Chris Black is celebrating 40 years since he joined Sound Leisure as “tea lad,” during which time he has helped position the Leeds-based firm as one of the world’s leading jukebox manufacturers. Reflecting on four decades in the business, Black discussed the changes that have taken place, and the evergreen appeal of a Classic Jukebox.
Chris Black is celebrating 40 years at Sound Leisure, having joined the celebrated jukebox manufacturer as “tea lad” in 1986, before taking on roles in fabrication, packing, supply, operations, and sales, until his appointment as MD in 2006 and joint chair in 2025.
With the last four decades fundamentally changing the face of the business, from the dawn of digital to the vinyl revival and a seismic shift in customer demographic, Black said “it’s been a great journey, and one that’s not over yet.”
“I intended on coming for six weeks initially, and the idea was that I’d just help out in the factory. For family businesses; that’s how it goes,” said Black. “But when I got here, I just loved it so much, and I’m still in it 40 years later.”
“When I joined, the main business was supplying jukeboxes to commercial hospitality venues. That’s something we still do now, we still supply over 1,300 locations throughout the UK. But the biggest change is the Classic Jukeboxes that were initially going into commercial venues. We’re still installing into retail environments, but by far the largest installations are in people’s homes.”
Approximately 90 percent of the jukeboxes Sound Leisure manufactures now end up in a private residence, with installations taking place in more than 45 countries around the world.
“That’s the biggest change, because we’re now dealing with people directly, we’re dealing with some huge brands around the world. That’s the exciting bit, just meeting these people, meeting the celebrities, meeting families that have had the machines and passed them down.”
“Commercial venues a lot of the time, the jukebox was just a means to an end. Whoever it is who’s buying a Classic Jukebox wants one. It’s not a distressed purchase, it’s something that they really want, that they love, that they enjoy.”
From six weeks to forty years
Chris Black said… “I intended on coming for six weeks initially, and the idea was that I’d just help out in the factory. For family businesses; that’s how it goes. But when I got here, I just loved it so much, and I’m still in it 40 years later…
