Hellbender Vinyl in Pittsburgh City Paper
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.
We’re deeply grateful to the Pittsburgh City Paper for spotlighting our journey—bringing vinyl manufacturing back to the Steel City and building a creative community hub around it. Seeing our work alongside industry stats—like $1.2 billion in vinyl sales and surpassing CD revenue—reinforces why our mission matters. But more than stats, it's the people: musicians, artists, labels, and fans who walk through our Lawrenceville doors every day. As we grow, our goal remains the same—to press quality records, spark creativity through talks, exhibits, and live music, and nurture real connections that reverberate well beyond the grooves.
Here’s to the next chapter: more colorful presses, tighter lead times, and a stronger creative community in Pittsburgh. Stay tuned, join the events, and keep the needle moving—we’re only getting started!
