Phonodisk (Nig) Ltd.

Nigerian record company that operated its own pressing plant and recording studio in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, Nigeria. The company was founded by Alaji Haruna Ishola Bello, musician and president of Star Record Co. and has its roots in Nigerian Musical Industries, Ltd (incorporated in 1976). After a construction period of 3 years, in June 1979 the pressing plant and 24-track studio complex was inaugurated and went into operation two months later. The company soon attracted customers who were dissatisfied with the services of existing manufacturers. It was at that point the largest pressing plant in West Africa (30,000 square feet with about 100 employees) and a full service provider: recording, mastering, disk-cutting and electroplating facilities were all present on the premises, as well as a sleeve printing department. The building of the pressing plant came about after a government ban on the import of recorded material. The plant and studio were built and equipped by the American company Valley Export International (an affiliate of Diskmakers), led by Larry Ballen who became Phonodisk's US representative. The studio was designed and managed by American sound engineer Chas Gerber and the plant was managed by another American Ken P. Wildman. Also appears on releases as: - Phonodisk (Nig.) Ltd. - Phonodisk Nig. Ltd. N.B.: The company was unrelated to the PolyGram-owned companies named Phonodisc.