The Reel Thing

The story of magnetic recording, tracing the origins of the cassette's history, the people involved, and its impact on the recording industry and wider society.

The Reel Thing charts the history of magnetic recording, tracing the origins of the humble cassette right back to its roots. Guiding us through the evolution of tape, music enthusiast Jonathan Scott takes us from the monstrous steel machines installed at the BBC to pre-war Germany, home of the first reel-to-reel recordings; to the first domestic recorders.

Investigating the impact of tape on the recording industry, we discover how it transformed the way music was made, taped and enjoyed. A celebration of how the unassuming cassette changed our culture, it takes us from the Walkman to the mixtape, from home demos to Boombox design, and from hip-hop culture all the way to cassette's modern day resurgence. Exploring the science and technological developments surrounding magnetic tape, The Reel Thing also delves into the humans who made them happen, and explores how magnetic recording changed us and what we listen to.