1963

Compact Cassette. The introduction of the Compact Cassette creates one of the most successful audio formats in history.

 

The Compact Cassette is introduced in 1963 by Philips.
It contains magnetic tape housed inside a small plastic cassette.
This protects the tape from dust and physical damage.
Cassettes can be played in portable recorders, home stereo systems and car radios.
A major advantage is the ability to record and copy music easily.
For the first time, music becomes truly portable and mobile.
During the 1970s and 1980s, the cassette spreads worldwide.
Devices like the Sony Walkman turn it into a symbol of personal mobile music listening.
Cassettes are used for music, audiobooks and voice recordings.
Millions of people create their own mixtapes and personal recordings.
For decades, the compact cassette remains one of the most popular audio formats worldwide.