What Welcome to 1979 does

Welcome to 1979 is a privately held, vertically integrated analog-and-digital audio services company headquartered in a 13,000-square-foot facility in Nashville's The Nations neighborhood. Founded in 2008 by Chris Mara, the business operates recording, mastering, tape-archiving, and vinyl-production service lines under one roof — and claims to be the only studio in the world where a record can be tracked, cut, and plated on the same day. The studio offers hybrid analog-digital tracking and mixing via a fully restored MCI JH428 console paired with Pro Tools HD, plus digital and vinyl mastering, analog-to-digital tape transfers, in-house lacquer cutting on a 1973 Neumann VMS-70 lathe, and an electroplating plant established in 2015 that brings vinyl manufacturing back to the building for the first time since 1979.

The technology stack is centered on vintage analog equipment rather than software: restored MCI tape machines sourced through the sister company Mara Machines (world's largest tape machine restoration company), rare microphones including Neumann U47s and AKG c12as, and instruments such as a Hammond B3, Fender Rhodes, and Wurlitzer. Core products are four service lines — Recording Studio Services, Mastering, Tape Archiving, and Vinyl Production — supplemented by event-based revenue (Recording Summit, Tape Camp, Vinyl Camp) and a small branded merchandise store. Pricing is unit-based across all lines (e.g., $950/12-hour day with engineer, $125/song digital mastering, $250/side 12-inch master lacquer, $50/song multitrack transfer), with all sales conducted direct via email, phone, and a Hightail file-upload portal.

Customers fall into three primary segments: independent and professional musicians (recording and live-to-vinyl sessions), major and independent record labels (vinyl reissues, catalog mastering, soundtrack work), and heritage artist estates (tape preservation and archival digitization). Marquee engagements include Paul McCartney and Johnny Cash tape archives, Pete Townshend and Jason Isbell live-to-vinyl sessions, and mastering work for Weezer, Paramore, The Weeknd, Tame Impala, Eminem, Kid Cudi, Zac Brown Band, and soundtracks for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Euphoria Season 2. The company is founder-owned (Chris Mara with Yoli Mara and Lori Hines) with no external funding disclosed, and supplements its service revenue with a recurring events business and limited direct-to-consumer merchandise.

Name

Welcome to 1979

Legal name

Welcome to 1979

Website

https://welcometo1979.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Welcome to 1979 is a Nashville-based, vertically integrated recording studio offering analog and digital recording, mastering, tape archiving, and vinyl production (lacquer cutting and electroplating) under one roof. It serves independent musicians, major labels, and heritage artist estates, including Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, Weezer, and Eminem reissues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audio Recording Studio Services

NAICS

Sound Recording Studios (51224), Sound Recording Industries (5122)

SIC

Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)

akta.pro primary industry

Recording Studios (Commercial, Project, Mobile) (MPAIAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio Engineering Services (Tracking, Mixing, Mastering) (MPAIAHAD), Reissues, Remastering & Archive Services (MPAIAAAG), Audio Restoration & Forensics (Archival Repair, Forensic Enhancement) (MPAHAEAH)

Keywords

• Analog recording studio
• Vinyl mastering services
• Tape archiving transfers
• Vinyl production pressing
• Audio mastering engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Recording Studio Sessions: Day rates and hourly rates for studio recording time with or without engineer, including assistant engineer and tape usage
2. Mastering Services: Digital and vinyl mastering services, including lacquers, reference tracks, and various add-ons like alternate mixes
3. Tape Archiving and Transfer: Multitrack and stereo tape transfers, including analog reel-to-reel, DATs, and cassettes; tape baking and restoration services
4. Tape Mix Services: Recording mixes to analog tape using Mara Machines, single songs at $40 or multiple songs at $25/song
5. Vinyl Production: Lacquer cutting and electroplating services for vinyl production
6. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including candles, tumblers, mugs, apparel, and accessories sold through the online store
7. Events and Workshops: Annual Recording Summit (Nov 6-8, 2026), Tape Camp (Oct 17-19, 2026), and Vinyl Camp (July 25-26, 2026) with registration fees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Welcome to 1979 operates a vertically integrated recording studio in Nashville offering entirely analog and digital tracking, mixing, mastering, tape archiving, and vinyl production (lacquer cutting and electroplating). The studio features fully restored vintage MCI recording equipment alongside modern Pro Tools HD capability, and is one of few studios worldwide where a record can be tracked, cut, and plated all in the same day.

Product overview

Welcome to 1979 is a recording studio offering a vertically integrated suite of analog and digital audio services under one roof. The core offering centers on Recording Studio Services (analog and digital tracking/mixing via vintage MCI equipment and ProTools HD), supplemented by Mastering Services (digital and vinyl mastering), Tape Archiving Services (analog-to-digital transfers), and Vinyl Production (lacquer cutting and electroplating). The studio also offers specialized add-on services including Tape Mix Services (running mixes through Mara Machines JH110), Vinyl Mastering, and Live to Vinyl Recording. Educational offerings include Events (Recording Summit, Tape Camp, Vinyl Camp). A branded Merchandise Store sells themed apparel and novelty items. The sister company Mara Machines handles analog tape machine restoration separately.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Recording Studio Services Full-service recording studio offering both entirely analog and ProTools HD digital tracking and mixing. Features vintage MCI JH428 console, 24-track analog recorders, and extensive outboard gear collection. Targets independent artists, bands, and producers seeking authentic analog sound.
• Mastering Services Digital and vinyl mastering services delivered by head mastering engineer Bobbi Giel and engineer Josh Sebek. Offers streaming masters, CD masters (DDP format), and vinyl-ready files including master lacquers and reference lacquers.
• Tape Archiving Services Analog to digital tape transfers and archival services utilizing tape machines from sister company Mara Machines. Handles multi-track and stereo formats including 1/4 inch, 1/2 inch, 1 inch, and 2 inch tape; also accepts DAT, ADAT, DASH, and cassette. Includes tape baking and restoration for fragile old tapes.
• Vinyl Production In-house vinyl production including lacquer cutting using 1973 Neumann VMS-70 lathe and electroplating (silvering, nickel bath, father/mother/stamper creation). Pressing is outsourced to partner plants.
• Live to Vinyl Recording Unique service recording bands live directly to vinyl master in a single session, enabling same-day lacquer cutting. Artists including Pete Townshend, Jason Isbell, and Old Crow Medicine Show have used this service.
• Recording Industry Events and Workshops Educational and networking events including the Annual Recording Summit (Nov 6-8, 2026, limited to 60 attendees), Tape Camp (hands-on analog recording workshop, Oct 17-19, 2026, limited to 10 people), and Vinyl Camp (live vinyl mastering workshop, July 25-26, 2026, limited to 10 people).
• Studio Merchandise Store Branded merchandise including 1979 Analog Tape Candle, 1979 Lacquer Scented Candle, trucker caps, mugs, wine tumblers, vacuum insulated bottles, t-shirts, and magnets sold through online store.
• Tape Mix Services Analog tape mix service running stereo mixes through Mara Machines JH110 tape machine at +5/250 nW/m alignment, 15 or 30 IPS speed, using ATR tape and Lynx Aurora converters up to 192k sample rate. Single songs at $40 or multiple songs at $25/song.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000 vinyl projects completed within two years of adding vinyl mastering capabilities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Mara MachinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Sister company formed in 2009 specializing in analog tape machine restoration, focusing on MCI machines from the 1970s and 1980s. Welcome to 1979 uses Mara Machines equipment for recording and tape transfers. Mara Machines became the world's largest tape machine restoration company in 2014, restoring 50 machines in a single year.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Plangent Processes: Specialist tape transfer and audio restoration firm serving legacy artist catalogs. Direct competitor in the analog tape archiving line where Welcome to 1979 leverages Mara Machines.
• Sound Emporium Studios: Historic Nashville recording studio with vintage analog consoles and long-standing relationships with major country/rock artists. Comparable analog-first positioning and A-list client base.
• Sterling Sound: Premier independent mastering facility serving major label releases. Directly comparable on the mastering service line, where Welcome to 1979 competes for label-side mastering work.
• Blackbird Studio: Nashville-based, 51-100+ employee world-class recording complex with multiple rooms and vintage analog capability. The most direct Nashville analogue to Welcome to 1979 in client tier and analog/digital hybrid positioning.
• Electrical Audio: Steve Albini's Chicago recording studio specializing in entirely analog recording. Most philosophically aligned peer — analog-only ethos, vinyl-friendly workflow, similar vintage equipment focus.
• Sunset Sound: Iconic Hollywood recording studio with vintage analog consoles and decades of A-list client work. Comparable hybrid analog/digital model with strong heritage reputation.
• Bernie Grundman Mastering: Long-established Hollywood mastering house known for high-profile vinyl and digital mastering. Direct competitor for premium vinyl mastering of major label catalog and new releases.
• Ardent Studios: Memphis-based recording studio with deep heritage (founded 1966) and analog recording capabilities. Comparable vintage gear focus and legacy catalog reissue/mixing services.

Emerging players

• Third Man Pressing: Jack White-owned Detroit vinyl pressing plant and record store. Overlaps with Welcome to 1979's vinyl production business and offers in-house pressing that WT79 must outsource, representing both a partner and a vertically integrated threat.

Broad incumbents

• Abbey Road Studios: Iconic London-based recording studio and heritage brand. Operates a broader portfolio of services including tours, retail, and commercial licensing, but shares the analog-first philosophy and elite client roster that Welcome to 1979 cultivates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/welcometo1979
• Xx.com/Welcometo1979
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/welcometo1979

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Welcome to 1979