Erika Records
Erika Records is a family-owned, female-founded U.S. vinyl record manufacturer in Buena Park, California, producing custom pressings — including picture discs, shaped records, and specialty colors — for artists, record labels, and entertainment brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersBuena Park, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Erika Records does
Erika Records Inc. is a family-owned vinyl record manufacturing company headquartered in a 36,000-square-foot facility in Buena Park, California. Founded in 1981 by Liz Dunster and described as the only female-owned record pressing plant in the United States, the company operates as a vertically integrated specialty manufacturer, performing lacquer mastering, metal processing, pressing, and packaging entirely in-house. Its core technical platform centers on Neumann SAL74B/MS70 cutting systems, Japanese-made MDC lacquers cut with sapphire styli, Aurora Lynx 24/192 kHz converters, and five Winkler & Dünnebier jacket machines. Mastery of lacquer cutting is anchored by Richard Simpson, whose four decades of experience at RCA Records and work with artists such as The Monkees, Lou Reed, and David Bowie is a defining human-capital asset.
The company's product portfolio spans standard black vinyl (12-inch LPs and 7-inch records), solid and multi-color vinyl, splatter and marble variants, glow-in-the-dark and transparent pressings, picture discs, shaped (die-cut) records, laser-etched records, odd-size formats from 2 inches upward, and gold/platinum award records. Supporting services include metal processing (plating and stamper creation), custom record labels, and packaging (jackets, gatefolds, sleeves, inserts, shrink wrap). Production runs range from a 100-unit minimum order to over 10,000 units, with promotional pricing available for colored vinyl at black-vinyl prices on 500-unit minimum orders.
Erika Records generates revenue through one-time project fees priced per unit, supplemented by professional services such as lacquer mastering, metal processing, and packaging. The go-to-market is sales-led and quote-based, conducted through an e-commerce website with a project configurator, supported by Instagram, email newsletters, and industry referrals. The customer base spans three primary segments: music artists and bands (indie through major acts such as Tool, Linkin Park, The Used, and HorrorPops), record labels including Disney, Sony Music, and Universal Music Group, and entertainment brands seeking collectible and promotional vinyl. Lead times of 2.5–4 months from quote to delivery are standard, with rush options available.
Erika Records firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Erika Records
- Legal name
- Erika Records Inc.
- Website
- https://erikarecords.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Erika Records is a family-owned, female-founded U.S. vinyl record manufacturer in Buena Park, California, producing custom pressings — including picture discs, shaped records, and specialty colors — for artists, record labels, and entertainment brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Erika Records industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vinyl Record Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media (33461), Record Production and Distribution (51225)
- SIC
- Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Physical Recorded Music Manufacturing (Vinyl/CD/Cassette) (MPAIAAAE)
Keywords
Where Erika Records is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buena Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Erika Records business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Vinyl Record Manufacturing: One-time production fees for custom vinyl records with per-unit pricing based on quantity, vinyl style, and packaging options. Revenue generated from pressing records for artists, labels, and brands.
- Professional Services: Lacquer mastering, metal processing, packaging, and finishing services offered as add-ons to the core vinyl pressing service.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 12-inch LP Records - Standard Black Vinyl (Special) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 7-inch Records - Standard Black Vinyl (Special) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Minimum Order |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Drop Shipping |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Double Boxing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Erika Records product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Erika Records manufactures custom vinyl records on demand for artists, record labels, and brands, producing formats including classic black, colored, splatter, marble, glow-in-the-dark, picture disc, shaped, laser-etched, transparent, and odd-size records. The full production chain — lacquer mastering, metal processing, pressing, and packaging — is performed in-house at its 36,000-square-foot Buena Park, California facility, with order minimums starting at 100 units and capacity for runs exceeding 10,000 units.
Product overview
Erika Records operates as a vinyl record manufacturing plant offering an integrated suite of pressing services. The core offering centers on custom vinyl record pressing with multiple formats (standard round, shaped, picture disc) and color options (solid, splatter, marble, glow-in-the-dark, transparent). These core pressing services are supported by ancillary offerings including lacquer mastering (for audio optimization), vinyl record metal processing (lacquer cutting, plating, stamper creation), custom record labels, laser etching, and vinyl packaging (jackets, sleeves, inserts, wraps). The company also produces specialty award vinyls in gold and platinum finishes. All production is performed in-house at their Southern California facility, with a minimum order of 100 units.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vinyl Record Pressing Services Custom vinyl record manufacturing offering multiple vinyl types, sizes from 2" to 12", weights (Standard 140g, Heavyweight 180g), and playback speeds (33⅓ RPM, 45 RPM), with a 100-unit minimum order, for artists, record labels, and brands.
- Lacquer Mastering Professional vinyl mastering service optimized for vinyl playback, using Japanese-made MDC lacquers and sapphire cutting styli for warmer low-end and more natural highs, performed on a SAL74B/MS70 Neumann cutting system with Aurora Lynx 24/192 kHz converters and Peak Pro XL audio software.
- Vinyl Record Metal Processing Lacquer cutting, plating, and stamper creation service for vinyl record production, performed in-house.
- Shaped Vinyl Records Custom die-cut vinyl records pressed into non-standard silhouettes including stars, logos, hearts, flames, and custom shapes, combinable with picture disc technology.
- Vinyl Picture Records Full-color images embedded into the vinyl surface, creating playable records that display custom artwork as the centerpiece.
- Vinyl Record Packaging Custom album jackets, gatefold jackets, tip-on jackets, window jackets, disco jackets, box sets, inner sleeves, inserts, labels, and outer wrap finishes (shrink wrap, polybags) fabricated in-house.
- Custom Color Vinyl Records Custom colored vinyl records including solid colors, 2-color blend/haze, 3-color blend, marble/swirl, glow-in-the-dark, and transparent options.
- Splatter Vinyl Records Color vinyl fragments sprinkled onto a base vinyl color, pressed together to create bold, random bursts of color, with each record being completely unique.
- Laser Etched Vinyl Custom artwork etched directly onto the non-audio side of the vinyl record.
- Stock Transparent Vinyl Records Ready-to-go clear, tinted, or smoky vinyl options available from inventory.
- Odd Size Records Vinyl records pressed in non-standard diameters starting at 2 inches.
- Gold & Platinum Award Vinyl Records High-quality, professional-grade award vinyls with mirror-like finish available in gold, silver (platinum), and black; offered as display records, adhesive-backed options, or framed sets.
Companies that use Erika Records
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Erika Records technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Erika Records partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Erika Records competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- GZ Media: Czech Republic-based global vinyl pressing leader and the world's largest pressing plant. Competes with Erika for label business primarily on price and capacity, and represents the low-cost incumbent against which Erika's U.S.-made, specialty-forma
Direct peers
- Pirates Press: San Francisco-based pressing plant offering vinyl pressing, lacquer mastering, and packaging. A direct West Coast competitor to Erika Records with similar specialty format capabilities (color, picture disc) and B2B sales motion.
- Archer Record Pressing: Detroit-based vinyl pressing plant launched to address U.S. capacity shortages. Directly comparable as a domestic competitor offering custom vinyl pressing with similar turnaround (multi-month) and customer profile of indie and mid-market labels.
- Furnace Record Pressing: Fairfax, Virginia-based vinyl pressing plant offering custom pressing, lacquer mastering, and packaging. Directly comparable in service mix, scale, and customer base (labels and artists seeking specialty and standard vinyl).
- United Record Pressing: Largest independent vinyl pressing plant in the U.S., based in Nashville. Directly comparable to Erika Records as a full-service vinyl pressing operation serving artists, indie labels, and major labels with similar lacquer mastering, pressing, and packaging workflows.
- Third Man Records Pressing: Detroit-based vinyl pressing plant owned by Jack White / Third Man Records. Operates the same end-to-end vinyl manufacturing model (mastering, plating, pressing) and competes for the same label and artist customer base.
- Gold Rush Vinyl: Austin, Texas-based vinyl pressing plant serving independent labels and artists. Comparable to Erika as a U.S.-based, quote-driven, custom vinyl manufacturer with similar minimum order thresholds and specialty format capabilities.
- Cascade Record Pressing: Portland-based vinyl pressing plant serving a similar Pacific/West Coast customer base. Directly comparable to Erika as a regional U.S. independent pressing plant with custom orders for artists and labels.
Emerging players
- Leesta Val Sound Recordings: Brooklyn-based vinyl pressing plant serving independent artists and small labels. Comparable to Erika as a smaller, customer-focused pressing operation with similar specialty vinyl offerings, though smaller in scale and brand recognition.
Regional players
- Disques TMS: European vinyl pressing plant operating similarly to Erika but primarily serving European labels and artists. Comparable in service mix but a regional competitor rather than direct head-to-head in the U.S. market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Erika Records social profiles
Digital presenceErika Records financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Erika Records leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Erika Records funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Erika Records M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Erika Records
What does Erika Records do?
Erika Records manufactures custom vinyl records on demand for artists, record labels, and brands, producing formats including classic black, colored, splatter, marble, glow-in-the-dark, picture disc, shaped, laser-etched, transparent, and odd-size records. The full production chain — lacquer mastering, metal processing, pressing, and packaging — is performed in-house at its 36,000-square-foot Buena Park, California facility, with order minimums starting at 100 units and capacity for runs exceeding 10,000 units.
Is Erika Records a public or private company?
Erika Records is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Erika Records founded?
Erika Records was founded in 1981. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Erika Records based?
Erika Records is headquartered in Buena Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does Erika Records make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Vinyl Record Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are professional Services.
Who are Erika Records's main competitors?
GZ Media is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Pirates Press, Archer Record Pressing, Furnace Record Pressing, United Record Pressing, Third Man Records Pressing, Gold Rush Vinyl and Cascade Record Pressing. Leesta Val Sound Recordings is listed as an emerging player. Disques TMS is listed as a regional player.
Does Erika Records have an API?
No public API is recorded for Erika Records.
What industry is Erika Records in?
Erika Records's product category is Vinyl Record Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAAAE, Physical Recorded Music Manufacturing (Vinyl/CD/Cassette). Its NAICS code is 33461 and its SIC code is 3652.