The Growth of Vinyl and the Impact of Independent Record Stores on Vinyl Sales: While many in our industry focus on streaming consumption and the billions of streams that occur weekly, there is another consumption format that has shown growth year after year for the last 18 years straight: vinyl album sales. In fact, vinyl album sales growth began long before streaming even emerged as a way to consume music. Since 2016, vinyl album sales have increased from 13.1 million to 49.6 million in 2023, a growth of nearly 300% over the last eight years. The total number of vinyl albums purchased since 2016 is 224.9 million. So which strata had the biggest impact over that time span, accounting for 45% of all vinyl sales and equaling more than 100 million sales total? That would be independent record stores.
FL | Record Store Day Black Friday: Where to go in SWFL. Record Store Day Black Friday is approaching quickly, and if you’re not looking for a new TV or a video game console, go to your local record store, as they will have exclusive deals to expand your record collection. The last Record Store Day was held on April 20 and as tradition follows, the next is on Black Friday. Southwest Florida record stores will be partaking. Stellar Records in Fort Myers has ordered exclusive titles and prepared countless quality used records, CDs and cassettes for sale. In addition to the Black Friday Record Store Day titles, they are offering 20% off used records, a limited-edition Stellar Records patch, gift card specials and a mystery prize pack raffle worth over $150. Stellar’s last Record Store Day had a large turnout. People gathered early in the morning and waited outside to get their favorite records.
Toronto, CA | Rhythm is Toronto’s newest venue, record shop and studio. The women-owned and operated space officially opened its doors earlier this month. Toronto has a new venue. Rhythm, located in the city’s downtown core, consists of two recording studios, a performance space and a retail shop featuring records plus electronic music merchandise. It also has an outdoor area for street fairs and other events. Rhythm currently posesses a limited-edition Xone92 mixer, allegedly the only one in Toronto, and is working on building a custom sound system. Owned and operated by women, Rhythm launched on November 4th and plans to host two parties per week in addition to educational programmes such as workshops on the music business, gear demos and networking mixers. The team said it can also offer A&R and strategy advice to budding artists as part of its focus on community building.
Buffalo, NY | Mack Luchey’s Spirit Still Lives on at Doris Records: The Buffalo fixture is more than a record store, it’s a family legacy. In contrast to the lake effect clouds darkening the Buffalo skies in the middle of the day, I recognized the radiant turquoise and yellow paint of my destination immediately. The record store stood out next to the rest of the empty, Rust Belt street called Mach Luchey Way, named after the old owner of the record store actually. Outside it was dark, windy, and by the time I left the store, snowing. But inside Doris Records, it is warm and cheerful. Behind layers of clothes, underwear, CDs, records, and other odd items and products for sale, Sean Carter oversees the store from behind the counter. 52-year-old Carter—whose nickname is Big Pete—is in charge of the store. But he’s not the owner, he insists. Carter claims that his late father, Mack Luchey, is still the owner to him and that his spirit still lives inside the store.
Wellington, UK | 303 Records to host cafe opening evening selling pre-loved vinyl: A ‘Black’ Friday sale of new and pre-loved vinyl will be held at Brazier Coffee Roasters, Tonedale Mill Business Park, on Friday, November 29. 303 Records will be hosting the open evening which will provide an opportunity for new and old customers alike to share in their passion and discuss all things music and vinyl. The host cafe will also be serving some of its specialities. The record company set up shop in the cafe in July having enjoyed a successful time in The Somerset Emporium stocking new and used vinyl. The café will be open from 6-9pm for visitors to enjoy a drink and food while browsing a large selection of records.
Chicago, IL | L-Stop Musts: Record Store Edition: The redline hosts a range of vinyl record stores for music enthusiasts to peruse and venture. While digital streaming dominates music consumption, a lively community of audiophiles pushes against modernity and still frequent record stores. The sale of vinyl rose 10% from 2022 to 2023, generating $1.4 billion in revenue—music to the ears of record store owners and collectors alike. In Chicago, there’s no shortage of music shops, many of which are easily accessible along the Red Line. Bryn Mawr: Rattleback Records (5405 N. Clark St.) A seven-minute walk into Andersonville ends at Rattleback Records, the heart of the neighborhood’s music scene. Four rows of record bins set a cozy atmosphere in the quaint shop. Records, posters and other music paraphernalia line the yellow, green and turquoise walls, crafting a music lover’s paradise.
The Smile, Idles, Laura Marling, and More Releasing Rough Trade Exclusive Vinyl Records: Yard Act, Denzel Curry, Clairo, and others are also issuing special-edition records. Rough Trade has announced its top 100 albums of 2024, led by SOPHIE’s posthumous self-titled album. To celebrate, the indie retailer is selling exclusive vinyl pressings tied to the top 20 albums on its list. Featured are new offerings from SOPHIE, the Smile, Idles, Laura Marling, Charli XCX, Yard Act, and more. Find the list of exclusives, available in-store and online, below. Check out Rough Trade’s 100 favorite albums here. In a statement, Toby L, a co-founder of Transgressive Records, said of SOPHIE: “It’s been the greatest of honors for Transgressive to be involved with what we consider to be a truly timeless, transcendent and landmark album. Thank you, Rough Trade; we are forever grateful for all of your support.”
Stockport, UK | Stockport Vinyl Record Fair: This event is a must for all vinyl lovers, featuring traders selling vinyl records, CDs, books, and more. There is catering on site and the bar is also open. Entry is £1 per person, or £5 from 9am. The event runs from 10am-4pm. The organisers gave the following description: “We’re rammed full with vinyl records, CDs, and associated memorabilia, with some new traders alongside our regulars. “You can park at the rear of the venue for £1 in the car park off Brentnall Street. “Oh, and there’s two convenient cash machines close by, at the petrol station and Co-op.”
Leeuwarden, NL | Former Dutch vinyl pressing plant Deepgrooves accused of fraud: Multiple artists and labels told RA they’re owed thousands of euros by the company, which announced bankruptcy on October 25th. Deepgrooves, a former vinyl pressing plant in the Dutch city of Leeuwarden, has been accused of fraud by previous customers. When Arthur Lastmann, label boss at Paris’s Into The Deep Records, sent £3,500 to Deepgrooves in January 2024, he believed he was paying for a vinyl order of an upcoming release. Instead, he said he received a defective test pressing before being passed through a series of different contacts via email. Then, on October 25th, came the plant’s bankruptcy announcement, now posted on Deepgrooves’ homepage. Speaking to Resident Advisor, Lastmann and several other Deepgrooves customers said they’re owed thousands of euros, and that the pressing plant has committed what amounts to fraud. Although the company’s affairs have now been shifted over to a trustee, Wybe Molemma, none of the parties RA spoke with have recouped any financial losses.
Sparks / Kimono My House and Propaganda reissues: 3CD set and vinyl releases. Sparks’ 1974 albums Kimono My House and Propaganda will be reissued for their 50th anniversary later this month. 1974 saw Sparks relocate from LA to London and with a newly inked deal with Island Records this period was a commercial breakthrough for the band, with the single ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both of Us’, peaking at number two on the UK singles chart and Kimono My House reaching number four on the albums chart. Produced by Muff Winwood, it saw the band embrace more pop-oriented songwriting and a shift towards glam rock. The November 1974 follow-up, Propaganda, solidified both the style and success of Kimono My House, and once again reached the top 10. With Muff Winwood at the helm once again, it includes tracks such as ‘Something For The Girl With Everything’ and ‘Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth.’ The 50th anniversary releases are available in CD and vinyl LP format.
