Luminate to Move Ahead With Plan Changing How Indie Record Store Sales Count on Billboard Charts: The data and analytics company’s note to independent retailers cites a “consensus” for changing how it counts sales across the sector. Luminate—which provides data to the Billboard charts—is proceeding with a previously announced plan to retire its weighted data modeling used to measure physical sales in the independent retail sector, according to a note sent Wednesday (Dec. 13) to industry partners and indie retailers. …Luminate said that after discussions with all facets of the industry, including retailers, labels, distributors and industry bodies, it decided to proceed with its planned new way of counting indie store sector sales because there was “a consensus that the current modeling should be retired.”
Clifton Park, NY | Upstate Beat: Vinyl record fans and beer lovers converge at Clifton Park’s Singlecut North: A brewery might not be the first place you think of as a music destination, but SingleCut North and Side Stage Tap Room has gained a reputation as the best spot in Clifton Park for music lovers who also enjoy a good pint of craft beer. Diehard local music fan Craig McAvoy has been to the Tap Room for live music events featuring local artists such as Caity Gallagher, ShortWave RadioBand and E.R.I.E. He also listens to humor-filled conversations between SingleCut North staff and DJ Jeff Morad aired on 102.7 WEQX and streamed live on Facebook. But it’s also the music playing from the Tap Room turntable that appeals to McAvoy, who is featured on the SingleCut North webpage as a regular. “They’re always playing what I consider good music. Not just Top 40 pandering stuff, but classic indie rock and post punk. You can walk in there and hear the Clash spinning and the like,” McAvoy said.
New York, NY | 89-Year-Old Owner Of NYC’s Longest-Running Latin Music Store Doesn’t Plan To Retire: The owner behind New York City‘s longest-running Latin music store is sharing the keys to his success. Miguel Ángel “Mike” Amadeo’s shop, Casa Amadeo, has remained open for over five decades. The Puerto Rican native has worked with some of the biggest names in Latin music, including Celia Cruz, El Gran Combo and Tito Mieves, ABC7 reported. A decade ago, the New York City Council honored Amadeo by renaming the street in front of his music shop after him; it is now recognized as “Miguel Ángel Amadeo Way.” In a recent interview with mitú, a media company dedicated to storytelling from a “Latino point of view,” Amadeo opened up about how his passion for music is the main reason his shop has stuck around for all these decades despite record stores’ waning popularity.
Limerick, IE | The Record Room share compilation album of Limerick talent featuring Laura Duff, Dylan Flynn & the Dead Poets, TA Narrative and more: The album will be launched on Sunday 17 December at the Commercial, Catherine Street, as a strictly limited vinyl only print that will available exclusively from the venue from that date on. …During the Summer of 2023, The Record Room hosted a series of live gigs. The curated shows were professionally recorded, mixed and mastered, with a track from each set being selected for the album. “It’s so exciting to see this project come to fruition, and to release it in such glorious physical form – we just can’t wait for people to hear it now!” said Wired 99.9FM’s Ray Burke. “We’re especially excited about those uninitiated to the Limerick scene getting to hear the talented and uniqueness of the artists that call this city their home.”
Birmingham, UK | We visit a local Birmingham record store and discover a rare 1994 vinyl worth thousands: I popped into Birmingham’s highest-rated record store on a suburban high street and discovered a rare vinyl from 1994 worth thousands. The vinyl revival of the last 20 years has provided a huge boost to record stores across the UK. As of 2016, UK vinyl sales even exceeded streaming audio revenue for the year. Why has vinyl seen a comeback in recent years? Many claim vinyl offers a more authentic sound compared to digital, while some say searching record stores for historic vinyl is a past time music lovers can still enjoy. But despite the revival, running a record store in 2023 isn’t easy business. …Some of John’s employees will be gutted they weren’t working on the day I walked in, because it was the day John got his hands on the ‘rarest record’ he has ever come across. “You’ve come in on the perfect day,” John said to me. “This morning, a customer came in with the most expensive record I’ve ever had in the shop.” John then went behind the counter and pulled out a sealed original 1994 copy of Green Day’s Dookie album.
Portland, OR | Customer Wants Refund After Local Record Store Owner Didn’t Compliment Any of Her Picks: Local record collector Eliza Vernon reported being distraught and is demanding a refund after the owner of Infinity Vinyl failed to compliment any of her impressive selections, devastated sources confirm. “I just don’t get it. I’ve never been treated with such disdain in my life,” said Vernon, while recovering at a nearby coffee shop. “Minutemen’s ‘Double Nickels On The Dime,’ Lauryn Hill’s ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,’ Burial’s ‘Untrue’—I had every base covered, yet I was met with a deafening silence that will haunt my dreams for months, except for being told to pay $70, which is not a terrible deal. I will give him that. But the price doesn’t matter. It’s not like I am going to listen to these anyway.” Jim Smith, owner of Infinity Vinyl, admitted his behavior was out of line for a record store professional. “It is with deep regret that I corroborate Eliza Vernon’s accusations, I should have at least pointed to one of the records and said ‘Great album,’ but I failed,” Smith said.
San Marcos, CA | Vino & Vinyl: Celebrate the sounds of a new city each month at TERI Campus of Life: Vino & Vinyl is an immersive wine and music listening experience. Vino & Vinyl is hosted by iconic Southern California DJ, musician and songwriter Cathryn Beeks from Listen Local Radio. Vino & Vinyl takes place the last Saturday of each month at Common Grounds Café at TERI’s picturesque Campus of Life in San Marcos California. Vino & Vinyl features a pop-up record store by Weekend Records, custom-curated wine flights and ½-price bottles of wine. Vino & Vinyl showcases various genres of music from one city or region of the world with enchanting sounds of vinyl albums and offers a delightful one-of-a-kind monthly sensory experience. Listen and learn music history, stories about the artists behind the music and their influences, while sipping a special collection of wines in the tranquil Twin Oaks Valley. Vino & Vinyl celebrates the sounds of a city or region and offers music lovers a transformative sensory journey!
Paul Young / No Parlez 40th anniversary reissue featuring SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio: 40 years ago this very week, one of the most popular albums of the 1980s, Paul Young’s solo debut No Parlez, was number two in the UK album charts while its fourth single, a reissued ‘Love of the Common People’, occupied the same position in the UK singles charts. Released in July 83, the album became a commercial phenomenon, taking up residence in the top 10 where it remained for an astonishing 32 consecutive weeks (baring one seven day spell at #11) until March 1984. During that time, other legendary 80s albums came and went, including Culture Club’s Colour by Numbers, Duran Duran’s Seven and the Ragged Tiger and Lionel Richie’s Can’t Slow Down, but No Parlez endured, reaching number one on four separate occasions for a total of five weeks at the summit. In the end, it spent over two years in the top 100!
The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” Receives Charity Vinyl Reissue: All proceeds will go to Dublin Simon Community, an organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness. The Pogues are reissuing their Christmas classic, “Fairytale of New York,” on 7-inch vinyl to raise money for a charity supported by late singer Shane MacGowan. All proceeds will go to Dublin Simon Community, an organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness. MacGowan frequently participated in the charity’s annual Christmas Eve Busk; his last public performance was for the 2021 Simon Busk, during which he performed “Dirty Old Town.” The 7-inch single will feature “Fairytale of New York” on the A-side, with the instrumental of the song on the B-side. It costs roughly $12, with $7.50 from each sale going to Dublin Simon Community. Pre-orders are ongoing.
