Cassette tapes first came out in 1963 , when Philips introduced the Compact Cassette in August of that year.

Quick Scoop

  • Invented: 1962 by Lou Ottens and his team at Philips.
  • Public introduction: August 1963 at the Berlin Radio Show.
  • U.S. debut: 1964.
  • Pre-recorded music cassettes: commercially available by 1965.

Why it matters

The cassette started as a convenient alternative to bulky reel-to-reel tape, then became a huge format for home recording and music listening. It was especially popular through the 1970s and 1980s.

TL;DR

Cassette tapes came out in 1963.