Is vinyl on the decline? Why ‘unrealistic’ pricing is slowing down sales. Is vinyl on the decline? Lately, I have seen a lot of videos on YouTube with people talking about this. Sure there are some valid observations, but there are a lot of wrong assumptions. First of all, the return of vinyl is not a fad. Fads last from a few weeks to a few months such as the Macarena, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Game Boy to name but a few. Trends last longer and are measured over seasons, years, or even decades such as the selfie movement and social media—once more to name but a very few. Many people casually throw about these terms without even understanding what it means. It is like saying an album is a record. Wrong, it is not. Vinyl has grown in popularity and sales from 2007 to this day. That alone does not equate its return as a fad.
Toronto, CA | I went digging in Toronto’s vinyl shops. I found more than music: This hobby encouraged weekend trips to browse through the city’s indie record shops and listen in on customer picks and staff recommendations, soaking in the excitement around the latest releases. As soon as I stepped into Sonic Boom on a recent lunch break, I was drawn to a stack of autographed copies of Texan singer Leon Bridges’ latest self-titled album. He was in town for a show at Massey Hall a few days earlier, so he came and signed a few albums, the clerk told me. I’d never heard of him — my streaming apps had me trapped in a cycle of recommending songs and artists similar to what I already listen to, the kind that peaked in the 2000s thanks to car and khakis ads. I was so out of the music loop I didn’t realize this was the Grammy winner’s fourth album. Forty bucks later, I was hooked.
Leeds, UK | Record Plant, Farsley: Leeds’ newest record store on thriving at Sunnybank Mills and the vinyl revival: In just over a year since opening its doors in Farsley, Record Plant has cemented itself as a thriving hub for music lovers. Initially launched in a modest unit at Sunnybank Mills in October 2023, the store quickly outgrew its space behind The Old Woollen, prompting a move to a larger venue within the same development by autumn 2024. John-Paul told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “It was busy pretty much straight away and has continued to be. So we quickly realised we needed to expand or have bigger premises to stock more items. We moved this summer and opened here at the end of September, in under a year. It’s been quite a big jump up.” With years of experience in the record store industry, opening his own shop felt like a natural progression for John-Paul. However, he initially had reservations about competing in Leeds’ music scene. He said: “There are so many great record shops in Leeds, so I wondered how we’d fit in. But Leeds is such a big city—there’s room for everyone.”
Portland, OR | Eric Isaacson of Mississippi Records Is Retiring From Booking Shows: He wants you to take up the mantle. Mississippi Records has been a beacon for outsider music in Portland since Eric Isaacson opened the doors at the shop’s original location on North Mississippi in 2003. Ever since, the shop and label have played key roles in cultivating the city’s DIY music communities. Though Mississippi Records is known around the world for deep dive vinyl compilations and the attention to detail of each record release—it’s played another, if lesser known, role…He’s organized festivals in Cherry Sprout Park across the street from the shop’s current location and hosted laughing workshops led by ambient legend Laraaji. He’s slotted in the Black cosmic music of Lonnie Holley with Roman Norfleet & Be Present Art Group. In short, Mississippi Records has brought music to this city at a clip that’s hard to match. But times they are a-changin’ at Mississippi Records.
Sofia, BG | A vinyl records factory to open near Sofia: After the state-run record company Balkanton was closed down in 1994, no gramophone records have been manufactured in Bulgaria. This is going to change in 2025, when the first vinyl factory in the country will open. It will be the only such factory in the Balkans at this time, Ilia Grigorov, one of the people behind the factory project told the Bulgarian news agency BTA. The production capacity near Sofia is for around 20,000 records per month. An attempt was made for such an endeavor in Novi Sad, Serbia but it went bankrupt, Ilia Grigorov says further. There is a record factory in Türkiye functioning on commission for a much bigger European company, but it is difficult to release new recordings there. There are a great many artists, authors and labels in Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia, Croatia, Romania and Greece who want to release vinyl records. We want them to release them here, not in Western Europe, ilia Grigorov says.
Portsmouth, UK | Weekend Offender Records bring vinyl production back to Portsmouth after taking the same training as Will Ferrell and Jack White. A Portsmouth record company have brought vinyl production back to the city after undergoing training from an eccentric German record cutting inventor. Matt Piper is one half of the record company Weekend Offender, which has supported local artists for the past four years by providing affordable options to produce their music on a physical format. While previously the record company outsourced their vinyl production, this year they made the leap of buying their own record cutting machine. While that may sound like a standard transactional decision, the inventor of the machine only sells it to people that undertake training with him directly in Germany. Ulrich Sourisseau (known as Souri), is believed to have sold machines to celebrities such as Will Ferrell, Norman Cook, Jazzy Jeff and Jack White. All of whom have to visit him in a small German village to undergo training before being allowed to purchase the machine.
CA | Christopher Dummitt: CBC could learn a thing or two from The Vinyl Cafe: Our national broadcaster has forgotten what matters most is what draws us together. I have a Christmas confession: there’s something I love about the CBC. To some National Post readers, this might seem like the equivalent of saying Al-Qaeda had a few good ideas. But hear me out. At this festive time of the year—in the spirit of peace and love—let me make the case for why one specific program that used to air on CBC Radio deserves our affection. I’m talking about Stuart McLean’s The Vinyl Café that ran from the mid-1990s through to 2015. It was an homage to old-school radio variety shows of the 1930s and 40s — a hodge-podge of music and stories that, year after year, increasingly centred on the fictional world of one Toronto family. The stories featured Dave and Morley and their two children Sam and Stephanie. Dave ran a record shop called The Vinyl Café with the motto: “We may not be big, but we’re small.”
New York, NY | Sustainable Luxury Packaging: Transforming the Vinyl Experience. In the ever-evolving world of vinyl records, collectors and enthusiasts alike seek more than just the music; they crave an experience. This experience extends beyond the grooves of the vinyl to the tactile and visual elements of packaging. With the growing demand for sustainable luxury packaging, the vinyl industry is at a crossroads, balancing environmental responsibility with a desire for premium, aesthetically pleasing designs. In this article, we explore how sustainable luxury packaging can revolutionize the vinyl record industry, offering not only eco-conscious alternatives but also enhancing the value and allure of vinyl records.
The Boomtown Rats Announce ‘The First 50 Years: Songs of Boomtown Glory.’ The group also recently announced an anniversary tour across the U.K. 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Irish new wave band The Boomtown Rats, led by Bob Geldof. The group recently announced an anniversary tour across the U.K., and the celebrations will continue with the release of their new compilation record The First 50 Years: Songs of Boomtown Glory. The album will be available as a 24 track 2LP and 27-track 2CD. All tracks were selected by the band themselves, and the gatefold sleeve will feature brand new commentary from the members. The record promises an extensive look at their career, from their first single “Lookin’ After No. 1” to their most recent, 2023’s “There’s No Tomorrow Like Today.”
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