Ireland’s newest, and only, vinyl pressing plant is the “right fit for a country that has the breadth of talents we have”.
Officially launched in April, Anthem Vinyl, located 30 minutes from Dublin, in Clane, County Kildare, enables homegrown artists and independent and major labels access to premium and sustainable vinyl pressing once more in Ireland.
As well as offering vinyl pressing for Irish artists and those further afield, Anthem Vinyl sets itself apart from being just another vinyl plant, giving acts access to a bespoke media room to shoot content, a new smart vinyl option, and a network of independent record shops to distribute vinyl to.
We had a chat with Anthem Vinyl founder Brian Kenny about the new plant, their commitment to the environment, and the need for a vinyl pressing plant in Ireland.
“Ireland has a great music scene. It has for a long time, and I think it’s getting better.”
Anthem Vinyl’s Brian Kenny
“The diversity of music in Ireland, in the music industry in Ireland, is incredible, so I think it stands to reason that there should be a physical media plant available here in the country to them.
“And all the benefits that go with that, like being able to come into the factory, being able to shoot their content, being able to use our media room. It seems like a right fit for a country that has the breadth of talents that we have here.”
Brian says the company is aiming to build a model that helps new artists to get their name out there.
“We’re working with the network of independent stores around the country, so we’ll have access direct to them.
“But we’re also registered now with the Charts company, so we can ship finished products direct from the factory here to the end user, and that’ll count towards chart positioning as well.
“We’re kind of building a model that will kind of give artists, especially new artists, a better chance of getting their name out there on an early release.”
The diversity of music in Ireland, in the music industry in Ireland, is incredible, so I think it stands to reason that there should be a physical media plant available here in the country to them
Thanks to Ireland’s unique position within the EU and proximity to the UK, Anthem can deliver vinyl efficiently across Ireland, Britain, Europe, and the US.
“We’re relatively uniquely positioned, being in Ireland. We’ve access to the European market. We’ve good access to the UK market. And then we also have the shortest shipping time to the mainland USA, as well from Europe.”
Anthem also recycles 100 per cent of its waste PVC and is implementing processes to reuse up to 100 per cent of its in-use ‘flash’ material.
“You’re pressing plastic. It’s not an environmentally friendly product, but it can be done in an environmentally friendly way, given it’s a lifetime product. It’s not a single-use plastic.
“And so all our utilities here are from 100% renewable. We have plans to switch as much solar power as we can, and we will be reusing as much of the PVC waste back into the records as we can without affecting the quality.
“Anything else will be going into recycling. We’re trying to have it all recycled in Ireland instead of being shipped abroad.
“And down to even the shipping side of things, you know, because we’re offering fulfilment here, you’re saving one step in shipments. Most plants will ship to a distribution centre, and then from there out. And we’re trying to kind of remove that step as well.”
Anthem Vinyl is open now in Kildare. You can check them out on their website here or on Instagram via @anthemvinyl.
