The Sound of Legacy: Iron Mountain's Role in Preserving Music History

For over seven decades, Iron Mountain has been the trusted steward of the world’s most valuable assets, and this dedication extends to the irreplaceable sounds of music history.

The Challenge of Tape Degradation

Some of the most fragile recordings come from the 1970s and 1980s, where changes in manufacturing led to problems that are only now becoming clear. As these tapes slowly degrade, we risk losing vast swaths of music history unless they are properly preserved.

Our specialists are stepping up to the challenge, offering media remediation services to stabilize fragile materials affected by issues like mold, brittleness, and "sticky-shed" syndrome. This allows the content to be safely played and digitized. Archivists also face "Adhesion Syndrome," where the edges of a tape become bound together. As the tape is unwound, this condition can cause the magnetic oxide - the material holding the sound - to rip from the backing, leading to permanent loss.

Expertise and Innovation in Action

Iron Mountain's expertise goes beyond simple storage. It involves a forward-thinking approach to problem-solving and innovation in media recovery technology. The MAS team, including veteran studio engineers and inventors, is dedicated to applying modern, ingenious methods to restore lost, damaged, or otherwise inaccessible data.

This focus on the asset lifecycle—making analog and digital assets secure, accessible, and AI-ready—positions Iron Mountain as a strategic partner to the entertainment industry and 95% of the Fortune 1000.

The New York Times coverage is a compelling look at how Iron Mountain's trusted guardianship and dedication to our customers' legacies help unlock the value from what already exists. You can read the full article here.