Moog Music has slashed jobs at its Asheville, North Carolina, manufacturing factory, the Asheville Citizen-Times reports. The exact number of layoffs at the iconic synthesizer brand is currently unknown, but sources told the Citizen-Times that more than half of existing positions were cut, including most workers who built the instruments. Synth Anatomy cited social media posts from former employees who confirmed that layoffs had taken place.
The move comes after Moog was acquired by the audio electronics company inMusic in June of this year. Moog, through a representative, initially offered Pitchfork no comment. On September 27, the company responded to the news with the below statement.
Moog opened its Asheville headquarters in 2011. The company became employee-owned in 2015, when Moog Music adopted an employee stock ownership plan. Employees launched a unionization campaign in 2022, seeking job security and better pay. The empoyee ownership era ended this year with inMusic’s acquisition. Moog Music became part of the electronics company’s broader portfolio alongside the brands Akai, Alesis, Denon, M-Audio, Marantz, and Numark.
Moog Music:
We want to thank everyone who has reached out over the last several days to check in on us. As you probably know, it’s been a very hectic time at Moog. We’re making certain changes to ensure our long-term financial health and continued innovation and would like to share important and accurate information with you.
First, our headquarters will remain in Asheville where we will continue to design, innovate, and manufacture instruments of the highest standard, such as Moog One, Minimoog Model D, legacy modular, and our newest innovative products, the first of which you will see early next year. We are also asking some of our overseas partners who we’ve worked with for years to help finish assembly on some products. This hybrid approach will allow us to get on strong financial footing and continue designing, building, and delivering quality musical instruments for years to come.
Last week we made the difficult decision to adjust the size of our assembly team to better match our new approach. While this transition was challenging for everyone, substantial support, benefits, and healthcare was provided to those affected, easing their journey to new opportunities.
We are looking forward to getting past this painful phase with renewed energy and enthusiasm. We believe the brightest days for Moog Music lie ahead and are excited about our vision for the future.
Thank you for your continued trust and belief in Moog Music.
This article was originally published on Sunday, September 24, at 11:53 a.m. Eastern. It was last updated on Thursday, September 28, at 8:48 a.m. Eastern.
