Nailsworth, UK | Popular record shop Sanctuary Music in Nailsworth has closed: A popular record shop in Nailsworth has closed ‘due to personal circumstances’. The closure of Sanctuary Music, in Nailsworth Mills Estate, was announced on Facebook. Owners Ash Hunt and Adrian Coubrough posted: “We are very sad to announce that after a period of uncertainty due to personal circumstances, Sanctuary Music will be closing down. “We are so grateful for all the fantastic support we’ve had from everyone in Nailsworth and the local area over the past two years.” The shop specialised in vintage, rare and contemporary vinyl and music memorabilia, and was a magnet for vinyl lovers. Following the announcement of the closure, the shop’s Facebook page was flooded with messages of sadness at the news and support for the owners.
Shawnee, KS | Review: Brothers Music KC: With the vinyl industry seemingly being resurrected from the dead after not doing much since the late ‘70s, it is important to know where to go when looking for records. After getting my very own record player, I had no idea where to look to find some records at a decent price. It just so happened that just down the street from where I work was Brothers Music KC. This store is located in the heart of downtown Mission, Kansas right on Johnson Drive which is an easy drive for students living in the Mill Valley area. When looking for a record store, you really must take into consideration how is the store laid out because it needs to be easy to find what you want and do the employees have the ability to help you find what you are looking for if you need some help.
Las Vegas, NV | On The Record shines in 1st-anniversary fete on Las Vegas Strip: One of the VIP guests showed up with a shiner, but Jonnie and Mark Houston made it through the night unscathed. The party-purveying twin brothers celebrated the first anniversary of On The Record speakeasy and club at Park MGM late Saturday. The event also served as the site of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone’s post-UFC 246 party. Cerrone arrived with his wife, Lindsay. He also showed up with a purple welt under his left eye, a parting gift from Conor McGregor from T-Mobile Arena earlier in the night. The zestful Houston brothers, and their multileveled nightspot, have been a column favorite since the club opened in December 2018. Love the 1963 Bristol Lodekka double-decker bus converted into a DJ booth, the vinyl parlor with real albums, and the speakeasy room lined with vintage cassette tapes.
Wrexham, UK | Wrexham film and music shop will be ‘sorely missed’ say shoppers and residents: Readers say a ‘great store’ will be ‘sorely missed’ after a long-standing Wrexham trader announced plans to close his shop. The Leader reported last week how Alun Hughes, owner of the popular Alun Hughes Film, Music and Nostalgia shop on Bank Street, will be closing his business at the end of February. Social media users shared their views on the Leader’s Facebook page. Robert Fell said: “Good luck Alun, with what ever you do. “Always put your heart and soul into things. Top man.” Ian Purviss posted: “A great store that will be sorely missed. I remember buying Guns N’ Roses cassette single from you all them years ago when it was Phase One – the most diverse record store I have ever known. Good luck Alun.” John Griffiths said: “All the best Alun, and wish ya all the luck in the world.”
Barrow, UK | This award is music to the ears of this Barrow based record shop: Passion for music, enthusiasm and customer care, as well as a living a dream is the reason this Barrow based record shop has earned The Mail’s ‘Trader of the Week.’ TNT records opened it’s doors in December 2018 and it has been a success ever since. April saw the vinyl specialist shop be part of record store day, which lead to a queue of more than 300 people outside their store. This was topped off in December of 2019 when they were chosen as record shop of the year by Long Live Vinyl magazine after customers gave it their backing in the annual online competition, which attracted more than 12,000 votes. It is that support which has seen them claim their most recent award of Trader of the Week, after receiving multiple nominations from music lovers.
London, UK | Rough Trade: We’re selling more records than ever: At the Rough Trade East record shop in London’s Brick Lane, a man dressed as a giant hot dog is on stage introducing a song. “Put your hands up if you’re afraid of spiders,” says frontman Murray Matravers of fast-rising band Easy Life, before launching into one of their typically quirky compositions. Easy Life’s in-store live appearance has attracted a throng of enthusiastic teenage fans, all clutching newly purchased copies of their new album, Junk Food. The majority of the audience pre-ordered the album online and admission to the gig is included in the price. Perhaps you thought young people didn’t buy records and CDs? Or that streaming is killing the physical album? Well, welcome to the new reality of music retail. “The idea that physical and digital are incompatible, I think, is outdated,” says the shop’s assistant manager, Alex Bailey. “We’re selling more records now than we ever have.”
Philadelphia, PA | Temple student’s record label signs underground music: Jake Saunders worked as a promoter for bands in New York City before running his record label. Growing up and participating in musical theater and observing his father work as a jazz pianist, Jake Saunders’ life is interwoven with music. “I just like weird music,” Saunders said. “There aren’t that many people out there like me.” Saunders, a junior communication studies major, dedicates his time to help independent artists by running Ramp Local, a small record label that represents more than 30 artists and markets their albums, CDs, cassettes and merchandise. Saunders took over the label in January 2016 while living in New York City and is now expanding it to Philadelphia. His goal is to promote artists, and he strives to represent undiscovered, unique and experimental music. Saunders started working in the music industry in 2013. He studied music at Bennington College, in Bennington, Vermont for two years where he organized shows for local bands. He eventually dropped out of school to work as an independent promoter in New York City while working at fast-food restaurants to keep himself afloat.
Gen Xers, Millennials And Even Some Gen Zs Choose Vinyl And Drive Record Sales Up: Vinyl sales have been surging in the last few years, as CD sales stay flat and digital downloads decrease. In the United Kingdom, data from 2016 reveals that vinyl LP sales revenue surpassed that of digital downloads. And in the United States, LP sales are on par with the sales of CDs. In an era when so much music is at our fingertips through streaming services for under $10 a month, who is spending their hard-earned cash on vinyl? Streaming is currently the primary and cheapest way to buy music. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) database, paid subscription streaming services such as Spotify dominated music sales revenue in the U.S. in 2018, accounting for almost 50 per cent of revenue. But cassettes, CDs and digital downloads have all held that position in the past.
