What Fonoprint Studios does

Fonoprint s.r.l. – Società Benefit is a privately held Italian professional audio recording and production company founded in 1976 in Bologna, where it operates from a 15th-century convent at Via Bocca di Lupo 6. It is the first professional recording studio established in the Bologna area and has accumulated over 1,000 album credits across Italian popular music, with historical associations to artists such as Zucchero, Vasco Rossi, Lucio Dalla, Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, Eros Ramazzotti, Cesare Cremonini, and Il Volo. The company is controlled by entrepreneur Leopoldo Cavalli, who acquired it in late 2015, with Giacomo Golfieri serving as Sole Director (Amministratore Unico).

The technical infrastructure comprises two recording studios (Studio A with an SSL 4000 G Series console and Studio B with an MCI JH500), two mastering studios (one certified for Dolby Atmos), a video production suite, and an inventory of analog tape machines including Otari MTR-100, Studer A820, and Mitsubishi X880 units. Service offerings span recording, analog and digital mastering, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, online mastering and mixing, audio restoration, live event recording with up to 70 microphones, video production, Blu-Ray/DVD authoring, and the Fonoprint 5G remote production workflow developed with MISE funding. Around this production core, the company operates an ecosystem of sub-brands: Fonoprint Records (label), ABC Accademia Bolognese del Cantautore (256-hour academy), BMA Bologna Musica d'Autore (annual showcase festival), Take01 (emerging-artist development program), Museo del Suono e della Canzone (museum), and Fonoprint Radio.

Commercial revenue derives from unit-priced studio rentals (Studio A at €70/hour or €500/day, Studio B at €60/hour or €350/day), online mastering from €80/song, premium project work (Atmos remixes for Universal Music), emerging-artist packages (Take01 at 50% discount with bank financing), and a substantial layer of regional Emilia-Romagna and EU FSE+ grants funding training programs and cultural projects. Go-to-market is primarily direct/relationship-based for enterprise and artist clients, complemented by self-serve online mastering/mixing for global reach and an organic social presence (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, LinkedIn, Twitter). Customer segments span established Italian artists, major labels, independent producers, film/media post-production, audio engineering students, and developing artists.

Name

Fonoprint Studios

Legal name

Fonoprint s.r.l. - Società Benefit

Website

https://fonoprint.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fonoprint is a 50-year-old Italian professional recording studio in Bologna offering recording, mastering, Dolby Atmos production, and online audio services to established artists, major labels, and emerging talent through an integrated ecosystem of studios, label, academy, and showcase programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Recording and Production Services

NAICS

Sound Recording Studios (512240), Sound Recording Industries (5122), Record Production and Distribution (512250)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Audio Engineering Services (Tracking, Mixing, Mastering) (MPAIAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio Mastering & Deliverables (Loudness/Compliance, Printmasters, Stems) (MPAHAEAL), Music Production, Recording & Audio Engineering (EDAMANAH)

Keywords

• Professional recording studio
• Audio mastering services
• Dolby Atmos production
• Analog tape recording
• Music artist development

Headquarters

HQ city

Bologna

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Recording Studio Services: Professional recording services in two fully equipped studios (Studio A and Studio B) with hourly and daily rental options
2. Mastering and Mixing: CD mastering, stem mastering, Dolby Atmos mastering, and audio restoration services with online and in-studio options
3. Professional Training Courses: Audio engineering, sound design, music production, and artist development courses with regional funding support
4. Artist Development and Talent Scouting: Take01 service for emerging artists, BMA showcase festival, and ABC Accademia program to develop new talent
5. Video Production: Video production, Blu-Ray/DVD authoring, and live streaming services for musical and commercial projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Fonoprint operates a multi-studio audio/video production complex in Bologna delivering professional recording, mixing, mastering, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, analog tape recording, live event recording, audio restoration, and video production services. The company also runs artist development (Take01), training (ABC Accademia Bolognese del Cantautore, professional audio courses), talent scouting (BMA festival), a record label (Fonoprint Records), and a museum of Italian song.

Product overview

Fonoprint Studios is an audio recording and production complex located in Bologna, Italy, founded in 1976. The company operates as a multi-studio recording facility offering recording, mastering, mixing, video production, and audio restoration services. Its core infrastructure consists of two recording studios (Studio A with SSL 4000 G series console and Studio B with MCI JH500), two mastering studios, and a video production suite. The company provides specialized services including DolbyATMOS immersive audio mastering, online mastering/mixing, analog tape recording, and live event recording. Beyond production services, Fonoprint operates Fonoprint Records (artist roster), the ABC Accademia Bolognese del Cantautore (music academy), the BMA showcase festival, the Museo del Suono e della Canzone (sound museum), and Take01 (emerging artist development program). The company also developed Fonoprint 5G technology for remote live event production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BMA - Bologna Musica d'Autore: Annual showcase festival for young emerging singer-songwriters in the Italian music scene, featuring a competition and tour across various Italian venues.
• ABC - Accademia Bolognese del Cantautore
• Take01
• Fonoprint Records
• Fonoprint Radio

Products and services

• Studio A Recording Premium recording studio featuring a 56-channel SSL 4000 G analog mixer with Total Recall, ProTools HD 12, Tube Tech and Lexicon outboard, and Neumann/DPA/Shure microphones. Available on hourly (€70/hour) and daily (€500/day) rental basis for professional recording projects.
• Studio B Recording Hybrid analog/digital recording studio combining classic analog warmth with modern technology, featuring an MCI JH500 console, Digidesign ProControl, and high-quality microphones and outboard gear. Available at €60/hour and €350/day rental rates.
• Mastering Studio 1 Advanced mastering studio with combined analog and digital processing, featuring Chandler and Prism Sound equalizers, Manley compressors, and SADIE 6 digital mastering at 24-bit 192kHz. Certified for Dolby Atmos immersive audio.
• Mastering Studio 2 Dedicated mastering and editing studio equipped with full analog and digital chain for mastering, editing, dubbing, multimedia localization, and audio restoration tasks.
• Dolby Atmos Mastering Immersive 360° audio mastering using certified Dolby Atmos technology, listed on Dolby's official website and compliant with Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music distribution specifications.
• Online Mastering Remote mastering service starting at €80 per single song, with tiered options including Standard Mastering, Stem Mastering (up to 8 stems), Advanced Stem Mastering (up to 30 stems), and Dolby Atmos options delivered via online submission.
• Online Mixing Remote mixing service using Studio A (€70/hour or €500/day) or Studio B (€60/hour or €350/day) with professional analog equipment, accessible globally via online submission.
• Audio Restoration and Tape Transfer Analog and digital tape transfer, restoration, and re-mastering services leveraging an extensive collection of vintage analog machines including Otari MTR-100, Studer A820, and Mitsubishi X880.
• Analog Tape Recording Recording service on analog tape using Otari MTR-100 (24-track, 2-inch tape) and Studer A820 machines, valued by clients seeking warm, saturated analog sound characteristics.
• Live Recording On-location live recording service for concerts, radio-TV/web streaming, multichannel live albums, DVDs, and video projects using up to 70 professional microphones for large ensembles and orchestras.
• Video Production Full-service video production covering pre-production, production, and post-production for musical and commercial audiovisual projects, including music videos, live sessions, and institutional videos.
• Blu-Ray/DVD Authoring Commercial Blu-Ray Disc and DVD authoring service including menu design, interactive elements, video encoding, and Dolby/DTS audio encoding.
• Take01 Artist Development Program Package service for emerging artists and bands offering 10 days of studio access (or 5 days MINI version) to record, mix, and master an album and produce a music video, with 50% discount and financing options through Banca Popolare dell'Emilia-Romagna.
• Professional Audio Training Courses Professional training programs covering Sound Design for Cinema, AI Creative Writing for Urban Music, Basic and Advanced Sound Engineering, Dolby Atmos, Live Sound Engineering, Be a Singer Next Gen, and Music Producer & Beatmaker courses, with regional and EU funding support.
• ABC - Accademia Bolognese del Cantautore Paid academy for singer-songwriters offering 256 hours of training over 8-9 months covering lyrics writing, composition, arrangement, interpretation, music production, and music business, including studio recording and video production experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dolby Atmos certified studio enabling immersive audio production compliant with Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music specifications
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Clust-ER CreateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional innovation cluster for creative industries, supporting dissemination activities for Fonoprint's cultural and creative projects
• Centro di Promozione teatrale e musicale La Soffitta - Università di BolognaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for involving students and recent graduates in project presentation and cultural initiatives
• Istituto Aldini ValerianiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical institute partnership for educational and skills development initiatives

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Metropolis Studios: London-based multi-room recording and mastering complex serving major-label and indie clients with Dolby Atmos certification. Comparable high-end positioning and Atmos-led growth strategy.
• Power Station at BerkleeNYC: Brooklyn recording complex converted from a former power station, offering recording, mixing, and Atmos production with similar vintage analog equipment heritage. Comparable dual-use heritage/Atmos positioning.
• Capitol Studios: Hollywood-based historic studio owned by Universal Music offering recording, mixing, and Atmos mastering. Comparable heritage-plus-immersive-audio strategy and Universal Music label relationships that overlap with Fonoprint's Universal client work.
• AIR Studios: Lyndhurst Hall-based London studio founded by George Martin, offering high-end recording, mixing, and Atmos mastering for film and music. Same premium heritage positioning and immersive audio capability.
• Abbey Road Studios: Iconic London recording studio with comparable heritage model, premium recording/mastering services, Dolby Atmos capability, and landmark artist alumni (Beatles, Adele, Ed Sheeran). Same high-end professional services positioning.
• Real World Studios: Peter Gabriel's residential UK recording facility offering high-end recording, mixing, and Atmos mastering with heritage brand positioning. Similar combination of analog equipment, Atmos capability, and recording-plus-events business model.
• Forum Music Village: Rome-based historic Italian recording complex operating multiple studios with similar service portfolio (recording, mixing, mastering) and comparable client base of Italian pop and classical artists. Closest domestic direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Universal Music Group: Global major record label and Fonoprint customer (Atmos remixes for Vasco Rossi, Zucchero). Not a direct competitor but a critical counterpart and broader industry incumbent whose strategy shapes immersive-audio demand.

Regional players

• Officine Meccaniche: Milan-based Italian recording studio serving major Italian and international artists, with comparable recording, mixing, and mastering services targeting the same domestic professional market. Italian regional peer with similar heritage model.

Others

• Sonos Studio / Dolby Atmos commercial facilities: Network of Dolby-certified Atmos production facilities globally that compete for the same label remix work and immersive-audio certification traffic. Represents the broader peer set for Fonoprint's Atmos mastering positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fonoprint
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/fonoprint
• Facebookfacebook.com/Fonoprint
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fonoprint
• Instagraminstagram.com/fonoprint

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 Fonoprint Studios