Sony Walkman: pause, rewind, revive?
Have rumours of the Sony Walkman’s death been greatly exaggerated? As Channel 4 News discovers, there’s life in the tape heads yet and a new wave of bands keen to release their music on cassette.
It’s up there with pop socks and brick-sized mobile phones in the imagined 1980s we either lived through or saw in Heathers. But after 31 years Sony is ending production of the Walkman in Japan, the spiritual home of the gadget which first saw music fans unshackled from their super woofers.
The Walkman paved the way for its clumsier cousins the Discman and portable minidisc player, before its unique selling point (its size) was fully realised by Apple’s iPod (itself now under threat from the iPhone). So if Sony is hitting eject on the Walkman, why now?
There are no plans to stop selling Walkmans in the UK. You can still get one from Argos for Christmas. Jessica Simpson, Sony
The firm’s Jessica Simpson told Channel 4 News: “The termination of production of the tape Walkman is only in the Japanese domestic market.
“There are no plans to stop selling Walkmans in the UK. You can still get one from Argos for Christmas.”
In fact Sony ceased Japanese production back in April and, as spokesman Hiroko Nakamura told Associated Press, sales will end once the last batch disappears from stores.
(Pictured: Jennifer Beals, star of 1983 film Flashdance, wears a Sony Walkman)
But Sony’s marketing team might be wise to carry out a little more field research. It’s hard to miss the cassette revival – the image of a spooling tape has appeared spattered across T-shirts and accessories for much of the last decade.
I’m pretty sure that for at least 100 years people will be able to get their hands on a cassette player. Com Truise
And while 13-year-olds (born in the CD age) sport Ferric chic, the cassette format itself has been enjoying a small renaissance. It seems some musicians who are not beholden to big label demands are returning to vinyl and tapes in tandem with digital releases. The names alone say it. Search iTunes and you will find Memory Tapes, Tapes & Tapes and Cassette Kids.
Walkman through the ages – click here
Others choose another form of wordplay to reference the eighties. Com Truise is an emerging US talent and self-proclaimed synth nerd who uses computer technology to programme vintage music equipment. His sound evokes the Knight Rider theme, played slo-mo on a cassette deck. He told Channel 4 News it’s no surprise the Walkman’s days are numbered, despite the new wave of bands releasing music on cassette.
He explained: “When technology is in such low demand, what’s the point of producing it anymore? Although I’m pretty sure that for at least 100 years people will be able to get their hands on a cassette player, for a relatively good price and condition.
“It’s a cheap and easy format to reproduce. It holds a nostalgic value to some people. I think it’s almost becoming cliché, maybe a bit played out. But to each their own.
“I plan to release an album from one of my side projects – a clean version of the album, and a version that’s been dubbed to my AKAI Reel to Reel from 1968, and recorded back into the computer. I really just want to capture the sound warmth and quality.
“For me cassettes are more of a shelf item, something fun to hold in your hands, I mean the DIY attitude attached to tapes is amazing. But I would rather keep the tapes on my shelf than let my tape players mangle them.”
Kevin Barnes’s band Of Montreal released their album False Priest on cassette earlier this year. He told Channel 4 News: “I grew up with cassettes so I was excited to do it.”
But he added: “I doubt they will make a massive come back. there’s really no reason for it to. I guess cassettes do have a certain specific kind of fidelity, it’s hard to say if it’s necessarily a pleasing kind of fidelity though.
“It’s easy to romanticise a time period that one wasn’t a part of.
“It’s definitely a niche market. I don’t imagine Sony would make much money trying to pander to indie kids. it could be fun for them to try though.”
Sony has confirmed its Chinese factories will continue to make the Walkman. But Japan, where the fetish for all things digital and miniature began, is surely the test market for the rest of the world. Which could mean sad news for nostalgia heads and a busy Christmas for eBay.
On tape: your Facebook views
Chojin Urotsukidoji: i still have my red n black one from the 80s, although i dont use it no more.
Tim Abram: Still use mine from approx 1989 to listen to the footy on Radio 5. Built to last.
Bertil Rogers: i got over 500 casstte tapes so as long as i still got my home Cassette player...
Tommy Ayre: Does anyone remember minidisc?
Neil HippieKiller: I'm amazed cassettes are even still made, I gave all mine away long ago!