Taylor Swift Named Record Store Day 2022 Ambassador: “The places we go to discover music new and old have always been sacred to me,” says Swift. Taylor Swift will be Record Store Day’s first global ambassador, taking the figurehead position for 2022 after astronomical vinyl sales of her recent albums. “The places where we go to browse and explore and discover music new and old have always been sacred to me,” Swift said in a press release. “Record stores are so important because they help to perpetuate and foster music-loving as a passion.” She will announce a special RSD 2022 release in the coming weeks. Anna Lundy and Doyle Davis of Grimey’s New and Pre-loved Music, a store in Nashville, paid tribute to Swift’s continued patronage of shops such as their own. “Swift has shown her love and support for independent record stores by not only supporting our shop specifically during the dark, early days of the pandemic [and] when she directly donated to help us support our staff…Swift also steered “her eager, excited, and dedicated fans to independent record stores, places that many of them visited for the first time while in search of her signed CDs.”
Oxford, UK | Beer and vinyl store Big Scary Monsters Social Club will welcome bands in 2022: Just over a year ago Kevin Douch opened Big Scary Monsters Social Club in Cowley Road. It sells alternative punk and indie records and craft beer, so there was a ready-made customer base among the student population of east Oxford. The coronavirus pandemic meant he and his wife Gemma and their business partner Leigh Shorter were forced to start running the shop on a click and collect basis. But as restrictions eased throughout 2021 the store has built up a loyal customer base and Mr Douch said they were hopeful that 2022 will be an even better year. At the age of 17 he launched the Big Scary Monsters independent record label. Now 38, he is proud the label is about to reach the age of 21, with records by bands on the label selling in the racks at the Cowley Road base.
Winnipeg, CA | Don’t call it a comeback: Winnipeg record-slingers not surprised vinyl back on top: In an era where every song ever recorded is available to stream at your fingertips, a classic format for listening to music is making a surprising comeback. Surprising, that is, unless you’re a record collector who has seen music on vinyl explode in popularity. The growth in vinyl sales, in fact, has even outpaced sales of its smaller digital cousin, the compact disc, for the first time in decades. According to statistics from music industry tracker Billboard, in 2021 vinyl records were responsible for more than half of all physical album sales in the United States, and more than 30 per cent of all album sales in total. Across the pond, the British Phonographic Industry recorded more than five million LP sales last year — the 14th consecutive year records have seen an increase. Those changes aren’t a shock for local vinyl dealers, either.
Kent, UK | We visited HMV store in Canterbury before it closed ahead of move to smaller shop: Like many, I suspect, I haven’t ventured into a branch of HMV for years. If I want to listen to the latest music, I use Spotify; if I want to watch a new blockbuster film, I turn on Netflix or Amazon Prime. So in this new era of downloads and streaming services, how do shops selling racks of CDs and DVDs survive? When it opened in 1999, Canterbury’s HMV was one of the city’s busiest stores, attracting hordes of film and music fans as it brought pop culture to the high street. For many, each visit to the shop was an experience; an event to be savoured. Teenagers would pile in after school, spending an age listening to music on headphones dotted around the two-storey store, and often leaving without parting with any cash. But they would be back when their pocket money racked up, keeping the tills ringing for a retailer at the top of its game. Those same tills would be full to bursting at Christmas, as the store became a one-stop shop for many ticking sought-after presents off their lists – CDs, DVDs, iPods, posters.
Cheyenne, WY | Phoenix Books & Music rebrands as Downtown Vinyl: Phoenix Books & Music has rebranded as Downtown Vinyl. In a mostly cosmetic renovation, owner Don McKee leaned into what Phoenix Books & Music already was to many in the community – a hub for local record collectors and music lovers. McKee has been the sole owner and operator of what is now Downtown Vinyl for the past 16 years. The idea to rebrand has sat in his mind for the past two years, but the final push to close up for two weeks and renovate the store happened in response to his customers’ overwhelming support for vinyl records. “It’s sad to get rid of books, and I know I’m disappointing old customers, but as a business decision, you have to go with the growth,” McKee said. Records were maybe 2% of his business when he first took ownership of the store. At the time that McKee closed his doors to begin remodeling on Jan. 1, records were at least 80% of his business.
NJ | Saving old-school sound: N.J.’s record shops preserve musical relics: New Jersey has a remarkable number of independent, idiosyncratic vinyl record stores all across the state. There should be a guided tour of all its vinyl record shops because they get right to the heart of our state’s charms, history, distinctive attitude and variety. The stores range from small, funky shops that feel like being inside someone’s mind, to spacious, upscale record havens. One thing they all share is owners who are passionate about music on vinyl. …Stepping into New Jersey’s record stores is like stepping into history. Among the pleasures of vinyl records is their pleasing, reassuring size; the artwork on the cover that gives you a hint of what to expect inside, and — they have liner notes you can read. Then there is the ceremonial, tactile aspect of playing the record. You don’t just pop it in. You gently remove the record from its paper sleeve, carefully place it on the turntable and even more carefully touch the stylus (needle) to the album. Since you have earned it, you can sit back, listen to the album and let it wash over you.
Liverpool, UK | Legendary Skeleton Records boss John Weaver dies: Skeleton Records – or ‘Skellies’ – has been a presence in the town for 50 years. Legendary Birkenhead record store boss John Weaver has died, shortly before his 70th birthday. John founded Skeleton Records – more usually known as “Skellies” – in the town in 1972, and was well-known to generations of record buyers. Skeleton Records made the announcement on its Facebook page early today (Wednesday). John was fondly known as “Man” by his habit of referring to everybody as “Man.” The post read: “We’re heartbroken to announce the passing of founder and all-round local legend John “Man” Weaver. “John started Skeleton Records in 1972 with good friend John Poole and almost single-handedly saw the shop through 50 calendar years of trading, always staying one step ahead of the bailiffs. “John had been courageously battling COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) for many years, yet was never far from the limelight with his usual caustic wit and stories about music industry legends he’d booked back in the 70s. The world will be a much duller place without him, and he will be sadly missed by all of his family and friends here at Skellies.
Cairo, EG | Cairo’s Sherry’s Vinyl strikes partnership with Endless Records Cafe: Iconic Cairo record store, Sherry’s Vinyl, gained its claim to fame through its impressive archive of classic Arabic music. It recently announced a partnership with Endless Records Cafe, the cafe-slash-record store that quickly became a favourite amongst Egyptian locals who enjoy a good cup of coffee alongside their favourite classic tunes. Now, Sherry’s Vinyl is adding new noise to the scene by stocking chart-topping contemporary records. Fans of the likes of Billie Eilish, Adele, Lana Del Rey, Eminem and Nas can now expect mint condition vinyls of their favourite albums at international prices – with the opportunity to ‘buy now and pay later’. Never ones to exclude, the record store also stocks ear-candy for the city’s cinephiles, with vinyl soundtracks of iconic films like Pulp Fiction, Bohemian Rhapsody – and even Game of Thrones. Sherry’s Vinyl is also offering international shipping, allowing music enthusiasts to send some vinyl-love anywhere in the world, fast and hassle-free.
Hackney, UK | New East London record fair to take place this week: Next Door Records will be hosting the fair at Oslo, Hackney: A new East London record fair hosted by Next Door Records will take place this weekend. The record store has teamed up with Hackney venue, Oslo, to host the free record fair this Saturday (22nd) from 12 to 6PM. Stalls at the fair include Ninja Tune, Partisan Records, La Vida Es Un Mus, Tome Records, Third Man Records among others. There will also be live music from many of the stalls with Next Door Recordings holding a set from 1 to 2PM. Next Door Records, the Shepherd’s Bush-based store, bar and cafe, opened in August 2020. Since then they’ve organised DJ events, supper clubs and workshops across London. The event comes after news broke at the end of last month that vinyl sales in the UK had hit their highest level in three decades.
