London-based Key Production are good eggs.
One of the leading providers of vinyl pressing, CD replication and DVD replication and print management in the UK music market, the company has been a long-standing friend of the independent music sector since being founded in 1990.
The Independent Echo wanted to find out a little more about the company, its team – and the best things about working at Key.
So we only went ahead and asked them. Here’s what they said in their own words…
Karen Emanuel, Managing director
* What’s the coolest thing that’s ever happened to you at Key?
I think back to all the cool parties I used to go to in the ’90s (getting a bit old for that now) and working with all the cool bands.
I guess to just be in an industry that you love and be successful in it is probably the coolest thing anyone can do!
* What does Key mean to you and why are you proud to work there?
Key is my passion, my love, I would say my baby, but at 25, I guess it’s no longer a baby!
I am incredibly proud to have such a wonderful, dedicated and knowledgeable team that have enabled me to develop it into the success it has become.
Coupled with of course, our lovely customers. It gives me a warm glow thinking about it.
* What do you hope to achieve at Key Production in the future?
Continue to grow and provide the best service to our clients. Be the last company standing in terms of producing “stuff” – things that you can touch and feel! Viva vinyl!!
John Service, Head of Production
* What’s the coolest thing that’s ever happened to you at Key?
It’s really hard to pick the one coolest thing that’s happened, there have been so many amazing showcases and intimate gigs that I have had the pleasure to be able to attend along with getting to meet and work with some of my favourite bands, labels and heroes – too many to mention!
* What does Key mean to you and why are you proud to work there?
To me Key means great people, great music and great quality!
I’m incredibly proud to work with such a dedicated team who are so passionate about what they do.
We strive for perfection in everything that we do and I think that really shows in the quality of what we produce across the various divisions of the business.
The whole team are huge music fans as well as being self professed packaging geeks so there is lots for everyone to get excited about in what we do.
The fact that I get to work so closely with the Key and [PIAS] teams means I am surrounded by the most passionate music people in the business which is a great place to be!
* What do you hope to achieve at Key Production in the future?
I want to keep on creating new, innovative and beautifully packaged products to help artists entice their fans and make their artistic dreams a reality!
Neil Gibbons, consultant
* What’s the coolest thing that’s ever happened to you at Key?
I’ve been able to meet so many great artists whilst at Key, through nights out, lunches and dinners.
I‘ve been to some great gigs, attended festivals, lost the odd phone at some, have no memory of others.
I’ve helped fashion some great packaging for some great artists and been able to help some of them make it to number one by getting more records in just in time get those all-important final sales.
Like most staff at Key, I’ve been here a really long time and so I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s just all cool!
* What does Key mean to you and why are you proud to work there?
Key is such an amazing place to work. Everybody works so well together, covering each others’ work and helping out through busy times.
We all know the aims of the company and so everyone is pulling in the same direction.
We really do try to go the extra mile for customers, particularly creatively which has led us to work on some fantastic projects for some of the best record labels out there.
* What do you hope to achieve at Key Production in the future?
We want to be at the forefront of music, innovating the future of packaging on all formats, bringing our knowledge from other industries via our sister company Think Tank Media.
Through this vehicle we work in other sectors such as sport, health & beauty and games, bringing the technology and creativity from some of the high end packaging we are working on and passing it on to our customers at Key production.
Kath Summersgill, Sales Manager
* What’s the coolest thing that’s ever happened to you at Key?
There have been quite a few cool things that have happened to me over the 15 years I’ve worked for Key Production, but I would have to say that as a longtime fan of Pixies, being able to work on Indy Cindy last year with the utterly inspiring Vaughan Oliver, would have to be up there.
* What does Key mean to you and why are you proud to work there?
Working at Key means working with a really nice bunch of likeminded people whilst listening to great music. Everyone’s just as passionate about making great products as they are about music and it shows in the end results.
* What do you hope to achieve at Key Production in the future?
To be instrumental in The Smiths reforming and then making their new album.
Kerry Wadsworth, Head Of Production
* What’s the coolest thing that’s ever happened to you at Key?
There’s been loads! A particular highlight was working with Mysterious Al on a Scratch Perverts release as I am a big fan of his work. A pair of his Adidas Superstar Vulcs will forever remain on my wish list.
* What does Key mean to you and why are you proud to work there?
Every day I get to hang out with some of my best friends and make beautiful things, the enthusiasm and passion across all sectors of our companies is phenomenal.
* What do you hope to achieve at Key Production in the future?
The recent acquisition of Breed Media means the future is looking bright and we’ve added even more fantastic staff and customers to the gang.
Ultimately I want us to keep building on all our hard work, never be complacent and always enjoy what we’re doing.