Vinyl Sales Have Dropped 33% in 2024: Record sales dropped from 34.9 million units sold in 2023 to just 23.3 million in 2024. After vinyl sales saw a significant rise earlier in the decade decade, Billboard’s latest music consumption report reveals a 33% decline in record sales this year. Compared to last year’s music consumption data, vinyl sales fell from 34.9 million units in 2023 to just 23.3 million in 2024. It’s not just vinyl either: CDs and digital album sales also dropped in 2024, with CDs falling 19.5% and digital albums down by 8.3% from where they were in 2023. All told, album sales across the board are down by 23%, decreasing from 75.5 million units sold in 2023 to 57.5 million units in 2024. There have been some notable increases from last year: for one, vinyl is still outpacing CDs, so the revival of collecting and spinning records hasn’t died out completely.
Los Angeles, CA | Revival of L.A. record store Licorice Pizza serves a slice of vinyl nostalgia: As a teen growing up in Orange County in the early ‘80s, Kerry Brown’s immediate career goal was simple. He wanted to work at his favorite record store, Licorice Pizza. Years later, Brown would embark on life as a musician and busy producer-engineer, working on records by the Smashing Pumpkins, Afghan Whigs, Miley Cyrus and his own indie rock band Catherine, but a stint behind the counter always eluded him. As he says now with a shrug, “I was never cool enough to work at a record store.” Even so, he spent many days at his local Licorice Pizza, strolling the aisles, hanging out with friends, and settling into the couch to listen to whatever disc was spinning on the turntable. Brown once spent a night sleeping outside the store waiting for the 1983 release of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance.”
Tacoma, WA | New business in Tacoma becomes one stop shop for books, thrift and records: The business owners of Last Letter Books, Persona Thrift and Janku Land hope to create unique and specially curated stock not available elsewhere in the city. On Sept. 27, Last Letter Books and Persona Thrift held their grand opening, moving in with Janku Land Records inside of Tacoma’s old Wonder Bread building at 1720 S. 7th St. Suite 104. Janku Land celebrated their six-year anniversary the same day. …“It is a small space, so I really have to manage it, I do not have any room to have any garbage,” John told the Ledger. “I think the stock is pretty good that I opened with but there is always room for improvement. You just keep chasing your vision of the perfect spot, I want it to be a space that I would want to visit.”
Leeds, UK | Leeds vinyl store Released Records re-opens in Hyde Park Book Club: The shop moved out of its original Corn Exchange location last year due to rising rent and service charges. Leeds vinyl shop Released Records, formerly based in the city’s Corn Exchange, has re-opened permanently at local venue Hyde Park Book Club. Since October 6th, the record store has had a selection of genre-spanning £2 LPs and 12-inch records on sale at the new location. (Hyde Park doesn’t presently have the space for Released to show its full collection). Released plans to start hosting a monthly event where guest DJs play a selection of records for sale, with more partnerships and a record fair TBA. First opened in 2017, Released moved out of the Corn Exchange last year due to rising rent and service charges, among other factors. Prior to setting up shop at Hyde Park Book Club, the store had been selling exclusively online.
Oakville, CT | Undergrounds Record Cafe in Oakville closes its doors: ‘Best path forward at this time.’ Undergrounds Record Cafe, a restaurant where you could get pancakes with a side of Peter Gabriel, announced that it closing the doors to its Main Street location in Oakville. “After much consideration and with deep regret, we have made the decision to close our doors for good. We believe it is the best path forward at this time,” a statement reads from owners Dean and Nick Cilfone on the business’ Facebook page. “We want to express our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who has supported Undergrounds throughout our journey.” …”Thank you once again for your incredible support. While we may be closing this chapter, the memories and friendships will forever remain in our hearts,” the statement continued.
Brisbane, AU | Now Open: B-SIDE Is Yoko Dining’s New Upstairs Record Bar with Boozy Slushies, Ramen and Miso Caramel Soft Serve. This new addition to this Howard Smith Wharves izakaya owes a debt to Tokyo’s vibrant back-alley bars—and hosts weekly retro vinyl sessions. Already one of Brisbane’s best Japanese eateries, Howard Smith Wharves’ Yoko Dining wants to be one of the city’s best Japanese bars as well. Five years after first opening, the waterside venue has given its top level a revamp. Meet B-SIDE, its new upstairs record bar—and get ready for vinyl-spun tunes, boozy slushies, and everything from chicken miso ramen and miso caramel soft serve to tuck into. “We wanted to create something that encapsulates the energy and playfulness of Tokyo’s vibrant back-alley bars but with a Brisbane twist,” advises restaurateur Jonathan Barthelmess, who is behind Yoko Dining, as well as fellow HSW eatery Greca. “B-SIDE is for those who want to kick back after work, enjoy amazing food and drinks, and let loose with good music…”
Seattle, WA | Jerry Cantrell record signing at Easy Street: Jerry Cantrell is celebrating the release date of his new solo album I Want Blood with a signing at Easy Street on Sunday, October 20th at 4:00 PM. To attend this event, pre-purchase a copy of I Want Blood online (on CD or Vinyl) HERE. With your purchase of the album, you’ll receive a wristband for one person to attend the 10/20 signing event. Space is limited so grab a copy and claim your spot now!
Berlin, DE | Objects Manufacturing: Berlin’s new resident vinyl producers: Meet Objects Manufacturing, the electronic music insiders whose sustainable vinyl-pressing plant is getting Berlin DJs amped up. There comes a time in every aspiring DJ’s life when simply uploading your latest tech house set to SoundCloud and sending the link to your mum and three closest friends just doesn’t cut it anymore. Let’s get physical! Launched last spring in a former cable factory near the Spree, the independent vinyl pressing plant Objects Manufacturing lets you indulge your deepest analogue desires. Co-founders Daniel Plasch and Jeremy Giullot – both well known in the music scene as the manager of Review Südost and the head of electronic indie label Bright Sounds, respectively – identified a problem in the vinyl game: it’s hard to produce affordable, high-quality records both locally and sustainably. Not impossible, though, as their business is a testament to. The two electronic music aficionados use recyclable materials and rely entirely on green energy from German biogas to master, press and ship their shiny 12-inch vinyls.
