UK | Bankrupt HMV Has Received ‘A Number of Offers’ — But Is This Chain a Goner? HMV Group fell into bankruptcy again last December. Now, there are ‘a number of offers’ to purchase the down-and-out chain. But then what? The past few years have witnessed a resurgence in music retail, particularly among mom-and-pops selling vinyl in trendy neighborhoods. Record Store Day (RSD), once judged to be a prayer, has lifted hundreds of smaller record stores. Even diversified retailers like Urban Outfitters and Barnes & Noble have expanded their vinyl record sections to profit from the bump. HMV Group, once a proud record chain based in the UK, hasn’t been so uplifted. In December, the chain plunged once again into bankruptcy — or in British speak, ‘administration’. That pre-Christmas lump of coal put thousands of jobs in jeopardy, while raising serious questions about the chain’s future. Over in Hong Kong, the future was definitively bleak. Instead of riding it out, HMV shuttered its entire Hong Kong business. But for now, stores in the UK are holding on.
Athens, OH | Coffeehouse exhibit explores glorious fringes of album art. Tescher to play music from displayed albums at reception Jan. 24. In a world of downloadable MP3 music files and streaming audio, what accounts for the lasting allure of the vinyl record? Part of it really is the sound – do not get your hardcore vinyl man started on the ineffable, broad-spectrum warmth of the analog recording. But any list of selling points for the old-school LP should also include its cover art. For decades the album cover was, like the comic book, a vital popular art form; for every American able to correctly identify Caravaggio’s “Basket of Fruit,” probably 10,000 can name that banana from “The Velvet Underground and Nico.” And if an album you love can bookmark a chapter of your life, its branding image can conjure the moment you first heard the music. To your humble reviewer, circa 1976 will always look like Mapplethorpe’s black-and-white portrait of Patti Smith on “Horses,” the poet staring evenly into the camera with her jacket slung over her shoulder. Someone could put together a trendy gallery show of “Iconic Rock ‘n’ Roll Album Art,” and no doubt someone has.
Dundalk, IE | Record fair comes to The Spirit Store, Dundalk on March 3: If you are a lover of vinyl records you might want to mark Sunday, March 3, down in your diary. The Pop Up Record And CD Fair will be rolling into Dundalk venue The Spirit Store from 10.30am to 5pm. At the record fair there will be thousands of LP’s, singles, 7 inch, 12-inch records and CD’s all in one place with several stalls from all over Ireland. At the fair, you can chose to come along as a customer and buy records, or sell some of your own or even trade some records with another attendee. Come along and browse the collections on show on March 3 and you might come away with some gems for your collection. Entry to this event is free of charge. www.spiritstore.ie
Bristol, UK | Discover Yamaha MusicCast Vinyl 500 at Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2019: Expect the unexpected as Yamaha showcases the MusicCast VINYL 500 turntable as part of a wireless Music system at The Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2019. If you’re looking to dust off an old record collection, or excited to discover a new one, the MusicCast VINYL 500 has it covered, whether it’s through streaming content from popular streaming services, or by playing your favourite vinyl records. Listen to your records around the house, wirelessly – experience True Sound without being tied down by cables. Naturally, there’s an app for this. The MusicCast app enables you to take control of all your listening needs with intuitive access to all your playlists in different rooms through the sophisticated yet user-friendly design. Furthermore, you can even hook up an Alexa device to give your system voice-command skills. The Bristol Hi-Fi shows runs from Friday 22nd February through Sunday 24th February 2019 at the Marriott City Centre Hotel, Bristol
Oshkosh, WI | Record Stores & Vinyl Nights: Take a musical trip back in time. These records stores and vinyl nights will have you feeling nostalgic. The Exclusive Company: The Exclusive Company is America’s oldest full-line independent record store. It started out of the trunk of a car, and now has seven locations throughout Wisconsin. In 1957, The Exclusive Company opened its second location on bustling Main Street here in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. At this store, you can find a wide selection of home and car audio equipment including Dj equipment, turntables, headphones, televisions and more. Our favorite thing found at The Exclusive Company is their vinyl records. They offer an array of genres including classics and current music.
5 Easy Ways to Sell Vinyl Records for Cash: Establishing vinyl data worth is an inexact science, and there are a selection of things that go into figuring out whether or not a given document is one thing that may deliver some huge cash from a collector or one thing that may greatest be used as a placemat. That being stated, it’s good to know what you’ve got earlier than you promote it. Whereas the age can affect a vinyl document’s worth, it’s one of many much less essential elements. This must be apparent, however the artist in query can be an enormous think about figuring out the worth of a document. This issue is fairly simple in relation to vinyl data worth; data that bought nicely and are fairly widespread are going to be much less invaluable than data that bought poorly or are exhausting to seek out.
Hurst, TX | DFW Record Show in Hurst promises retro music fans aisles of vinyl: In this day and age of streaming music, where you can instantly play virtually any song you want through such services as Spotify and Apple Music, good old vinyl has made an unlikely comeback. This explains the demand for an event like the DFW Record Show. Taking place January 19 at the Hurst Conference Center, this retro musical celebration lets fans shop for records, CDs, cassette and 8-track tapes, vintage music memorabilia, and related merchandise from a variety of vendors. They can also drink beer and soda, eat lunch, and listen to music. For Brad Milyo, technical services coordinator for the Hurst Conference Center, there’s just something special and satisfying about the physical act of playing a record, compared to the ease and convenience of streaming. “It’s easy to plug your phone in and stream, but I like being involved in the music,” he says.
