Photo: Andreas Kohl, Conference Director, Making Vinyl Europe / Key Production EU, Jason Bitner, Trafic Entertainment, Carol Kavanagh, Cargo Records, Manual Amian, Cargo Records, Anouk Rijnders, Record Industry, Artone Studio & Haarlem Vinyl Festival, Dustin Blocker, Hand Drawn Pressing
Three days in Haarlem connected manufacturing, music, and retail, welcomed new participants, and introduced plans for international expansion and Making Vinyl’s 10th anniversary.
Orlando, Florida / Braunschweig, Germany — October 2026 — Making Vinyl Europe returned to PHIL Haarlem from September 30 through October 2, bringing together the people behind vinyl records for three days of knowledge sharing, business connections and conversations about the future of physical music.
Pressing plants, record labels, mastering and cutting engineers, equipment manufacturers, materials and packaging suppliers, distributors and retailers joined students and emerging professionals for a program spanning the technical, creative and commercial sides of the industry.
The gathering also provided the setting for announcements about Making Vinyl’s next chapter: planned events in Tokyo and Mexico City, the first-ever Record Store Day Camp Europe, a new online Marketplace and the organization’s 10th anniversary in 2027.
Familiar Faces, New Connections
Ticket sales increased by approximately 55% compared with the previous edition. Based on initial estimates, more than 100 people attended Making Vinyl for the first time, reflecting a broader mix of participants from record labels, distribution, and other areas of the music business, as well as students exploring careers in physical music. That mix created opportunities to reconnect with established partners while introducing new perspectives to discussions on manufacturing, releases, retail and the listening experience.
“What excited me most wasn’t just the number of people—it was the mix,” said Andreas Kohl, Conference Director of Making Vinyl Europe. “That combination of experience, fresh perspectives, and genuine passion is exactly what Making Vinyl is about.”
From Technical Expertise to Practical Business Conversations
The 2026 program explored the decisions and processes behind every record, from mastering and cutting to materials, manufacturing, packaging, distribution and retail.
Sessions covered half-speed mastering, release logistics, environmental claims, recycling and vinyl culture, combining specialist knowledge with broader discussions about how the industry can improve quality, work more efficiently and create lasting value.
Panels, workshops and open discussions gave participants opportunities to exchange experiences, ask questions and compare approaches across different parts of the business. B2B matchmaking and informal networking extended those conversations beyond the stage.
Record Industry’s plant tours added a firsthand view of manufacturing, connecting conference discussions with the work of producing records.
Opening Doors to the Next Generation
A highlight was Hey Next Generation – Hey You!, developed in partnership with Abbey Road Institute Amsterdam and hosted by Dustin Blocker and Frederic Stader.
The sessions brought students and emerging professionals together with established industry figures to explore the skills, experiences and career opportunities behind physical music. Career Fair tables provided further opportunities to meet companies, ask practical questions and discuss potential pathways into the industry.
The initiative reflected an important part of Making Vinyl’s mission: helping a new generation discover the range of careers behind a record, from mastering and production to engineering, quality control, logistics and sustainability.
A Conference Connected to Its Host City
Networking remained central to the Haarlem experience. The pre-conference Welcome Reception, supported by Key Production, helped set the tone, while B2B matchmaking and informal conversations throughout the event gave attendees time to build relationships beyond scheduled sessions.
Andreas Kohl and Ruben Planting, Assistant Program Manager, worked alongside Studio Krause and the wider event team to keep the program running smoothly and create a welcoming environment.
When Making Vinyl concluded on October 2, the Haarlem Vinyl Festival carried the week forward into music venues, cultural spaces and the record fair on the Grote Markt.
For international visitors, the connection between the two events offered an opportunity to move from discussions about the business of vinyl to experiencing the music, record stores and community that give it purpose.
Looking Ahead: Ten Years and New Destinations
In his opening address, Bryan Ekus, President of Making Vinyl, outlined plans that will extend the organization’s reach and create new opportunities for the industry to connect.
Making Vinyl turns 10 in 2027. Founded in 2017, the organization will mark a decade of bringing together businesses and professionals across the vinyl supply chain.
Making Vinyl Europe returns to Haarlem September 29–October 1, 2027, once again ahead of the Haarlem Vinyl Festival.
The week will begin with a significant addition: the first-ever Record Store Day Camp Europe, planned for September 27–28, 2027, in partnership with Record Store Day Europe. Building on the U.S. Summer Camp concept, the event will bring independent retail into closer conversation with labels, distributors and manufacturers.
Together, the camp, conference and festival will make Haarlem an extended destination for both the vinyl industry and the wider music community.
Beyond Europe, Making Vinyl Asia is planned for Tokyo, Japan, in 2027, followed by Making Vinyl Mexico City in 2028. Further details about these events will be announced as planning progresses.
Staying Connected Between Events
Making Vinyl also introduced two ways for the industry to stay connected throughout the year.
Making Vinyl Magazine has expanded from 500 to 5,000 copies per edition, supported by new distribution partners and direct online ordering. The latest edition was distributed at the conference and remains available.
The magazine continues its commitment to print, offering readers a physical publication dedicated to the people, ideas and businesses behind vinyl. Copies are available without a cover charge, with postage and a small handling fee applying to online orders. Learn more: makingvinyl.com/making-vinyl-magazine
The newly launched Making Vinyl Marketplace provides a dedicated space for businesses to list and discover new and used equipment, parts, materials and professional services across the vinyl supply chain. Additional categories and listings are on the way.
Explore the Marketplace: marketplace.makingvinyl.com
Thank You to the People Behind the Event
Making Vinyl Europe thanks its speakers, attendees, sponsors and partners for contributing their expertise, time and support.
Special recognition goes to Key Production for sponsoring the pre-conference Meet & Greet; Record Industry for opening its doors for plant tours; and GZ Media for its contribution to producing Making Vinyl Magazine.
The organizers also thank the Haarlem Vinyl Festival for its close collaboration and PHIL Haarlem for its venue, flexibility and dedicated team.
Studio Krause, Making Vinyl’s European organizing partner since 2019, once again worked closely with the conference team and local partners to bring the event to life.
About Making Vinyl
Founded in 2017, Making Vinyl is a B2B conference series and industry platform dedicated to the business of vinyl records and physical music. Making Vinyl connects the entire vinyl value chain—including pressing plants, record labels, mastering and cutting engineers, equipment manufacturers, materials and packaging suppliers, distributors, retailers and other industry leaders—to exchange knowledge, develop business relationships and help shape the future of physical music.
Making Vinyl events are held annually in Europe and the United States with plans to expand to Tokyo, Japan, and Mexico City, Mexico.
Learn more: www.makingvinyl.com
Media Contact: Bryan Ekus | [email protected] | +1 407 733 1901
About Studio Krause
Studio Krause GmbH & Co. KG is the organizing partner for Making Vinyl Europe. Based in Germany, the agency specializes in sustainable communications and marketing strategy across industries. Since 2019, Studio Krause has partnered with Making Vinyl to bring the European editions to life – previously in Berlin, Offenbach, and Haarlem.
Learn more. www.studiokrause.eu
Contact: Andrej Krause, [email protected] | +49 172 833 2225
