Missoula's Longest Running Recording Studio Under New Ownership

A historic business in an iconic location in Missoula is now under new ownership.

Musicians of Missoula and beyond know Rick Kuschel. He opened The Recording Center in 1986 and has worked with artists like Hoyt Axton, Huey Lewis, and Hank Williams Jr. but also local entities like Yellowstone National Park, both the University of Montana and Montana State University, and other commercial organizations and media companies.

Nestled in between Sushi Hana and the Thomas Meagher Bar, the original lot where The Recording Center is located, 118 West Pine Street, was once owned by C. P. Higgins.

👇See Inside the Recording Center: 📷 Photos of the Studio Below👇

One of Kuschel's most recent collaborations was when local musician and entrepreneur Scott Mathson built Kuschel a new website. The relationship blossomed from there.

"I essentially apprenticed," Mathson says. "[Kuschel] truly is an expert in his craft and I feel pretty fortunate to have spent the last year gleaning some info."

Mathson admits that much of the analog equipment in The Recording Center "predates" him, and Kushchel helped him "learn the ropes." Mathson already has ample digital skills. He owns Mathson Design Co, a web consulting studio, and Plink, a product that makes smart links for podcasts. When Kuschel offered to sell him the business, Mathson was well positioned to create what he calls a "digital-analog hybrid studio."

The Services The Recording Center Will Offer

Mathson says there are three aspects of the business he's interested in focusing on to start, though there may be more opportunities in the future. He pulls out a grey plastic bag full of tapes from his mother. The tape he shows me says "Mimi's 40th Birthday" in his father's handwriting.

"Digitizing is what I want to be a big part of the business," he says. "Format transfers."

Mathson is also interested in recording and producing artists, co-releasing with artists, and doing live and field recordings. You can see one of his recent field recordings below.

You can listen to the recording here.

"I just want to continue to help other artists, and that's what I'm booking is like solo singer, songwriters, small little 3-4 piece bands like that...It's a different kind of excitement. It's more fulfillment than excitement."

Take a look below to see inside The Recording Center.