furnace staff.”

Ali Miller, Furnace’s chief operating officer, said the partnership also enables the company to maintain its customer-first approach.

“We have found ideal partners in Metallica,” Miller said in the March 14 press release. “They want us to continue our customer driven focus. To that end we look forward to providing even greater capacity and service to each of our customers in the future.”

James Hetfield, the co-founder of Metallica, said the relationship that Furnace has with Metallica fans and vinyl consumers is admirable.

“Furnace has been great to Metallica and more importantly to our fans,” Hetfield said in the March 14 press release. “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.”

Metallica plans to produce vinyls with Furnace for its new album, “72 Seasons,” which will be released April 14. The over 77-minute album, which delves into how childhood shapes people’s future selves, features 12 tracks. The album will be produced on black vinyl and two colored vinyl variations, according to a Nov. 28 press release.

Furnace Record Pressing | Popular ‘80s rock band Metallica purchased majority stake in a local record pressing plant in Northern Va.

Astor said the partnership with Metallica will not change Furnace’s commitment to supporting and producing indie records.

“Furnace is not turning into a Metallica only pressing plant,” Astor wrote to The Hoya. “Far from it. Our shared objective is to provide even more capacity to indie labels and bands, not less.”

Furnace leadership will remain in place and will continue to be equity owners of the company and members of the company’s board of directors, according to the press release. Astor said in the press release that the partnership will create some surface-level changes, but overall, Furnace will remain the same. 

“While the ownership structure is changing, under the hood, everything stays the same: the same people, same spirit, same culture and the same never-ending quest to perfect our craft,” Astor said.

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