About

It has been more than 150 years since Thomas Edison invented the cylinder phonograph in the late 1870s... Up until the present day of the 2020s, many music media have been developed, supporting the music lives of people all over the world.

If the heyday of analog, starting with cylinder and SP record phonographs, records called LPs and EPs, and cassettes, is the first wave, then the second wave is the second wave of the digital boom represented by CDs/MDs that became common from the late 1980s, and MP3 data such as distribution sales and ripping. Furthermore, the third wave can be classified as the third wave of the digital dominance period, which has been centered on DL/streaming services, mainly subscription services, since the mid-2010s.

However, amidst all this, an unexpected movement is showing steady growth. This is the renewed interest in analog records that became evident after 2020. With production volume expected to increase by about 2.5 times in the four years from 2020 to 2023, this movement is not only recognized among music fans, but also worldwide as the revival of analog records = “fourth wave”.

Amid this global record boom, Japan has also seen a steady expansion in both the titles released and the number of records sold. However, due to a lack of a supply system centered on record pressing, the current situation is that users' needs cannot be fully met in terms of quality, variety, and production volume.

Therefore, Toyo Recording has reorganized its record pressing business, which it had already launched, to proactively respond to the “fourth wave” and will start anew as “FOURTH WAVE RECORD FACTORY”.

The feature of "FOURTH WAVE RECORD FACTORY" is to maintain the quality of "Made In Japan" which is highly requested from all over the world. To that end, "Mixers Lab", a group of top music engineers in Japan, directs each process related to record manufacturing. In addition, we have rebuilt a system within the company that can accept OEM manufacturing orders from both domestic and overseas. In addition to unique reissue and collaboration projects in collaboration with new external producers/selectors, we are also working on recording live recordings, and have built a system that can handle everything from planning to pressing, sales, and monetization from the perspective of artists/musicians. We will also actively participate in revitalizing the market and supporting artists.

From the record pressing order business up until now, as a "record factory" that can handle planning, cutting, pressing and sales in total, FOURTH WAVE RECORD FACTORY wants to play a part in the "fourth wave."