Walkman: The First 10 Years

The Evolution of Sony's Portable Music Icon

In the summer of 1979, Sony introduced the Walkman, and just like that, personal audio was never the same.. Over the next decade, the Walkman became a cultural phenomenon, synonymous with youth, freedom, and individuality. Join me as we explore its evolution from a simple cassette player to an icon of personal expression and innovation.

The Sony Walkman TPS-L2, released on July 1, 1979, changed how people listened to music on the go. It started with Sony’s co-founder Masaru Ibuka, who wanted a convenient way to enjoy opera during long flights. Sony engineers quickly responded by modifying the existing Pressman cassette recorder, building a working stereo prototype in just three days. They used the chassis of the TCM-600 cassette recorder, a model Sony had introduced the year before, in 1978.