SCOTLAND’S first vinyl pressing plant, which is being built in East Lothian, has appointed a music industry veteran as it takes its first orders.
Seabass Vinyl’s factory, at Macmerry Industrial Estate, is under construction and should produce vinyl before the end of the year.
The business aims to manufacture 60,000 records each month and will scale up to output more than 120,000 records in 2024/25.
The business, owned by David and Dominique Harvey, of Dirleton, has now linked up with Ronnie Gurr, who has worked with artists such as Boy George, Simple Minds and Stereophonics.
Mr Gurr, of Dunbar, recently stepped down as chief executive of Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) and will take on the role of industry engagement advisor at Seabass Vinyl.
David and Dominique said: “We are delighted to be working with Ronnie.
“His wealth of music industry experience and, in particular, the Scottish and Irish music industries, will be invaluable in building awareness about Seabass Vinyl and supporting us as we work with artists and labels in the coming months.”
Seabass Vinyl’s ambition is to become a cornerstone of the Scottish music industry, “supporting artists and labels with an artist-centric approach to delivery”.
Already the business is a partner of the SAY (Scottish Album of the Year) Award with SMIA, and will press the first album by the Sound of Young Scotland Award winner as a prize annually.
The pair confirmed their initial desire to focus locally and work with Scottish artists, citing the financial constraints that come with working with musicians from Europe and the US.
About the pressing plant, the couple said: “We are effectively doing two things: we’re building a vinyl pressing plant and building a commercial property.
“Either one of those would be quite chunky on their own terms. It’ll definitely be worth it to have our own premises in the end because we’ll have control over the whole situation, including where we are putting equipment.”
The facility is also set to be one of the most sustainable plants in the world when it opens, with 20 per cent of electricity generated on site from solar and wind and all other energy certified as 100 per cent renewable or carbon offset by the Carbon Trust.
Mr Gurr, a former journalist and music executive who has worked in the music industry since the 1970s, said: “I’m really looking forward to moving on to work with a family-run business with artist-focused values, good governance and integrity at their core.
“Seabass Vinyl will be one of the greenest pressing plants in the world, with sustainability and efficiency built in from the start.
“These core values and principles make the company a real pioneer and a welcome new addition to Scotland’s music businesses.
“I’m delighted to have been asked to come on board to assist at the very beginning of an incredibly exciting and innovative venture.”
Mr Gurr first became involved in the music industry in the 1970s when he produced his own punk fanzine.
Then, in the 1980s, he joined Virgin Records as a press officer, where he orchestrated the launch of Boy George and Culture Club.
He also worked as an A&R director with bands such as The Blue Nile, Danny Wilson, The Big Dish, and XTC.
He added: “As a fellow resident of East Lothian, I am particularly excited that Seabass Vinyl will retain capacity to enable local artists and smaller record labels to build revenue streams for themselves through accessing small vinyl runs made via direct orders to the company.”
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