Polysom

Polysom is a Brazilian vinyl record pressing plant and record label founded on 16 April 1999 in Belford Roxo, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. It was created by Nilton José Rocha, a veteran of the phonographic industry with three decades of experience, at a moment when the global record industry was abandoning vinyl in favour of the CD. The timing allowed Polysom to acquire old pressing equipment from plants that were being shut down, notably from the Polygram and Continental labels, and to build a specialised vinyl manufacturing operation. For much of its early life, Polysom's production was sustained by strong demand for vinyl from evangelical churches, which kept the factory running at high capacity. As the only vinyl pressing plant in all of Latin America — a position it still holds — Polysom gradually attracted a broader client base, including independent artists and both small and large record companies. However, by November 2007, facing falling demand, technical problems that affected pressing quality, delivery delays, cancelled orders and mounting debts, the original owners were forced to close the factory. In the second half of 2008, the owners of the Brazilian label Deckdisc learned of the strong growth in vinyl sales in the United States and Europe and saw an opportunity to acquire the old factory's machinery and reactivate it. Due diligence and studies began in September 2008 and led to the official acquisition in April 2009. After months of restoration work in the Areia Branca building in Belford Roxo, during which presses, compressors and motors were completely rebuilt, the factory was ready by late November 2009 and the first test LPs were produced. Polysom was thus reborn under Deckdisc ownership. Today Polysom presses vinyl for major labels including Universal Music, Sony Music and Som Livre, as well as for its owner Deckdisc. It produces 140g and 180g LPs and has a capacity of 28,000 LPs and 14,000 compact discs (7-inch singles) per month. From 2013, major Brazilian artists began releasing their albums on vinyl again, and through agreements with the main record companies Polysom launched the "Clássicos em Vinil" series, bringing important titles of Brazilian music back to market in luxurious reissues. Independent artists increasingly seek out Polysom to press their records. In 2017, Polysom released the soundtrack of the Rede Globo superseries "Os Dias Eram Assim" on a limited-edition 11-track vinyl.

Polysom was founded on 16 April 1999 in Belford Roxo, Rio de Janeiro, by Nilton José Rocha, who had worked for 30 years in the phonographic industry. It began operations on 1 May 1999. The company was established at a time when the record industry was abandoning the vinyl format to dedicate itself exclusively to CDs. This context made it easier to acquire old equipment from factories that were being deactivated, especially from the Polygram and Continental record companies. For a long period, high demand for vinyl from evangelical churches kept the factory running at full capacity. Once it established itself as the only factory in all of Latin America — a condition it maintains to this day — Polysom gained new clients, such as independent artists and small and large record companies. In November 2007, already facing numerous difficulties such as lack of demand and technical problems that directly affected the quality of pressed discs, combined with delivery delays, order cancellations, accumulated debts and lack of future prospects, its owners had no alternative but to close its doors. In the second half of 2008, the owners of Deckdisc, informed of the large growth in vinyl sales in the United States and Europe, encountered the possibility of acquiring the machinery of the old factory and reactivating it. In September of the same year, due diligence and studies began, resulting in the official acquisition in April 2009. A large-scale renovation began in the building in Areia Branca, a neighbourhood in the municipality of Belford Roxo, Rio de Janeiro, while all the machinery — presses, compressors, motors — was completely reassembled. After seven months of hard work, difficulties and doubts, by the end of November the first tests were carried out and the results were good, dispelling all doubts. Polysom was ready to compete in quality with any factory in the world and to resume series production of vinyl. Polysom produces 140g and 180g LPs. Strictly speaking, the grammage does not affect quality, since the depth and width of the grooves are always the same. DJs, for example, always demanding about sound quality, prefer lower-grammage LPs so that their backpacks and transport cases do not become excessively heavy. The factory has the capacity to produce 28,000 LPs and 14,000 compact discs (7-inch singles) per month. From 2013, some major Brazilian artists began releasing their albums also in vinyl format. Through agreements with the main record companies, Polysom launched the Clássicos em Vinil series, in which important titles of Brazilian music returned to the market in luxurious reissues. More and more independent artists also seek out Polysom to press their discs. The first discs were by artists of Deckdisc itself: Cinema, by the band Cachorro Grande; Onde Brilhem os Olhos Seus, by Fernanda Takai; Fome de Tudo, by Nação Zumbi; and Chiaroscuro, by Pitty. In 2017, Polysom released the soundtrack of the Rede Globo superseries Os Dias Eram Assim on an 11-track limited-edition vinyl.

• 2017

  Polysom releases the soundtrack of Rede Globo superseries Os Dias Eram Assim on limited-edition 11-track vinyl.

• 2013

  Major Brazilian artists begin releasing albums on vinyl again; Polysom launches the Clássicos em Vinil reissue series.

• 2009

  Official acquisition by Deckdisc in April; after restoration, factory is ready in late November and first test LPs are produced.

• 2008

  In the second half of the year, Deckdisc owners begin due diligence to acquire and reactivate the old factory; studies start in September.

• 2007

  In November, facing lack of demand, technical problems and debts, the factory is forced to close.

• 1999

  Polysom founded on 16 April in Belford Roxo, RJ, by Nilton José Rocha; operations begin on 1 May.

The only vinyl record pressing plant in Latin America, offering high-quality pressing for major labels, independent artists and its parent label Deckdisc.

• 140g vinyl LPs

• 180g vinyl LPs

• 7-inch vinyl singles

• Clássicos em Vinil reissue series

• Os Dias Eram Assim soundtrack vinyl (2017, limited edition, 11 tracks)

1. 1Polysom - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Polysom - Wikipedia (Portuguese)pt.wikipedia.org
3. 3Polysom - Official sitepolysom.com.br