What Gotta Groove Records does

Gotta Groove Records is a privately held vinyl record pressing plant and full-service vinyl manufacturing provider headquartered at 3615 Superior Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, with a second operations facility in Columbus. Founded in 2008 by CEO Matt Earley, the company presses 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl records in 140g and 180g weights for a customer base that spans independent labels (Sub Pop, Daptone, Colemine, Ruf, Partisan) and major-label catalog projects (Willie Nelson via Craft Recordings, Johnny Cash via Intervention Records, Fela Kuti reissues). Core technical capabilities include in-house lacquer cutting and DMM mastering (approximately 90% of records are cut internally), plating through The Electromastering Lab (which also produces stampers for dozens of other pressing plants worldwide), and pressing with custom printed packaging and quality control. Specialty product lines include 350-gram Advanced Audiophile pressings developed with NASA engineers, InkSplosion color variants, and the Wax Mage Productions sub-brand for limited and experimental releases (Collabs, Exclusives, and 25-copy worldwide Editions).

The revenue model is built around quote-based B2B vinyl pressing contracts supplemented by per-unit and per-SKU D2C fulfillment fees (with disclosed rates of $3.75/unit domestic and $5.95/unit international plus a $150/SKU setup fee and $25/box/month warehousing), mastering services priced at $40-75 per track, and consignment-based international distribution through NARM/EDIx12/EDIFACT data exchanges. In August 2025, Gotta Groove Records announced a strategic partnership with Sonopress to distribute EcoRecord (injection-molded PET sustainable LPs) to U.S. customers, opening a sustainability-focused product vertical. Go-to-market is sales-led with direct outreach, website order forms, an active blog featuring recent pressings, Instagram and Facebook presence, Record Store Day participation, and a referral network for adjacent services (cassettes, CDs, merch). The company employs 11-50 people, has operated continuously for over 16 years, and discloses no venture capital or private equity backing.

Name

Gotta Groove Records

Legal name

Gotta Groove Records, Inc.

Website

https://gottagrooverecords.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gotta Groove Records is a Cleveland-based vinyl record pressing plant serving independent and major labels with in-house mastering, plating, pressing, color and audiophile variants, D2C fulfillment, and EcoRecord distribution via Sonopress.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Vinyl Record Pressing Manufacturing: Core business of pressing vinyl records for independent labels, musicians, and artists. Services include professional mastering and cutting, high quality plating and pressing, quality control, custom printed packaging, and distribution/fulfillment consulting.
2. D2C Fulfillment Services: Integrated direct-to-consumer fulfillment services for vinyl records pressed by GGR, including international distribution through flat file transfer, EDI, API, CSV, and automated fulfillment through Shopify and Bandcamp. Goods sold on consignment basis.
3. Mastering Services: In-house mastering services offered at $40-75 per track for remastering. Also offers test cuts and reference lacquers for quality verification.
4. EcoRecord Distribution: Distribution of Sonopress EcoRecords (injection-molded PET sustainable LP records) to US customers through partnership with Gotta Groove Records

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Gotta Groove Records is a Cleveland, Ohio-based vinyl record pressing plant that manufactures 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl records (140g and 180g) with custom color options for independent labels, musicians, and major labels. The company offers a full-service workflow including professional mastering and lacquer cutting, high quality plating via The Electromastering Lab, custom printed packaging, and integrated D2C fulfillment services through Shopify and Bandcamp.

Product overview

Gotta Groove Records operates as a vinyl record pressing plant and full-service vinyl manufacturing provider based in Cleveland, Ohio. The core offering is vinyl record pressing (7-inch and 12-inch in 140g/180g weights), supplemented by the EcoRecord PET injection-molded alternative through a Sonopress partnership. The company also operates Wax Mage Productions as a sub-brand for limited edition experimental pressings. Ancillary services include in-house lacquer cutting and mastering (The Electromastering Lab), D2C fulfillment with Shopify/Bandcamp integration, international distribution via EDI data exchanges, color vinyl options including InkSplosion, and a network of referral partners for cassettes, CDs, and merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wax Mage Productions: A record label run by Heath Gmucs, Tyren Craemer, and Gotta Groove Records, specializing in hand-picked new exclusive recordings and reissues that push the limits of the phonograph record format from both an audio and visual perspective. Operates through three channels: Wax Mage Collabs, Wax Mage Exclusives, and Wax Mage Editions.
• The Electromastering Lab

Products and services

• Vinyl Record Pressing Professional vinyl record pressing service producing 7-inch and 12-inch records in various weights (140g, 180g) and color options for independent labels, musicians, and major labels. Includes mastering, cutting, plating, pressing, and custom printed packaging.
• EcoRecord (PET Injection-Molded Records) Environmentally friendly LP record alternative manufactured using injection-molded PET instead of traditional vinyl. Offered through exclusive partnership with Sonopress and available as an online ordering option for US customers.
• Vinyl Mastering and Lacquer Cutting In-house lacquer cutting and mastering services through The Electromastering Lab. Provides test cuts, dub plates, and reference lacquers for quality verification, with approximately 90% of records mastered and cut in-house at $40-75 per track.
• D2C Fulfillment Services Integrated direct-to-consumer fulfillment services for vinyl records pressed by GGR, with $150 per-SKU setup fee and per-unit transaction fees for domestic and international shipping. Integrates with Shopify and Bandcamp, and supports single-wave shipping for consumer pre-orders with balance shipped to designated addresses.
• International Distribution Services International distribution for select vinyl releases on a consignment basis with net proceeds payout 6 months after release date. Uses NARM, EDIx12, EDIFACT, and other flat file data exchanges for wholesale and retail availability worldwide. Available only for titles manufactured at Gotta Groove Records.
• InkSplosion Color Records Custom color vinyl pressing with the handmade look and aesthetic of a hand-poured color record offered at standard color pricing. Available in 140g or 180g weights for 12-inch records with hundreds of color combinations and a minimum run of 100 copies with no maximum cap.
• Wax Mage Productions Sub-brand for limited-edition experimental vinyl pressings operated in partnership with Heath Gmucs and Tyren Craemer. Specializes in hand-picked new exclusive recordings and reissues that push the limits of the phonograph record format from both an audio and visual perspective, operating through Wax Mage Collabs, Wax Mage Exclusives, and Wax Mage Editions channels.
• 350 gram Advanced Audiophile Pressing Specialized audiophile pressing nearly double the weight of a traditional 180g pressing, developed with NASA engineers for enhanced sound quality through deadened microvibrations during playback. Features meteor fragment-infused vinyl offered through limited auction with approximately 30,000 records' worth of material.

Quantifiable outcome

• Flexible quantities as low as 100 copies for specialty records
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SonopresscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 August 2025Strategic partnership announced August 4, 2025 for distribution of Sonopress EcoRecords (injection-molded PET sustainable LP records) to US customers. Gotta Groove Records acts as the US partner to bring EcoRecord technology to American artists, labels, and environmentally conscious music fans. The EcoRecord is manufactured by Sonopress in both the United States (Charlotte, NC) and Germany. This aligns with GGR's sustainability vision while expanding their product offerings.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pirates Press: Multi-location vinyl pressing and manufacturing company serving independent labels and artists. Directly comparable to GGR through its B2B pressing model, specialty color offerings, and focus on boutique-quality records.
• Furnace Record Pressing: Fairfax, VA-based vinyl record pressing plant offering direct-to-label manufacturing services. Directly comparable in serving independent labels with similar B2B sales model and focus on specialty color and small-run pressings.
• United Record Pressing: Nashville-based vinyl pressing plant and one of the largest independent operations in the US. Directly competes with GGR for the same B2B customer base of independent and major labels, offering similar 7-inch and 12-inch pressing services with comparable scale.
• Third Man Pressing: Detroit-based vinyl pressing plant owned by Jack White's Third Man Records, operating at industrial scale. Directly competes with GGR for indie and major label pressing contracts, with similar focus on quality and fast turnaround for specialty runs.
• Archer Record Pressing: Detroit-based vinyl record pressing plant founded by notable musicians. Competes directly with GGR in the indie label pressing market with similar specialty variant and color vinyl offerings.
• Palomino Records: Louisville, KY-based vinyl pressing plant serving independent labels with similar boutique-to-mid-scale positioning. Directly competes with GGR for indie label customers in the US heartland.
• Smashed Plastic: Chicago-based vinyl pressing plant with a similar B2B focus on independent labels and boutique-quality pressings. Directly comparable in scale and customer base to GGR's Midwest operations.

Emerging players

• Leesta Val Sound Recordings: Brooklyn-based vinyl pressing and recording studio offering direct-to-artist pressing services. Comparable to GGR's lower-MQW indie artist offering but with smaller scale and geographic focus in the NYC creative market.

Broad incumbents

• GZ Media: Czech Republic-based company that operates the world's largest vinyl pressing facility. Competes broadly with GGR for major label catalog and high-volume reissue work, with significantly greater scale and global reach.
• Sonopress: Global pressing plant owned by Bertelsmann, operating in Germany and the US (Charlotte, NC). Both strategic partner (for EcoRecord distribution) and broader competitor — a much larger incumbent with established relationships across major labels worldwide.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gottagrooverecs
• Instagraminstagram.com/gottagrooverecs
• Xx.com/gottagrooverecs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gotta-groove-records-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gotta Groove Records