News

Iconic audio manufacturer Linn Products announced April 18 that the Scottish firm will "realign" its business strategy to create "a more focused range of even higher quality products, specifically aimed at the premium end of the consumer market."

Linn employs 280 workers at its Glasgow factory, but would not confirm how many would lose their jobs. In a statement, the company declared, "The restructuring will involve the firm suffering significant redundancies."

According to The Scotsman, founder Ivor Tiefenbrun also issued a statement: "To refocus on our core competencies will require job losses, and so we have commenced consultation with our people. Whilst very painful, this action will ensure that the company will have a bright future."

Tiefenbrun is proud that Linn has continued to manufacture its products in the UK, but told Nick Bevens, business editor of The Scotsman, that it was "a tough and lonely route to choose," going on to observe (in what Bevens characterized as "typically colorful language") that the Labour government had "done more damage to British industry than the Luftwaffe."

Linn, like the entire audio industry, has been hit hard by the current market's focus on portability and non-traditional formats (read: compressed files). However, not everyone blames the market shift and Labour for the company's woes. Linn, which once fiercely defended and promoted two-channel audio and its totemic Sondek LP12 turntable, has focused almost exclusively in recent years on A/V components, while letting its two-channel line become somewhat long in the tooth. Linn also seemed to abandon mid-level and entry products, pursuing the "luxury living" corner of the market. And, of course, the weak dollar hasn't been helping either.

There are still promising signs of life for the company, however, which grossed just over £32 million ($65m) in the past year. In January, Linn announced it was initiating uncompressed high-resolution downloads and also announced significant upgrades to the LP-12, scheduled to reach retailers this spring. Linn's strengths—its impeccable engineering and willingness to innovate—make us confident the company will weather this downturn.