Moog Music
Moog Music is the name of two companies, Robert Moog founded to build synthesizers and theremin. The currently existing company is based in Asheville, North Carolina.
The first Moog Music Moog Robert founded in 1954 as RA Moog. After several name changes it was from 1971 to out of business in 1986 Moog Music. The second company acquired in 1996, the Moog Music trademark after the U.S. Trademark Office, the brand had in 1994 declared free. In the UK, a third eponymous company, which has no connections to Robert Moog exists and is allowed to produce only for the UK market under this name.
Moog Music from 1954 to 1986
Robert Moog founded the company R. A. Moog to build theremins and distribute. By Moog's invention of the analog synthesizer in 1964 and use on the Welthitplatte Switched On Bach 1968 Moog was an important name in the music business of the late 1960s. Moog sold the first synthesizer or as individually produced exclusive studio equipment, and considered themselves less as a musical instrument. 1970 the company with the Minimoog began to aim at a slightly wider market. The Minimoog should have the most important properties of previous Moog synthesizer in a simplified, smaller, cheaper and less prone form. Originally it was intended for professional studio musicians who would welcome the lighter portable version of their equipment. After the presentation in 1970 succeeded Moog Music but to conquer the mass market.
In 1971, Moog sold a majority stake in Waytena Bill, the owner of Musonics, the rechristened the company Moog / Musonics, and in the same year in Moog Music. After a few years he sold his shares in Norlin Music, the then world's largest instrument manufacturer. Moog Music has been a subsidiary of Norlin. Robert Moog's contract stipulated that he had to stay at Norlin four years to get the full proceeds from the sale of his shares in the company. He remained as president of Moog Music Department until 1977 in the company.
Initially, the size of Norlin Moog helped to not have to worry about more sales and billing. Moog Music was able to focus solely on the instrument development. At the same time lost Robert Moog but its influence in the company and retired largely from the active development back. In the early 1980s Norlin got into economic difficulties, Manager of Moog Music took over the once again independent companies. However, analog synthesizers against the digital competition had at that time no more opportunity in the market, so that the company closed down operations in 1986.
Moog Music since 1978
After Robert Moog had left Norlin in 1978, he founded a new company called Big Briar. This built again especially theremins and MIDI interfaces. Over the years it expanded the business field to other unusual and new electronic instruments. After the trademark rights to Moog Music and various related brands had become free again, succeeded Robert Moog to purchase it again in a longer process for most markets, and he named his company back into Moog Music. The company benefits from a back increased interest in original synthesizers, which are now considered classics. Besides the production of synths and various electronic devices Moog Music is also the world's main producer of theremins and instrumental in the renaissance of the instrument since the 1990s.