Yes, there is a motor in a record player, and it’s literally the part that makes the platter spin at a steady speed.

Quick Scoop

Most modern record players (and classic hi‑fi turntables) use an electric motor to rotate the platter so the needle can track the grooves at a constant speed. Without that motor, the record wouldn’t move and you’d get no continuous music, just a needle sitting in one spot.

How the motor fits in

There are two main ways the motor drives the platter:

  • Belt‑drive: The motor sits off to the side and turns the platter via a rubber belt (quieter, good for hi‑fi listening).
  • Direct‑drive: The motor is directly under and attached to the platter (fast start/stop, popular for DJ use).

In both cases, the motor’s job is to keep the platter spinning at fixed speeds like 33⅓ or 45 RPM, smoothly and with as little vibration and noise as possible.

A tiny story version

Imagine an old music box you have to wind by hand; the crank is what keeps the tune moving along. A record player’s motor is like an invisible, perfectly steady crank that keeps your vinyl turning at just the right pace so the stylus can “read” the grooves and turn them into music.

TL;DR: Yes, record players do have a motor, and it’s the “heart” that spins the record at a constant, precise speed so the music plays correctly.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.