Editing Cassette tape (section)

===21st century===
[[File:Burmese music casette tapes, Yangon, Myanmar.jpg|thumb|Burmese music cassette tapes for sale, [[Yangon]], [[Myanmar]] (2006)]]

Although [[Audio recorder#Digital|portable digital recorders]] are most common today, analog tape remains a desirable option for certain artists and consumers.<ref name=Guardian3.29.10/><ref name="Segal">{{Cite journal |last=Segal |first=Dave |date=9 March 2016 |title=Baby, I'm for Reel: Unspooling the Affordable, Accessible Microeconomy of the Cassette Revival |journal=[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]] |url=http://www.thestranger.com/music/2016/03/09/23679384/baby-im-for-reel-unspooling-the-affordable-accessible-microeconomy-of-the-cassette-revival |access-date=11 March 2016 |archive-date=10 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310193705/http://www.thestranger.com/music/2016/03/09/23679384/baby-im-for-reel-unspooling-the-affordable-accessible-microeconomy-of-the-cassette-revival |url-status=live }}</ref> Underground and [[DIY punk ethic|DIY]] communities release regularly, and sometimes exclusively, on cassette format, particularly in [[experimental music]] circles and to a lesser extent in [[hardcore punk]], [[death metal]], and [[black metal]] circles, out of a fondness for the format. Even among major-label stars, the form has at least one devotee: [[Thurston Moore]] stated in 2009, "I only listen to cassettes."<ref name="pitchfork.com">{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/7764-this-is-not-a-mixtape/ |title=Articles: This Is Not a Mixtape |website=Pitchfork |date=22 February 2010 |access-date=20 August 2010 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054958/http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/7764-this-is-not-a-mixtape/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> By 2019, few companies still made cassettes. Among those are National Audio Company, from the US, and Mulann, also known as Recording The Masters, from France.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.fr/20190322/french-firm-opens-factory-making-first-cassettes-since-1990s-after-artists-like-taylor-swift-go-for-retro-tapes|title=French firm opens factory making first cassettes since 1990s after artists like Taylor Swift go retro|date=22 March 2019|access-date=22 November 2021|archive-date=31 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231172442/https://www.thelocal.fr/20190322/french-firm-opens-factory-making-first-cassettes-since-1990s-after-artists-like-taylor-swift-go-for-retro-tapes/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2019/04/22/springfield-audiocassettes-business-national-audio-company-cassette-making/3501329002/|title=National Audio Company now has a cassette-making competitor. They're in France|access-date=9 April 2020|archive-date=28 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128054011/https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2019/04/22/springfield-audiocassettes-business-national-audio-company-cassette-making/3501329002/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sony announced the end of cassette Walkman production on 22 October 2010,<ref name="TechCrunch">{{cite web |title=End Of An Era: Sony Stops Manufacturing Cassette Walkmans |date=22 October 2010 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/10/22/an-era-ends-sony-stops-manufacturing-cassette-walkmans/ |access-date=14 August 2023 |publisher=[[Tech Crunch]] |archive-date=12 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812193054/https://techcrunch.com/2010/10/22/an-era-ends-sony-stops-manufacturing-cassette-walkmans/ |url-status=live }}</ref> a result of the emergence of MP3 players such as Apple's iPod.<ref name="AP10.26.10">{{cite web |date=26 October 2010 |title=Original Walkman is RiP (replaced by iPod) |url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2010/10/26/original-walkman-is-rip-replaced/8000661007/ |access-date=14 August 2023 |publisher= |language=en-US |via= |archive-date=12 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812193058/https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2010/10/26/original-walkman-is-rip-replaced/8000661007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2022, Sony uses the Walkman brand solely for its line of digital media players.<ref name="NYTimes3.10.22">{{cite web |date=10 March 2022 |title=Do You Still Love the Walkman? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/10/technology/walkman-nostalgia.html |access-date=14 August 2023 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=12 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812193058/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/10/technology/walkman-nostalgia.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2010, Botswana-based Diamond Studios announced plans<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201004190264.html|title=Zimbabwe: Diamond Studios to Commission Cassette Plant|first=Ruth|last=Butaumocho|date=19 April 2010|access-date=1 January 2017|via=AllAfrica|archive-date=20 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020152113/http://allafrica.com/stories/201004190264.html|url-status=live}}</ref> for establishing a plant to mass-produce cassettes in a bid to combat piracy. It opened in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |first = Robyn |last = Curnow |title = Pause and Rewind: Zimbabwe's Audio Cassette Boom |date = 7 June 2011 |url = http://edition.cnn.com/2011/BUSINESS/06/07/cassette.culture.zimbabwe/index.html |work = CNN |access-date = 13 July 2011 |archive-date = 12 July 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110712212253/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/BUSINESS/06/07/cassette.culture.zimbabwe/index.html |url-status = dead }}</ref>

In South Korea, the early English education boom for toddlers encourages a continuous demand for English language cassettes, {{as of|2011|lc=y|post=,}} due to the affordable cost.<ref>{{cite news|first=Yeon-jin (연진) |last=Choi (최) |script-title=ko:멸종 중인 카세트, 한국선 '장수 만세 |date=31 May 2011 |url=http://news.hankooki.com/lpage/economy/201105/h2011053102312221540.htm |work=Hankook Ilbo |access-date=13 July 2011 |language=ko |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814081328/http://news.hankooki.com/lpage/economy/201105/h2011053102312221540.htm |archive-date=14 August 2011 }}</ref>

[[National Audio Company]] in Missouri, the largest of the few remaining manufacturers of audio cassettes in the US, oversaw the mass production of the [[Guardians of the Galaxy (soundtrack)|''"Awesome Mix #1"'']] cassette from the film ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy (film)|Guardians of the Galaxy]]'' in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Meet The Owner Of America's Last Awesome Cassette Tape Factory|url = https://www.slantnews.com/story/2015-09-16-meet-the-owner-of-americas-last-awesome-cassette-tape-factory|website=Slant|access-date = 4 June 2017|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419090228/https://www.slantnews.com/story/2015-09-16-meet-the-owner-of-americas-last-awesome-cassette-tape-factory|archive-date=19 April 2016}}</ref> They reported that they had produced more than 10 million tapes in 2014 and that sales were up 20 percent the following year, their best year since they opened in 1969.<ref>{{cite news |title=This Company Is Still Making Audio Cassettes and Sales Are Better Than Ever |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-01/this-company-is-still-making-audio-cassettes-and-sales-are-better-than-ever |access-date=9 September 2015 |author=Jeniece Pettitt |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=1 September 2015 |archive-date=7 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907104602/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-01/this-company-is-still-making-audio-cassettes-and-sales-are-better-than-ever |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, cassette sales in the United States rose by 74% to 129,000.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7662572/us-cassette-album-sales-increase-2016-guardians|title=U.S. Cassette Album Sales Increased by 74% in 2016, Led by 'Guardians' Soundtrack|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=21 January 2017}}</ref> In 2018, following several years of shortage, National Audio Company began producing their own magnetic tape, becoming the world's first known manufacturer of an all-new tape stock.<ref>{{cite web|title=The world was running out of cassette tape. Now it's being made in Springfield.|url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2018/01/07/world-running-out-cassette-tape-now-its-being-made-springfield/852739001/|work=Springfield News-Leader|access-date=24 April 2018|date=7 January 2018|archive-date=4 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804143210/https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2018/01/07/world-running-out-cassette-tape-now-its-being-made-springfield/852739001/|url-status=live}}</ref> Mulann, a company which acquired [[Recording Media Group International|Pyral/RMGI]] in 2015 and originates from [[BASF]], also started production of its new cassette tape stock in 2018, basing on reel tape formula.<ref>{{cite web|title=Audio cassettes are produced again!|url=https://www.recordingthemasters.com/2018/10/11/audio-cassettes-are-produced-again/|work=Mulann S.A.|access-date=6 May 2020|date=11 October 2018|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727075845/https://www.recordingthemasters.com/2018/10/11/audio-cassettes-are-produced-again/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In Japan and South Korea, the pop acts [[Seiko Matsuda]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UPSH-89001 |title=Eien no Motto Hate Made / Wakusei ni Naritai [Cassette Tape] [Limited Edition / Type C] |website=CDJapan }}, CD Japan. Retrieved 13 June 2018</ref> [[SHINee]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yesasia.com/global/shinee-vol-5-1-of-1-cassette-tape-limited-edition/1053520608-0-0-0-en/info.html |title=SHINee Vol. 5 - 1 of 1 (Cassette Tape Limited Edition)}}, YesAsia. Retrieved 13 June 2018</ref> and [[NCT (band)|NCT 127]] released their material on [[Special edition|limited-run]] cassettes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tower.jp/item/4710517/Chain-%5b%E3%82%B9%E3%83%9E%E3%83%97%E3%83%A9%E4%BB%98%5d%EF%BC%9C%E5%88%9D%E5%9B%9E%E7%94%9F%E7%94%A3%E9%99%90%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%A4%EF%BC%9E |title=【カセットテープ】 Chain ［スマプラ付］＜初回生産限定盤＞] |access-date=13 June 2018 |archive-date=5 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605054138/https://tower.jp/item/4710517/Chain-%255B%25E3%2582%25B9%25E3%2583%259E%25E3%2583%2597%25E3%2583%25A9%25E4%25BB%2598%255D%25EF%25BC%259C%25E5%2588%259D%25E5%259B%259E%25E7%2594%259F%25E7%2594%25A3%25E9%2599%2590%25E5%25AE%259A%25E7%259B%25A4%25EF%25BC%259E |url-status=live }}, Tower Records Japan. Retrieved 13 June 2018</ref> In [[Reiwa era]] Japan, the revived popularity of cassette tapes is an example of [[Showa retro]].<ref>[https://chuokoron.jp/culture/125070.html 昭和レトロはどこへ行く――令和の若者にウケるわけ]. [[Chūō Kōron]]. 10 May 2024.</ref><ref>[https://ascii.jp/elem/000/004/089/4089087/ カセットテープ再ブーム時代に「カセットテープ型2.5インチドライブケース」を衝動買い]. [[ASCII Corporation|ASCII]].14 April 2022.</ref> As of 2021, [[Maxell]] was selling 8 million cassette tapes per year in Japan.<ref>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/cassette-tapes-comeback-trend-japan-nostalgia-gen-z-music-fashion/ Cassette Tapes Are Making a Comeback in Japan]. Vice. 10 February 2021.</ref>

In the mid-to-late 2010s, cassette sales saw a modest resurgence concurrent with the [[vinyl revival]]. As early as 2015, the retail chain [[Urban Outfitters]], which had long sold [[LP record|LPs]], started selling new pre-recorded cassettes (both new and old albums), blank cassettes, and players.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/category.jsp?id=MUSIC-CASSETTES#/ |title=Cassettes|accessdate=30 July 2016|archivedate=27 November 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127102342/https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/category.jsp?id=MUSIC-CASSETTES#/}}</ref> In 2016, cassette sales increased,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thevinylfactory.com/news/cassette-album-sales-rise-74-2016/ |title=Cassette sales increased by 74% in 2016|date=23 January 2017}} The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 26 October 2018</ref> a trend that continued in 2017<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thevinylfactory.com/news/cassette-sales-2017/ |title=Cassette sales grew 35% in 2017|date=5 January 2018}} The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 26 October 2018</ref> and 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thevinylfactory.com/news/uk-cassette-sales-grew-90-percent-first-half-2018/ |title=UK cassette sales grew by 90% in first half of 2018|date=26 July 2018}} The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 26 October 2018</ref> In the UK, sales of cassette tapes in 2021 reached its highest number since 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Let's get physical: new BPI report shows vinyl & cassettes sales surge, decline of the CD slows |url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/let-s-get-physical-new-bpi-report-shows-vinyl-cassettes-sales-surge-decline-of-the-cd-slows/084895 |access-date=14 September 2022 |website=MusicWeek.com }}</ref>

Cassettes are favored by some artists and listeners, including those of older genres of music such as [[dansband]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Vad händer med dansbandsutgivningen när Bert säljer? |url=http://www.dansbandsbloggen.se/2006/05/vad-hnder-med-dansbandsutgivningen-nr.html |access-date=14 August 2023 |archive-date=20 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820082718/http://www.dansbandsbloggen.se/2006/05/vad-hnder-med-dansbandsutgivningen-nr.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> as well as [[independent music|independent]]<ref name=Guardian3.29.10/> and [[underground music|underground artists]],<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web |title=This Is Not a Mixtape |date=22 February 2010 |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/article/7764-this-is-not-a-mixtape/ |access-date=14 August 2023 |publisher=Pitchfork |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054958/http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/7764-this-is-not-a-mixtape/ |url-status=live }}</ref> some of whom were releasing new music on tape by the 2020s, including [[Britney Spears]] and [[Busta Rhymes]].<ref name="Discogs">{{cite web |title=Popular/Major Releases on Cassette [2021 NEW] |url=https://www.discogs.com/lists/PopularMajor-Releases-on-Cassette-2021-NEW/728533 |access-date=14 August 2023 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref> Reasons cited for this include tradition, low cost,<ref name=Guardian3.29.10/> the [[DIY]] ease of use,<ref name="TheStranger">{{cite web |title=Baby, I'm for Reel: Unspooling the Affordable, Accessible Microeconomy of the Cassette Revival |url=https://www.thestranger.com/music/2016/03/09/23679384/baby-im-for-reel-unspooling-the-affordable-accessible-microeconomy-of-the-cassette-revival |access-date=14 August 2023 |publisher=TheStranger}}</ref> and a nostalgic fondness for how the format's imperfections lend greater vibrancy to low-fi, experimental music, despite the lack of the "full-bodied richness" of vinyl.<ref name=Guardian3.29.10/><ref name=Pitchfork /><ref name=TheStranger />