Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Melody – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Following its separation from the state holding company and privatization in 2020, the new private owner, Formax, invested approximately 150 million rubles in reviving the full record production cycle. A key decision was a shift in strategy: Melodiya is once again becoming not only the copyright holder of a gigantic archive but also the manufacturer. This decision was made amidst a sustained interest in vinyl among young people—in 2024, record sales on marketplaces grew by more than 88%. The founders emphasize that this is a natural continuation of musical traditions in the country and a logical step for a brand that Russians still associate with records.
This event marks the end of a long period when the brand, having lost its own production facilities after 1991, existed solely as an archival label and publisher, pressing vinyl at third-party factories in Europe. Now, the entire process—from remastering the original master tapes from which the vinyl records are copied, to pressing and packaging—is controlled by the company. The facility is designed to produce at least 100,000 records per year. Records are pressed using matrices made from the original master tapes.
The first releases are already available: the cult electronic album "Disco Alliance" by Zodiac, "Po volne moego pamiat" (On the Wave of My Memory) by David Tukhmanov, which has remained a hit for 50 years, the landmark album by VIA "Dos-Mukasan," and an updated version of a popular autogenic training song from the 1980s. Plans include more than 20 new pressings, including classical, pop, and children's fairy tales, as well as commissioned releases for third-party labels and artists. Melodiya hopes to capture up to half of the Russian vinyl market and is also considering the project with an eye toward export, reasserting itself as a major industrial player in the world of music.
Ivan Otvagin, December 12, 2025
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.