Did ya see us in the paper?! We were recently featured in Pittsburgh CityPaper, and we’re thrilled about the shoutout. If you didn’t get a chance to read the article, here’s a short summary -
Pittsburgh's Hellbender Vinyl, co-founded by Jeff Betten and Matt Dowling, is bringing vinyl manufacturing back to the Steel City. As vinyl has resurged in popularity—generating $1.2 billion in revenue and outselling CDs by 8 million units in 2022—Hellbender has stepped in to address the industry's long lead times and limited pressing capacity. Just two years after their quiet 2023 launch, they're now pressing around 10,000 records monthly for clients including Guster and Mountain Dew in their Butler Street facility.
Beyond manufacturing, Hellbender aims to be a community hub for "people doing real stuff"—musicians, visual artists, filmmakers, and other creatives who value authentic connection in an increasingly digital world. Their Lawrenceville space will host concerts, talks, and art exhibitions, creating a nexus between creative economy and technology while bringing manufacturing back to Pittsburgh.
What sets Hellbender apart is their innovative approach to vinyl production. Using custom-built machinery and their LiteTone press, they've developed techniques for creating visually striking, colorful records that resemble prismatic gemstones as much as music media.
Read the full article here.
