Why Jukeboxes Are More Popular Than Ever In 2024?

Given the rising popularity of records and Hi-Fi, old-school jukeboxes are also seeing their due resurgence.

The first multi-selection coin-operated phonograph dates back to 1927; however, these colourful, playful boxes, symbolic of Americana, refuse to be forgotten.

Alexander Walder-Smith and his family-run Games Room Company imported jukeboxes for the dwindling pub and bar trade for decades.

In 2019, he decided to buy Rock-Ola, one of the historic jukebox manufacturers, and started making them in the traditional way.

Now, Sound Leisure and Rock-Ola are the only companies in the world still manufacturing jukeboxes.

Walder-Smith notes that Rock-Ola’s business has tripled in the past two years.

“The revival of vinyl records has inspired nostalgia for jukeboxes,” he explains. “People, including younger generations, appreciate the tactile, personal experience of vinyl as a counter to the digital age.”

Historically, the jukebox has made many comebacks in popularity, surviving even through prominent doomsayers such as the advent of radio and the Great Depression.

A true jukebox, which plays music mechanically rather than digitally, is similar to the distinction between mechanical and digital watches for enthusiasts.

Modern jukeboxes, however, incorporate some updates: they can play CDs, are Bluetooth-enabled, and use LEDs instead of traditional bulbs. The liquid in the signature bubble tubes has been replaced with a safe alternative, and reinforced plastics ensure durability.

“Some people prefer an original jukebox, much like some prefer a classic car,” says Chris Black, managing director of Sound Leisure. “But the maintenance and search for rare parts can be off-putting. Purists appreciate that we’re contributing to jukebox history. The jukeboxes we make today will be around in another 50 years, passed down through generations.”

The modernisation of jukeboxes is more about maintaining their authenticity in build, performance, and style. Rock-Ola survived by making digital jukeboxes, and Sound Leisure stopped making vinyl-playing ones with the advent of CDs.

The Rock Ola Jukebox collection available now on The Revolver Club website.