Making Vinyl conference to bring global record industry to Alexandria in May
Annual summit draws 750-plus attendees from more than 20 countries; Metallica-owned Furnace Record Pressing to host facility tours
The global vinyl record industry will descend on Old Town Alexandria this spring when Making Vinyl, the premier conference for record manufacturers and industry professionals, hosts its first-ever Washington, D.C.-area event.
The conference is scheduled for May 27-29 at the Westin Alexandria Old Town and will feature three days of panels, workshops, and networking sessions focused on vinyl manufacturing, sustainability, supply chain issues, and packaging innovations.
“We are thrilled to welcome Making Vinyl to the DC area — and to our hometown,” said Ali Miller, CEO of Furnace Record Pressing, in a social media post announcing the event. “This region has a deep music culture and a growing vinyl community.”
Miller said Furnace Record Pressing will offer exclusive facility tours to registered attendees, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the record manufacturing process at its 70,000-square-foot facility at 6315 Bren Mar Drive, Alexandria (Fairfax County).
Furnace, founded by Eric Astor in 1996, is one of the largest record pressing companies in the United States. The company gained international attention in 2023 when Metallica acquired a controlling stake in the operation, formalizing a partnership that had produced more than five million pieces of Metallica vinyl since 2014. Metallica members have visited the Alexandria facility to press records, including a July 2024 session for the 40th anniversary reissue of “Ride the Lightning.”
Making Vinyl has grown into a major industry gathering since its founding in 2017, with previous events held in cities including Los Angeles and Haarlem, Netherlands. The conference typically draws more than 750 attendees from over 20 countries, with organizers reporting a 90 percent return rate among past participants.
The event brings together pressing plants, record labels, mastering engineers, packaging experts, equipment manufacturers, brokers, and distributors. In recent years, the conference has expanded to include lifestyle brands, audio technology companies, and fashion innovators seeking to connect with vinyl culture.
This year’s program will introduce Making Vinyl Connect, a structured matchmaking program designed to facilitate business relationships among attendees.
Making Vinyl also announced a second 2026 event in Haarlem, Netherlands, scheduled for Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.
Registration details and early-bird pricing have not yet been announced. More information is available at makingvinyl.com.