Kaneshii Vinyl Press gets PEI into new groove
Charlottetown-based company to offer Atlantic Canadian spin on vinyl record production
Time to dust off those vintage record players, because vinyl is back. As of 2015, record sales were the highest they’ve been in nearly 30 years. As a result, facilities actively pressing records are struggling to meet the consumer demand for vinyl. Charlottetown’s Kaneshii Printing Press Ltd. plans to take advantage of that demand by becoming Atlantic Canada’s first vinyl pressing plant.
Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today announced support for the acquisition of production equipment and business assets needed to launch Atlantic Canada’s premier vinyl production facility. The Government of Canada, through ACOA’s Business Development Plan, is supporting this project with a $175,000 repayable contribution. The Government of Prince Edward Island will contribute $39,220 to assist with equipment purchases, rental costs and marketing.
The company’s new vinyl press machine will have the capacity to produce up to 180 records per hour - more than 1.5 million per year. Kaneshii’s initial business model will focus primarily on the Atlantic Canadian, Franco-Canadian and Eastern US markets, offering service to clients in both official languages. The press plant plans to cater to primarily independent artists and labels by focusing on small run productions at an affordable price.
Quotes
“Kaneshii Vinyl Press Ltd. will build on PEI’s musical heritage and active music industry to help artists across Eastern Canada produce their music in the desirable vinyl format. The Government of Canada is pleased to support another innovative company whose creativity and expertise will result in a product that appeals to locals and tourists alike.”
- Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown
“Kaneshii Vinyl Press has done a tremendous job identifying a need, and taking steps to provide services to a critically underserved market. This kind of entrepreneurship demonstrates the ability of Islanders to look at long term trends and shape their business plans to suit current and future needs. This brand new company will provide a much needed service to the music community on Prince Edward Island.”
- Heath MacDonald, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism
“We are excited and proud to be starting the first vinyl pressing house in Atlantic Canada. We are thankful to ACOA for this great opportunity supporting the Atlantic Music Industry. At Kaneshii we believe in Artists First!”
- Gideon Banahene, Kaneshii Vinyl Press Ltd.
Media contact:
Andrew Sprague
Senior Communications Officer
Department of Economic Development and Tourism
902-368-5535