UK | As Rough Trade reveals albums of 2024, MD says record shops are crucial part of ‘delicate ecosystem.’ Rough Trade has revealed its Albums Of The Year list for 2024 as the retailer reports strong sales growth. The list landed last week and was topped by the posthumous album by Sophie, as well as featuring releases by English Teacher, The Last Dinner Party, Laura Marling and Charli XCX. In case you missed it, the full Top 20 albums are below. Sales of physical music in the UK are up roughly 10% year-on-year with Rough Trade ahead of the market, according to the retailer. Music Week has reported on the prospect of the first overall units increase annually in physical music in two decades. …Their stores have also seen an increase in footfall of 15% from last year. For September, Rough Trade reported sales growth of 37% year-on-year. “Physical sales are in a strong position with vinyl continuing to drive growth and CD having found its place in the market after years of decline,” said Rough Trade MD Lawrence Montgomery.
Huntsville, AL | Audiophiles: You need to check out these 3 exceptional local record stores: Are you a fellow vinyl connoisseur and music aficionado? Then you should check out some of Huntsville’s best local record stores! As Christmas approaches, browsing record stores is also a great way to find presents for your favorite collectors or, for college students like myself, unwind while studying for finals. These 3 record stores each have unique inventories and aesthetics that make them all worth checking out for any Huntsville vinyl-lover. Black Rose Records: Black Rose Records begins our list by not only possessing what is, in my opinion, perhaps the best new arrivals section in Huntsville, but also showcasing some more niche offerings for the most specific tastes. Additionally, the store itself has the hole-in-the-wall aesthetic that makes the act of shopping for vinyl itself the romanticized experience it’s meant to be…
Elizabethtown, PA | Business Review: Etown Record Lounge. Music is an important part of many people’s everyday lives, and in recent years it has become increasingly popular to collect physical copies of albums in the form of vinyl records and CDs. If you’re a fan of retro music, Etown Record Lounge might be a one-stop shop for all of your listening needs. Located at 9 S. Market Street in downtown Elizabethtown, next to Frugal Finds. The store is within a reasonable walking distance or very quick drive. …Etown Record Lounge’s selection really shines regarding its collection of vinyls, as suggested by its name. There are albums ranging from classic rock to modern musicals, including a few collectors’ editions on display towards the front of the store.
Dundee, UK | Do you remember these Dundee record shops? Some still prefer the ritual of buying music and browsing a record shop. Which ones do you miss most? Record shops were an essential part of growing up in Dundee. Names like Bruce’s, Cathie McCabe’s, Chalmers and Joy, Forbes, Larg’s and Rockpile may be gone but won’t be forgotten. Places where we got our chart singles and albums before streaming came along. Groucho’s was Dundee’s most famous record shop. HMV, Our Price and Virgin Records were high street competitors. John Menzies sold cassette tapes and vinyl singles and albums in the Murraygate. Maybe you bought your music at Dens Road Market or the Keiller Centre? Not all of them have survived the test of time. How many of these do you remember?
San Antonio, TX | The record store miracle: San Antonio is home to a healthy helping of record stores, but none are like Music Connection. This record store boasts a wide variety of media beyond vinyl — such as cassettes, VHS, CDs and 45s. Offering brand new and used records, Music Connection personally checks and cleans all used vinyl before sale. Upon stepping into the unassuming store, customers are instantly immersed in a time capsule from the golden age of vinyl. Collectors and casual listeners alike are greeted by smiling faces and rows of music, just scraping the surface of what Music Connection offers. Yet, what sets this humble record store apart is the spectacular story and care that the owner puts into running the business. …“There used to be record stores in San Antonio everywhere you went,” Galvan commented. “Every mall had multiple stores… Hastings, Music Land, For Your Entertainment, they were everywhere. We were merely one store in a plethora of stores. All those stores are gone. I’m still here. And there’s a reason for that.”
San Francisco, CA | Dark Entries to host party and art show celebrating two years of San Francisco record shop: The event, hosted at the label’s brick-and-mortar store at 910 Larkin Street, is set for December 5th. San Francisco-based label Dark Entries will celebrate two years of its brick-and-mortar record shop next week with a special event. Set for Thursday, December 5th, the milestone event will run from 6 PM to 10 PM at the store on 910 Larkin Street. DJs Brown Angel, Five and Namhab will provide music. The celebration also includes an art show, featuring original ephemera from Dark Entries’ archive as well as graphics zines by Eloise Shir Juen Leigh. Beverages from Isa Wines will also be served. Browse the flyer and event listing for more information, and see photos of Dark Entries’ shop.
Alexandria, VA | Metallica-owned record pressing factory in Alexandria aims to keep vinyl thriving: What if we told you one of the largest independent vinyl record pressing companies in the entire world was just casually hanging out in Alexandria, Virginia? The factory also happens to be owned by the band Metallica, but we’ll get to that later. In today’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax got an all-access backstage pass to explore a little-known area of Fairfax County, and turned up the volume at Furnace Record Pressing. Founded in 1996, the Furnace factory initially functioned as a DVD and CD maker for independent musical artists. Then, its management team said about 10-15 years ago, the tables turned—no pun intended—and the vinyl resurgence began. Furnace got in on the ground floor. In 2024, the vinyl industry is experiencing a 17th consecutive year of continued market growth, as more and more fans choose physical records over streaming to support their favorite artists.
San Francisco, CA | Late legend DJ Blackstone’s record collection being sold to boost local talent: Vinyl Dreams store’s ‘Blackstone Friday’ kicks off fundraiser for DJ Blackstone Grant, which helps DJs build their careers. For the past 11 and a half years, Mike Battaglia has sold only vinyl records at his Lower Haight shop Vinyl Dreams (593 Haight Street, SF). Thanks to the curation and charisma of Battaglia, who is a DJ and the lead singer of local psycho-bluegrass band Big Meat Combo, the literally underground shop has since become a store of international repute, a venue for special guest DJs and producers, and a local sanctuary for the celebration of the worldwide culture of electronic music on wax. This week, Battaglia has both the honor and the tall order of presenting a sale of the most important private collection he’s ever handled. Owned by the late DJ Blackstone (Curry Brooks, Jr.), who passed away in 2022, it was brought to Vinyl Dreams by Blackstone’s friend Homero Espinosa, who founded the Oakland nonprofit Music Connects Foundation and The DJ Blackstone Grant with Joshua Smith and Robert Brown that same year.
Colemine Records breaks down the money trail for vinyl sales: The founder of independent label Colemine Records loves it when people buy records from independent stores, and he’s explained why in a post on Instagram. It sees Cole break down where the money goes from the sale of a $23.99 vinyl album by artist Kelly Finnigan. About $8.49 goes to the store; $3.10 to the distributor (Secretly in this case); $6.03 goes on manufacturing costs; and $6.37 is then shared between the label and artist (in the case featured in the video, through a 50/50 net-profit splits deal). “So, by buying a record from an independent record store, you are supporting four independently-owned small businesses and one artist, and you are supporting the entire music ecosystem as a whole…”
