Leigh, UK | Leigh Save Our Souls Records shop opens in Rectory Grove: Customers have been eager to catch a glimpse of a new vinyl record shop in a former bakery in the heart of Leigh. Save Our Souls Records, in Rectory Grove, welcomed the community on Monday to flick through the many racks of rock and roll and punk vinyl and high-quality music artwork prints. In addition, the Save Our Souls brand also has a vegan-friendly clothing line, which is inspired by the punk movement. Stacey Donoghue, owner of Save Our Souls Records, said: “The response to the store has been really good so far. “When we opened at 10am, people didn’t hesitate to come straight in and have a look at our range of vinyl records, music artwork and the Save Our Souls clothing range. “Some young people have come in also, and it’s great to see a whole new generation discovering the greatness that is vinyl and them having something tangible as opposed to getting their music through streaming.
Antwerp, BE | British record store HMV opens store in Wijnegem/Antwerp: The first store of the music chain was opened in 1921 on the famous London shopping street Oxford Street. In 2010, there were approximately 300 HMV stores across the UK, but then things deteriorated due to a decline in CD and DVD sales. In 2013, the company had to be protected from its creditors for the first time. It happened back in 2018. The rescue came from Canada: businessman Doug Putman’s music company Sunrise Records & Entertainment put £900,000 on the table for HMV, which still had 114 stores at the time of the takeover. Putman focused on the renewed interest in vinyl records and brought a broader commercial exposure to stores. There are now over 120 branches again. Earlier this year, the first store opened in Ireland. Now the chain has begun a “wider expansion” into mainland Europe, with Belgium as the first step. A store of approximately 300 square meters will be opened in the Wijnegem shopping center in Antwerp.
Overland Park, KS | ‘Sad to see it go’: This decades-old Johnson County record store is closing for good: Vinyl Renaissance and Audio’s exterior is a little inconspicuous, tucked in the elbow of a shopping strip at 9038 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park. But through its doors, past smiling cardboard Elvis: hundreds of CDS, records, turntables and speakers. Since the store announced on Wednesday it would be closing, dozens of customers have been trickling in, flipping through records of their favorite artists — Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Blink 182, newer stars like Taylor Swift. Most of its items are heavily marked down in an attempt to get rid of its stacks (and stacks) of records and CDs — vinyls are going for as low as $1, some CDs are selling for 50 cents apiece. “Everything must go,” as the sign says.
Birmingham, AL | Birmingham-based independent record store, Seasick Records, celebrates 10 years: Dan Drinkard was in Memphis, Tennessee, a college drop out playing in a band, practicing photography and running a “hobby” record label, when he had the urge to open a vinyl record store. In the pre-internet era, devoid of curated Spotify playlists, Drinkard would scour records he liked to draw connections to other artists. One had to take matters into their own hands when it came to finding new music. …“I always wanted to know who recorded the record and what studio did they record in and what other artists did they thank in the thank you notes.” His first introduction to vinyl records was in high school when his then-girlfriend’s dad gave him some of his first records. Drinkard said he was drawn to the larger size of the vinyl records, and how they distinguished themselves from CDs as the lesser-used medium of the time.
Lubbock, TX | Record Store Day Black Friday is returning to Lubbock’s Ralph’s Records for 2023: Ralph’s Records (82nd & Indiana) is Lubbock’s only independently owned record store and has been serving all of Lubbock’s entertaining needs for over 42 years. I cannot overstate how extraordinary it is to have a heritage entertainment store owned, operated, and staffed by Lubbock folks that is the caliber of Ralph’s Records. I’ve been to many big-city record stores, and Ralph’s is just as good, if not better than 99% of them. I’m leaving the 1% for Ameoba Records, only because it’s the size of a rural Wal-Mart. Besides the obvious benefits of having the ability to buy, sell, and trade new and used vinyl, CDs, DVDs, video games, etc., we also get the benefit of access to Record Store Day titles. Record Store Day is an organization that assembles special, highly collectible titles that only independent record stores can sell on Record Store Day and Record Store Day Black Friday.
Stockton, UK | Sound It Out’s stock to go under the hammer after tragic death of Tom Butchart: The vast inventory of more than 80,000 units will be sold through various auctions. Stock from Sound It Out Records will go under the hammer next week following the death of much-loved owner Tom Butchart. The Stockton vinyl shop closed in August after serving the North-east since 1998. Store owner Tom sadly died suddenly in his shop in June, leaving his wife Clare, parents, three younger brothers, and the Teesside music community devastated. The 50-year-old grew up in Eaglescliffe and attended Egglescliffe School before opening his vinyl record shop on Yarm Street. Over the years the shop grew iand became one of the most popular vinyl shops in the country. At the time, Teesside Live reported on the hundreds of tributes left to Tom. His wife Clare said: “Thank you to everyone for the many kind, heartfelt messages we’ve received about Tom. “There are so many of them which shows just how well loved and respected Tom was. We are utterly devastated at his loss…”
Marquette, MI | Geoff & Jon’s Record Show wraps up final show of the year: Sunday was the last show of the year for this Marquette record show. This was the 10th year Geoff and John had their record show and, even on their last day, had over 50 people attend. “When the vinyl show is going on a lot more people come to the Ore Dock that might not come otherwise,” said Ore Dock Brewing Co. Customer Engagement Lead Amanda Courchaine. Attendees and members of the Ore Dock Brewing Co. found these record shows to offer more than just the items they sold. “For us it just really helps bring people together people can look around and maybe get some new stuff,” said Courchaine. “It is a great way to rediscover music that you might not have found otherwise,” said one attendee. “It is very important, especially since it has become more popular as the years go on and the records grow.”
New York, NY | Agency of Record: New ’60s inspired vinyl lounge opens in Midtown: There’s a new cocktail bar hidden underneath the Renwick Hotel in the heart of Manhattan. From the team at Patent Pending (another swanky cocktail bar), Agency of Record is a ‘Mad Men’-inspired vinyl lounge that pays homage to the advertising boom of the 1960s. Think abstract expressionism like Andy Warhol–meets music greats like The Beatles and Stevie Wonder– with a hint of rebellion from activists like Malcolm X and the Radical Women. Set just a block away from Grand Central Station and Madison Avenue, the location lends an eccentric flair. In the background, a live DJ spins old and new classics on vinyl. Much like the decadent and well-to-do parties of the golden era, Agency of Record is guaranteed to grab your full attention. The Renwick Hotel was once home to renowned writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Steinbeck and Thomas Mann–all known for their exquisite work.
ZW | In the groove: Is there a resurgence in the CD market? Recently, a debate has been raging among record companies and music producers in Zimbabwe about whether to re-introduce the vinyl record market or to continue with the compact disc (CD) market. However, there is probably no need for debate in this area as ZMC and Gramma Records the only Record Companies in Zimbabwe who owned a vinyl record pressing plant, put up for sale their pressing plant on e-Bay in 2015. As a result, vinyl records can no longer be manufactured in Zimbabwe yet there is a resurgence in the vinyl market throughout the rest of the world. If you will recall, not long ago I wrote an article titled “Forget Vinyl, CDs are Making a Comeback!” However, this issue is no longer debatable in Zimbabwe as all vinyl records are now imported. We are just dependent on CDs. Also, internet ubiquity has allowed music fans to download and share music freely.
