Cromer, UK | Cromer: Another Planet record store opens in West Street: Two vinyl lovers are looking to put a Norfolk town on the map among music fans after launching a new record store. Another Planet has opened in West Street in Cromer, becoming the only high street shop of its kind currently in the coastal resort. The store is run by Racheal Battley and business partner Marc Wilson, who together have spent more than 40 years rifling through crates digging for the finest releases. Ms Battley said: “We have had such fantastic support already and we really hope to be at the heart of the community here. “Our customers have been so supportive already and we have had great feedback. The support has been overwhelming so far. “We really hope Cromer can become a destination for record lovers, with people thinking about travelling here to hunt for vinyl.” Another Planet becomes Cromer’s only physical record store, which is open six days a week Tuesday to Sunday, joining the popular Cromer Record Fair, which pops up weekly at various venues.
Reno, NV | Recycled Records is moving to a new location in a few months. Here’s what we know. A recent Facebook post ignited rumors that Recycled Records, an iconic Reno music shop that’s been in business for decades, would be closing. That isn’t happening, but the longtime record shop will be moving to a new location in the coming months. We visited the shop at 822 S. Virginia St. to talk with co-owners Eric Jacobson and Kyle Howell to learn more. What’s actually happening? Jacobson confirmed to the RGJ that Recycled Records is moving southward but declined to give details on the new location until the lease is signed. Recycled Records needs to be out of the Midtown location by June 1 when the lease ends. They said they were within days of closing on the deal.
Charleston, SC | Charleston vinyl shop teams up with Philadelphia Eagles for charity: When the Philadelphia Eagles management team contacted Record Stop, a downtown Charleston business, to create a limited-edition vinyl of holiday music, it was an opportunity the business could simply not resist. In late October, the concept of “A Philly Special Christmas,” a vinyl starring Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson of the Eagles, was brought to Record Stop after the group was turned down from other vinyl manufacturers. Starting as a family business, Record Stop also owns Monostereo Vinyl, which is a record label and vinyl manufacturing division. Record Stop Owner Mike Gomez and Marketing Director Eric Nail say it typically takes from six months to a year to produce a project of this size, but the duo was determined to drop the first release before the holidays. “…We were able to utilize our internal team to get it to all the fans, which is close to 30,000 records.”
Taylor Swift sells out heart-shaped vinyl for Valentine’s day in minutes: Limited Edition Taylor Swift ‘Lover’ vinyl sells out almost immediately. The ‘Lavender Haze’ singer is back in the news this week with a limited edition release vinyl of her “Lovers: live from Paris” singles collection. The two heart-shaped vinyls, released just in time for valentine’s day sold out in under 30 minutes. Only available on the singer’s official website, the set of two vinyls are made from a marbled pink and blue PVC material. The dual-sided records include various singles from the artist’s 2019 ‘Lovers’ album, performed and recorded live in Paris. Although the website set a strict limit of one per customer policy, the Valentine’s day vinyl managed to sell out in under 30 minutes. …The high demand for Taylor Swift records and other merchandise has also created a high resale value for the products. Almost as fast as the Lover’s heart-shaped vinyl records sold out, eBay listings of the item started popping up.
Britney Spears is reissuing nine albums on coloured vinyl this year: Spin me, baby, one more time! Britney Spears will release nine albums from her back catalogue on coloured vinyl this April and May. The reissue dates are as follows: …Baby One More Time on pink vinyl (March 31), Oops!… I Did It Again on neon violet vinyl (March 31), Britney on yellow vinyl (March 31), Blackout on orange vinyl (April 28), In The Zone on blue vinyl (April 28), Circus on red vinyl (April 28), Britney Jean on blue marble vinyl (May 26), Femme Fatale on light grey marble vinyl (May 26), Greatest Hits: My Prerogative on pale yellow vinyl (May 26). This reissue series marks the first time that Britney’s later albums such as Blackout, Circus, Femme Fatale and Britney Jean have received a vinyl release outside of the US.
Mexico, MO | Vintage vinyl- Record business proves fun, profitable for Mexico resident: Chuck Marquette has a retail giant to thank for rekindling a love. Well, at least they get an assist. While working at Walmart one Black Friday, he watched as bargain records – or vinyl – created quite a stir. When his shift was over, he cashed in on a deal of his own, buying Aerosmith’s Greatest Hits. “It was the only decent one left,” Marquette recalls. And something clicked amidst the vocal beltings of Steve Tyler and guitar wizardry of Joe Perry as Marquette listened. This was a way of listening to music that he knew – he’d had a record collection in his younger days, but had been in a subconscious holding pattern for year’s. Aerosmith, Walmart and Marquette’s simple transaction changed that. He began scouring antique stores and resale shops for more, and would soon be well on his way to rebuilding his collection. He would later find it more cost-effective buying collections, which proved habit-forming and exponential, which provides a challenge.
AU | Financial climate impacts vinyl revival: Vinyl music sales more than doubled in Australia in the past decade. The concern now is if the boom can last – and what happens if it doesn’t? In 2012, 127,000 12-inch LPs were sold here. That number jumped to 374,000 in 2015, then 860,000 in 2018. It then hit 1.1 million in the first year of the pandemic – and that doesn’t include the market in second-hand collector’s pieces. ARIA haven’t announced data for 2022 yet, but with 958,000 units sold in 2021, insiders are suggesting the local vinyl revival has peaked. Melbourne-based Zenith Records, run by co-owner Paul Rigby, was Australia’s only pressing plant in the 2010s when the vinyl revival became a talking point. Rigby was happy to see the launch of Program Records in nearby Thornbury in 2022. Brisbane’s Suitcase Records set up shop in July last year, and Rigby believes as many as four more plants are on the way. He also believes the rising cost of living will impact on the demand for vinyl, resulting in over-supply and under demand making the market increasingly competitive.
