Boise, ID | Record Exchange in Downton Boise turns 45: Michael Bunnell founded the record store in 1977 after investing a workplace injury payout back into his passion. Michael Bunnell has been spinning records for as long as he can remember, but before he owned the Record Exchange in Downtown Boise, he worked as a logger in McCall in what seems like a previous lifetime. “Then I had a logging accident,” Bunnell said. “I took that money and used it to open the store.” In 1977, The Record Exchange was born. However, its initial home sat on Orchard next to a McDonalds for roughly half a year. The current home of 45 years – on the downtown corner of 11th and Idaho – is celebrating the milestone and its founder on Thursday. …”We’ve come full circle, you know, the vinyl – LP – was the dominant format when we opened, and now it is again. We’re very comfortable with that.”
Washington, DC | Your Guide to 11 Record Stores in the DC Area: Where to spend a day sifting through new and used albums to build your vinyl collection. If you grew up in DC during the 1980s, you remember when record stores were popular and plentiful. You couldn’t walk a block in Georgetown or Dupont Circle without hitting at least one new- or used-vinyl shop. Even in the wake of streaming services, you’d be mistaken if you thought record stores had gone the way of the dodo. Vinyl sales have rebounded enough that there’s still a healthy supply of independent stores in the Washington area. If you’re looking to drop a needle on some new-to-you tracks, follow these itineraries and pretend it’s the ’80s all over again.
Odessa, TX | Wednesday is the last day to see Endless Horizon’s mural from the 1980’s in its original location: The mural will be preserved while the longtime record store works on putting it up at another location as a public art display. Endless Horizons, a longtime Odessa record store that closed on Oct. 21, has something that hasn’t been seen in a long time. According to a Facebook post, their second mural from the early 80s is visible after their most recent mural got torn down. The mural will be preserved while Endless Horizons works with the city on putting it up at another location as a public art display, according to the post. They say feel free to come by and take pictures, as the building will be there until Wednesday.
Palm Springs, CA | Vinyl record sales increasing, Palm Springs music store helps meet demand: For music lovers Edith Gallardo and Israel Pinedo, there’s something very special about the sound of vinyl records. “People want to be able to hold stuff and feel more connected to it,” Pinedo said. “It’s a whole experience on its own.” At Music Heals Inc. in Palm Springs, these music fans are adding to their growing record collections. “Vinyl is the lead here; vinyl is king,” said employee G. Leonard Winston. Winston says this store’s vinyl record sales are up nearly 20 percent compared to this time last year. “History repeats itself,” he said. “According to the younger people who come in here, vinyl comes back. It’s back.” We’re learning what’s happening in Palm Springs with vinyl records is following a national sales trend.
Detroit, MI | Metallica’s James Hetfield to hold book signing at Third Man Records in Detroit: While James Hetfield is in Detroit for the Metallica concerts at Ford Field, he will also be making a stop at Third Man Records. Hetfield will be at the record store in Detroit’s Cass Corridor to sign autographs during a book signing event. The event will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 11, and the record store says people can begin lining up at 1 p.m. Tickets are $110 and each ticket admits two people into the event and comes with one book. The book titled “Messangers: The Guitars of James Hetfield,” shares information about his guitars and the significance of each with stories from his personal life and his career.
The Discontent At Discogs: The online marketplace and database was a record collectors’ paradise. What went wrong? On May 19, Paul Terzulli, a retired DJ with an enviably rare vinyl collection, made a surprising announcement: He planned to stop selling his records on Discogs. For more than a decade, Terzulli relied on the online marketplace to supplement his income. But it no longer felt worth it. The tipping point came in late April, when the company informed sellers that it was increasing its selling fee (the cut Discogs takes from each sale) from 8 to 9% and encouraged sellers to raise their prices accordingly. Though it seemed like a small increase on paper, the hike would substantially impact record dealers’ already thin profit margins. Moreover, Discogs would also be applying the fee to shipping costs, something it hadn’t done prior.
BOOKS: How to Build Your Own Record Pressing Plant: the true story of Press On Vinyl by Steve Spithray: …We’re so used to hearing bad news about the music industry that its a useful corrective to tell a story of the little guys, not just surviving, but thriving and innovating. Its long been a mystery why the industry giants seemingly prefer to let their product be a hobby for rich pensioners, and haven’t grabbed the vinyl revival by the scruff of its neck, given it a good shake, and managed to get prices down to something less exortionate. Its satisfying to think of shrewd operators like Press On snapping at their heels. And with the future of sites like Bandcamp and Discogs looking decidedly sketchy, then perhaps there’s the seed of something in their ambitions for crowd funding via their sister project FairSound. In between the lines this book offers a lot of food for thought.
The Timeless Appeal of Record Player Cabinets: Combining Style and Functionality for Audiophiles: In an era dominated by digital streaming and convenient MP3s, the resurgence of vinyl records has captured the hearts of audiophiles and music enthusiasts worldwide. Vinyl records offer a tactile and authentic musical experience, and part of the charm lies in the storage and display of these delicate discs. This is where record player stand come into play, combining both style and functionality to cater to the needs of collectors and music aficionados. In this article, we’ll explore the timeless appeal of record cabinets, discussing their history, practicality, and design options that can make a bold statement in your home.
Oklahoma City/Edmond, OK | Vinyl Record Show of Oklahoma City, OK / Edmond, OK: Save The Date November 18th, 2023. Vinyl LP Records by the tens of thousands. You will find that at the Vinyl Record Show of Oklahoma City. We’ll have over 25 vendors from surrounding states selling their Vinyl and merchandise on over 75 tables. There will also be plenty of 45’s, CDs, T-shirts, posters, some cassettes and a few 78’s as well. You will find LP’s priced as low as $1.00 for the budget-minded buyer as well as collectible records for hundreds of dollars for the more serious collectors. Something for everyone! The show will be held at the Edmond Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center 2833 Conference Drive Edmond, OK, 73034 Plenty of FREE parking. Early Bird showtime begins at 8:00 AM until 10:00 AM priced at $15.00 and is good for the entire day.
