UK | UK vinyl sales reach highest level since 1990: Albums by Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones and Lana Del Rey contributed to the surge in sales this year. Sales of vinyl records in the UK have hit their highest level since 1990. The revived popularity of the physical format has resulted in the 16th consecutive year of rising sales, according to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The BPI added in a new report that the vinyl market has increased more than four times as fast with an 11.7 per cent rise to 5.9 million units in 2023. Taylor Swift‘s ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ was the best-selling album of the year, followed by The Rolling Stones‘ ‘Hackney Diamonds.’ According to the BPI’s analysis, the “ever-rising demand for vinyl albums and other music releases on physical format” reflects a “thriving market for music on the high street”, citing the popularity of independent record stores and the success of shops like HMV, which reopened its flagship store on London’s Oxford Street this year.
Boise, ID | Independent record stores flourish as vinyl continues steady comeback: “Music sounds very different depending on how you listen to it. I always thought that vinyl kind of had this more like raw, like authentic type sound to them that I just enjoyed so much,” said Madysen Wright. Madysen is 19 and like me, a sophomore at Boise State University. We bonded over our love of vinyl. We’re digital natives who have grown up with virtually all recorded music at our fingertips. Physical music like cassettes, CDs, and vinyl records simply can’t meet this instantaneous demand for music like streaming can. But we both have found ourselves with collections of 33s and 45s; we’ve found ourselves in the midst of a vinyl comeback. This musical medium has steadily risen in the last 15 years, growing from only a million units sold in the U.S. in 2007 to 14 million units just ten years later. Then four years later, that sales number almost tripled to 41 million. Gen Zers like Madysen and me have played a large part in this comeback––we’re proof it’s not just lifelong collectors who can get into the groove.
Jacksonville, IL | Pizza Records on the Move In New Year: Jacksonville’s lone record store will have a new home in the new year. Pizza Records announced on Tuesday that they will closing their doors at the Gilham House on Friday, December 29th at 8PM and begin their move to the downtown Square. Co-owner Devin Smock says there’s a lot of new things coming: “It definitely is exciting. We will have significantly expanded inventory, all kinds of fun stuff, vintage audio equipment. It’s a lot but it’s exciting.” Smock says that the expanded space at 59 Central Park Plaza will also allow them to expand their live entertainment offerings: “It’s about 4,500 square feet, and about half of it is the entertainment venue. We are starting to book acts now trying to get local artists, comedians, anything really to come in and perform.” Smock says if you are in a local band, are a local promoter, or offer live entertainment to contact them to possibly get booked.
San Francisco, CA | San Francisco Vinyl Record Pop-Up Finally Gets Brick-and-Mortar Store: For the past three-and-a-half years, David Tutton’s vinyl pop-ups have sprouted up all over the city, in San Francisco neighborhoods ranging from Noe Valley to the Marina. But now the former DJ and club manager has scored his own brick-and-mortar space, and it’s in the heart of thriving North Beach. Out of Sight Records opened for business Thursday in a below-ground shop at 50A Bannam Place, tucked in a tiny alleyway. The cash-only store carries a range of vinyl, from the classic to the obscure, the discount to the highly collectible. Despite its diminutive presence, it’s around a lot of action. A DJ for 30 years, David Tutton has collected a lot of vinyl along the way. His long career had him opening for many a big-name musician: Sinéad O’Connor, the Ramones, Kool & the Gang, Chris Isaak. He’s also DJ’d private events ranging from large Indian weddings to birthday parties for 20-year-olds and 91-year-olds—and other famous San Franciscans.
Lochgelly, UK | Lochgelly record shop owner reflects on first year: In June David Hopkins reflected on a life-changing year in the hotseat of a vintage clothing, vinyl, art and collectibles shop in Lochgelly. A man of music and sound engineer by trade, he opened Emperor’s Attic in 2022 after taking a leap of faith. The Times previously told you that last year David was unemployed and searching for answers when he decided to take on the challenge of owning his own store. Reflecting on the past 12 months, he said the job has had its challenges but it has made him feel nostalgic for his youth. He said: “My life has changed 100 per cent. “I actually feel like an enthusiastic teenager again with my passion back for music, clothing and art. “I just feel sorry at times for customers seeing a hyper 46-year-old blasting music and waving clothes about. “It’s been very encouraging and probably more of a success than I could have expected mainly because of the support of people locally.”
Salt Lake City, UT | Fountain Records: New ‘music collective’ opens its doors in Salt Lake City: Salt Lake City is now home to a new collective record shop, bringing Utah’s music community together and opening up the doors to some rare finds for collectors. Fountain Records, located at 202 E 500 S — in the building that formerly hosted Canella’s restaurant — is a gathering space for both local music lovers and citygoers alike. Over the summer, Fountain began as a pop-up shop for record enthusiasts called 3UP. Nestled in Salt Lake with collaboration from 3Hive of Provo, the location was a huge success. “We got feedback that it was a good idea from a lot of people. They liked the concept and that it was inclusive,” says Adam Terry, owner of the shop and founder of Fountain AVM, a multi-media art and record label. “We had a focus on live music, listening parties, and release parties, so it gave people something to do…” Now, with plenty of new fans both from Utah and beyond, Fountain Records has a permanent location in the heart of Salt Lake City.
West Yorkshire, UK | UK canal boat shop Rubber Ducky Records reopens after sinking: Founder Myles Greenwood launched a GoFundMe campaign following the incident in April. Rubber Ducky Records, a shop on a canal boat docked in the north of England, has reopened after sinking earlier this year. Founder Myles Greenwood broke the news last Saturday, December 23rd, announcing that bookings are available from today. Following the incident in April, Greenwood launched a GoFundMe, raising more than £10,000. “I’m so unbelievably thankful for all the support and generosity since the sinking,” the post read. “Whether it was a message, a GoFundMe donation or a hug, thank you so so much. Humanity really is incredible.” Greenwood, who used to work at now-shuttered Swiss record store Legram Vinyl Garden, opened Rubber Ducky Records last October. It’s docked in the town of Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire.
London, UK | HMV is back on Oxford Street bringing the old-school music experience to a new generation: “What musicians want,” said composer Sir Edward Elgar as he inaugurated the first HMV shop in London in 1921, “is more listeners, and the dissemination of good music by the gramophone will give us a new public which will … listen to it with true appreciation.” Sadly this historical establishment closed its Oxford Street doors in 2019, after the company went into administration, chiefly due to the burgeoning popularity of digital music platforms and the online sale of music. Now, after a four-year hiatus, the store has reopened just in time for Christmas, riding the wave of an unexpected resurgence in vinyl records, CDs, and even cassette tapes. In an era where an infinite music catalogue is a mere click away, the question is: why would anyone choose to queue up for a piece of plastic?
St. Louis, MO | Spinning Around St. Louis: Record Exchange. Upon walking into the double doors of Hampton Avenues’ Record Exchange, visitors will notice something new every time. The ten thousand square foot library turned record store is home to an assortment of at least a million records, cassettes, CDs and musical memorabilia. And owner Jean Haffner is at the center of it all. Haffner has been a part of the record business for 47 years and counting. Previously owning 9 Record Exchange locations, Haffner is now the proud owner of the single location on Hampton Ave. “It’s a treat to do it. It’s a passion to do it … I don’t work, I am here all the time,” Haffner said. Haffner has not always been in with the record business, nor was this what he planned to do in his life. …After never owning anything used in his whole life, Haffner opened his first used record store in 1976. Haffner received the best compliment he’d ever gotten from his father 15 years into the record business. “He said he thought I might make it,” Haffner said. After 47 years, Haffner has, for sure, made it.
