Cassette Cultures: The Past and Present of a Musical Icon, Paperback

From videos by Frank Ocean to the Guardians of the Galaxy movie, tapes have become increasingly prominent in cinema, advertising, and, of course, the music industry. And as tape sales in the US grew by 74% last year, there is no doubt that it is time to address past, present and future of the “Compact Cassette” as icon of popular culture.

New generations of individuals, record labels and DIY communities are rediscovering its unique characteristics, adapting them to a contemporary context. In the age of soulless MP3s and similar digital formats there is a real appreciation for the physical qualities of an item that can be collected, exchanged and individually designed. This volume covers themes such as recording and design, distro as distribution source, interviews and provides a step-by-step manual to conducting own tape experiments.