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 Modern Crosley radio – the CR3003A | |
| Predecessor | Crosley Corporation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | , United States |
| Parent | Modern Marketing Concepts, Inc. |
| Website | crosleyradio |
Crosley Radio is an audio electronic manufacturing company headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. It is a modern incarnation of the original Crosley Corporation which existed from 1921 to 1956. After the original brand was discontinued by parent company Avco in 1956 due to declining sales, the Crosley trademark was resurrected in 1994 by James P. "Bo" LeMastus [1] [2] [3] [4] , CEO of Modern Marketing Concepts, Inc. (now doing business as Crosley Brands), a company incorporated in Simpsonville, Kentucky [5] [6] . Today, Crosley is a marketer of turntables, radios, jukeboxes, speakers, cassette players, CD players, and media stands. Additionally, the division Crosley Furniture, launched in 2009, focuses on home furniture. [7]
In 2017, Crosley introduced the 'Vinyl Rocket' – the first vinyl jukebox in its catalog, and the "world's only vinyl jukebox in current production". The machine holds up to 70 seven-inch records, and can play both A and B sides using a “unique rotating vinyl mechanism” for a total of 140 possible selections. [8]
Since 2020, Crosley has partnered with Sony Music Publishing to produce several The Beatles licensed accessories, including the Crosley Yellow Submarine Portfolio Turntable. [9] [10] They have also collaborated with The Walt Disney Company on merchandise such as the Mickey Mouse and Star Wars themed Crosley Cruiser turntables, and with Universal Pictures for a Wicked turntable.
Despite their success, Crosley has become a controversial brand among collectors of vinyl records, with many considering most models to be novelty items rather than professional equipment, mainly because of poor quality audio and cheap styluses. [11] [12] [13] [14] The brand is known to focus on aesthetics inspired by vintage designs, and they are especially known for their all-in-one portable suitcase-style record players sold at a low price such as the Crosley Cruiser. [15] [16]
The brand is often compared to Victrola, a historical trademark of phonographs bought in 2017 by Corey Lieblein of Innovative Technology who also became manufacturers of all-in-one low-budget portable phonographs with a nostalgic vintage design. [17] [12] [18]