Sioux Falls, SD | It’s a vinyl record renaissance in Sioux Falls: KSFY reports that according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), vinyl records are pacing to outsell CDs for the first time in over three decades. Crosstown Vinyl owner Steve Zastrow says, “Vinyl is making a strong comeback. When CDs first came out, a majority of people just dumped their records and started buying CDs.” “People have been getting more into them lately. But my wife and I, we’ve always loved vinyl and there is always a market for it.”, said Total Drag owner Dan Nissen. According to KSFY, CDs sales dropped by 34% at the end of 2018 while vinyl records sales increased 18.5.% between 2016 and 2017. “It’s just having something tangible, from the artwork to just the fun of getting a brand-new vinyl record, and throw it on your turn-table,” said Nissen. CDs debuted in 1982 and sales of vinyl records began a steady decline. 20 years later, the iPod made music portable and CDs sales cratered.
Los Angeles, CA | Supervinyl sets the record straight in Los Angeles: All signs might show that the digital age has taken over, but in Los Angeles, there is hope for traditionalists yet. upervinyl is a newly-opened record store, located in Hollywood, that not only stocks a curated collection of classic and rare albums, but also a selection of turntables, speakers and audio equipment as well. Founded by Barry Perlman, the co-founder of Lucky Brand jeans, the boutique has been designed by the locally based architecture and design studio, Standard, who’ve created homes for retail brands such as Blu Dot, Helmut Lang and Intelligentsia coffee in the past. Rather than appearing like a throwback to music’s golden era, Superviny LA’s whopping 1,750 sq ft space has been spliced with black stained oak display cases, panels with integrated lighting, eye-catching louvered ceiling panels and a natural concrete floor for a completely contemporary feel. Once past the black brick and glass storefront, visitors are met by a grid of records, organised in layered tiers that extend upwards toward eye level. This all-encompassing display continues deep into the store and curves around a table, where the turntables and other paraphernalia, including record crates and stands made from hard wood, is displayed.
Record labels share fears over counterfeit vinyl: Record companies, particularly independent labels, are increasingly having to face the problem of counterfeit vinyls being sold online, according to reports. According to Digital Music News, Tommy Boy Records president Rosie Lopez last week told attendees at the Making Vinyl Conference in Los Angeles that her label was discovering numerous fakes of their vinyl records online including albums they haven’t even pressed. “Somehow records that Tommy Boy hasn’t pressed in—eve—are on sale on Amazon, that’s a little concerning,” Lopez said. Chairman of vinyl distributor Alliance Entertainment, Bruce Ogilvie, shared Lopez’ concerns, the report said. “I’m concerned that the ecosystem is getting polluted with counterfeit product,” he added. The vinyl distributor reportedly had little praise for Amazon’s efforts to tackle the problem. “Amazon doesn’t really care, because they still make their fulfillment fees,” Ogilvie said.
Swindon, UK | The Sex Pistols’ first single to sell for thousands in Chippenham: One of the world’s rarest vinyl records is to be auctioned in Chippenham on Friday. Wessex Auction Rooms, at Westbrook Farm, will have The Sex Pistol’s God Save The Queen record on sale, an item which has been valued between £12,000 – £15,000. The British punk band produced one of the most famous PR stunts in history on March 10 1977 when they penned a new contract with A&M records outside of Buckingham Palace, ahead of the release of their first single. This stunt was too controversial for A&M to handle, so they cancelled the contract six days later and ordered all of the copies of the single to be destroyed. Only 10 records of the song were left in the vault at the company, meaning this vinyl has become a much-wanted item for fans of the genre across the world. Auctioneer and vinyl expert Martin Hughes said: “I have had the privilege of selling many rare records but this is certainly the most exciting of them all.
London, UK | World’s Largest Reggae Label Launches London Exhibition: After 40 years of championing some of the greatest musicians in reggae and dancehall, VP Records has will host a celebratory exhibition to showcase their defining role in bringing reggae and dancehall to the international mainstream. From humble beginnings as a small record store in Kingston, Jamaica to an international powerhouse of reggae and dancehall in Jamaica, New York, the exhibition will chronicle the past 40 years of VP’s history through a ten-piece visual display and two evenings of panel discussions on the impact of Caribbean music in the UK. Running October 29th through to November 1st, the exhibition will feature spotlights on Greensleeves Records — which VP acquired in 2008 — and reggae legend Dennis Brown. It will also detail the development of the label’s pioneering compilation series, Reggae Gold, Soca Gold and Strictly the Best. Meanwhile, the panel discussions will focus on the defining role of Caribbean music in the UK, its place in the streaming era, and tips on how to succeed as an upcoming artist.
Symbol Audio unveils new turntable console: Declutter your collection. NY-based company Symbol Audio has released the details of its new MAX turntable and record stand series. The new stand can store up to 250 records, and comes with height adjustable feet and a headphone hook. Symbol Audio has used a low resonance plywood turntable platform to decrease vibration and improve vinyl playback quality. The MAX turntable and record stand is available in natural birch or black laminate. Retailing for $695.00, the record stand measures 28″ x 15″ x 31″, while the turntable platform comes in at 19.5″ x 15″.
Find the perfect turntable for your listening style: In the not-too-distant past, vinyl records and turntables seemed like relics — items of kitsch from a bygone period, like bellbottoms or aerosol hairspray. Not so fast! Vinyl has seen a huge resurgence in recent years, as more and more listeners discover the reasons for its lasting appeal. The numbers back it up: last year, sales of vinyl were up 12%, comprising nearly 14% of all physical sales in music. So, why the vinyl re-revolution? Many audiophiles swear music sounds better on vinyl, and when we’re talking vinyl versus digital, that’s likely true in some key ways. For one, when creating a digital music file, the music itself is typically compressed, which can “squish out the dynamics and textures that give recordings their depth and vitality,” according to sound engineer Adam Gonsalves. Many vinyl-lovers would also point to the way the tiny pops and crackles that come with listening to a vinyl record give the experience a sense of warmth. Plus, they’re collectible physical objects in an increasingly digital world. That all adds up to serious cool factor.
