Today we’d like to introduce you to Joel Hoyle
Joel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have a background in music and in supply chain. I grew up playing music in Houston, and I grew up with records. I worked in record stores, did a bit of touring, releasing records, etc. I was a suit and tie guy for years until I had to admit that it wasn’t the way for me. My wife and I decided to have a go at opening a pressing plant.
It would allow me to be in the music business and help people; two things I love.
In 2018, learning all I could about pressing records became my job. I reached out to existing pressing plants, read books about making records from the 1940s, 50s, etc., and scoured the internet. Anywhere I could learn something, I did.
We opened 610 Record Mfg. in June of 2024. We’re new, small, and mighty! I am very proud of the quality of our records and service.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Opening this business has been one the hardest things I have ever done. We had bad luck with our business loan, our build-out was delayed due to a dodgy contractor, and the financial strain is intense. If I didn’t love this business, I would have quit a long time ago.
Being a first-time business owner, and being very passionate about it, made it difficult to delegate responsibility to others at the start. I had to get over that in order to move forward, personally and for the business.
We have our daily struggles like any other pressing plant. It’s manufacturing; things go wrong sometimes. Part of our job is to minimize these happenings as best we can.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
610 Record Manufacturing is a family owned record pressing plant located in 2nd Ward Houston, Texas. We are here to help recording artists support themselves through records.
We provide one-stop shop service for artists and record labels. We understand the emotional and financial importance that records have for artists, record labels, and listeners.
Our detailed attention to quality and honest service is what we are known for. We love making records and we love making it easy for people get records made.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next 5-10 years, I think people will continue to enjoy listening to records. There’s nothing like it! For pressing plants, I think smaller plants, like ours, it’s going to be tough. Larger plants are pulling in big and small orders. It doesn’t leave a lot of room for smaller plants to survive.
This industry is becoming a more regional one. People take pride in working with their local folks.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.610recordmfg.com
Image Credits
Doug Timmermeyer, Joel Hoyle
