Music

Canada's last vinyl pressing plant is moving to the U.S.

by Mark Teo

Even if you haven’t heard of Rip-V, the vinyl pressing plant located on the edge of Montreal, you probably own one of their releases—they, after all, were the last remaining vinyl pressing plant in Canada. Indeed, if you’ve bought 12-inch copies of Epitaph albums, Arcade Fire LP, or any number of independent local acts, you’ve probably come in contact with RIP-V’s work.

Now, we’re sad to announce, RIP-V is leaving Canada. According to French-language newspaper La Devoir, the tiny company—which only boasted a handful of employees—has been purchased by a larger American company. Their operations are being dismantled, and the equipment will be shipped to New Jersey—which is poetic, considering RIP-V’s vintage machinery originated in the Garden State.

“It’s been a great journey,” owner Philippe Dubuc wrote on Twitter. And he’s right: Since RIP-V’s foundation in 2007, they came to press records by giants like Merge and Beggar’s Banquet—all while maintaining a focus on smaller bands (their smallest runs consisted of 300 records). According to La Devoir, they produced a whopping 10,000 pieces of vinyl a week.

It’ll be a big loss for Canada—and for the independent artists and labels that relied on RIP-V. “A lot of small band and smaller labels, they got their first records pressed not long ago,” Caroline Ohrt told us, of the plant’s independent focus. “So you have to accompany them through the whole process—how to do their graphics, how things get made. There’s a lot of phone call, emails, and messages. And I love it.”

You’ll be missed, RIP-V.