The Guardian view on vinyl: getting its groove back: Every so often, when hope is almost lost, an endangered species claws its way back from the brink. With loving care, a population flourishes and even re-establishes itself in the wild. Vinyl records, it appears, may be this kind of creature. A couple of decades ago they appeared on the verge of extinction, found only in dedicated collections. Then the numbers climbed again: a global revival had begun. Vinyl charts were reintroduced two years ago on the back of rising sales. Sony has announced that it will return to making vinyl, 30 years after it gave up. Sainsbury’s launch of own-label records this week highlights the surge of interest in a format once thought as enduring as phonograph cylinders or the eight-track cartridge.
Jack White reflects on career, rhapsodizes vinyl records at Detroit conference: Speaking Monday to a group of folks very much invested in the cause, Jack White reflected on his long, romantic relationship with vinyl records. “If you really want to show reverence and respect to the music, experience it this way,” White said during a 40-minute talk at the inaugural Making Vinyl conference in Detroit’s Westin Book Cadillac Hotel. Few figures in modern music have been bigger ambassadors for vinyl than the White Stripes founder and Third Man Records operator, and his homecoming appearance was the conference’s opening-day highlight. The event has drawn personnel from across the resurgent record-making industry for two days of panels, supplier pitches and networking.
Hipsters will hate supermarket vinyl but this is why we should cheer: Supermarkets make hypocrites of us. We lament the closure of all the shops which couldn’t compete while cheerfully continuing to be suckled by these retail monsters, whole milk or semi-skimmed. Ah, but surely shopping for music, and particularly vinyl, should be an altogether different experience – a challenge, a quest or an adventure. If you’re really lucky, all three. In my early teens, not knowing much, record-buying was inconvenience shopping. The stores were cramped, smelly, noisy, randomly arranged, intimidating and elitist – in essence, everything that supermarkets aren’t.
Memphis’ Spin Street Music Store to Close in January: Spin Street, the record store at the corner of Poplar Avenue and Highland Street, is preparing to close its doors. The store – which in recent years has expanded its product assortment extensively to include everything from toys and T-shirts to even drones – is holding a closing sale now. Signs advertise 30 percent to 50 percent off the original prices, and the closing is set for the end of January. The space already is being marketed for lease. Cushman & Wakefield/ Commercial Advisors signs are posted on the store’s exterior. The store posted a short message to its Facebook page that reads: “We are sorry to announce that Spin Street Memphis is closing. We have started our liquidation sale. Please come in and see us while we are still here.”
CD Warehouse Will Close Its Doors After 25 Years in Springfield: CD Warehouse is going out of business after 25 years in Springfield. The manager said music downloads at the touch of a button are to blame, but some local music lovers have avoided that switch to digital. Many of the customers Monday started shopping at CD Warehouse when it first opened. They say CDs provide a better musical experience and connection to the artist, that you just can’t get with digital music. The manager said the store originally started in this corner and eventually took over the other three businesses in the building. Since the announcement a few days ago, business is booming once again. Several people have purchased CDs by the hundred, one customer even bought 300 CDs at once.
Sale at the Attic in Ashby will see 1,000 of vinyl records on offer for just £1, The Attic, in Market Street, will offer 1,000 records in £1 a record sale: Hundreds of music lovers are set to line the streets of Ashby again as a vinyl store prepares for its popular 1,000 records sale – for just £1 per disc. On Saturday, November 25, the Attic will host the sale which sees full-priced records, some of which are thought to be worth as much as £80, reduced to just £1 for one day only. It’s the third time the owner, Ben Duncombe, has held the event – last time it was organised to coincide with Record Store Day in April. Interest was so high that people were queuing out of the shop, down a flight of stairs, and onto the pavement before the event started. The forthcoming event opens at 9am.
Virginia Vinyl CD Show comes to Harrisonburg: Walking into the Double Tree Hilton ballroom on Saturday was the largest record show in town. Long tables mazed around the room with bins upon bins of records, artists’ memorabilia and refurbished turntables. Upon walking through the double doors, music lovers were greeted by the warm smiles and helpful direction from various dealers. “Thanks for coming in guys, what are you looking for today?” Greg Neal, the show’s manager, asked customers as they walked into the show. Neal’s Virginia Vinyl CD Show, the largest record store in the South, came to Harrisonburg on Saturday for only six hours. It was a major success compared to last year, as longtime collectors and music lovers of all ages scoured through bins of records ranging from $1 to $1,000.
French pressing plant delays wreak havoc with labels’ schedules: Delays at French vinyl pressing plant MPO are causing serious issues with the schedules of a number of dance music labels and distributors. Hotflush, Versatile, трип, Dance Mania, Red Ember, who are all part of Above Board Distribution, have all been affected heavily, resulting in many releases being pushed back until next year without warning. R&S boss Andy Whittaker, who has a 15-year-plus relationship with MPO told RA: “It’s the worst it’s ever been by a long way. MPO have offered apologies but they have made some bad business decisions this year.” As one of Europe’s oldest and biggest vinyl pressing facilities, delays are not uncommon at MPO. But with the renewed interest in vinyl from major labels, the industry is still under pressure despite the opening of new plants around the globe. MPO sent an apology letter to customers last month.
