Vancouver, BC | The Record Store: Vinyl Lovers Tell Us How to Survive a Fire: “Our aim is to carry left-field and largely non-mainstream music we feel deserves a larger audience,” says Jeff Knowlton, co-owner of Vancouver’s Dandelion Records. “We hear the word curation often, but in reality we’re just trying to get the best stuff out there in every genre and sell it as cheaply as we can without going under.” Staying afloat is the name of the game for Dandelion. It’s a bit of a treasure hunt to find the shop’s current location in Vancouver’s Chinatown district, but after stepping through the unmarked doors of a shopping mall at 288 East Georgia Street—past medical clinics, vintage clothing stores, and BBQ ducks—I’m greeted by crates filled with vinyl. The sad news of Damo Suzuki’s death that morning prompted Dandelion’s owners to put Can’s albums on the shelves behind the counter, right next to Soul Jazz’s Studio One reggae compilations and Canadian artists like Magneticring and Fortunato Durutti Marinetti. Needless to say, there’s plenty of music here that you won’t find anywhere else.
Northampton, UK | Record Store Day returning to county stores in April: Record Store Day is on Saturday, April 20, and both Spun Out and Vinyl Underground are stocking official releases. Record Store Day returns in April, with limited edition releases again up for grabs at county shops. Spun Out in Gold Street Northampton and Vinyl Underground in Abington Street will both be stocking official releases. Collectors after specific records are being urged to get their requests in early so orders can be placed with distributors. Record Store Day is on Saturday, April 20, and is held annually to help champion independent record stores. The first official event took place in 2008 and this year, more than 270 stores will be stocking official releases which are not available to pre-order and sold on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Spun Out owner Chris Kent said: “We’re really looking forward to Record Store Day again and we’ve already had a lot of responses from people about what they want.”
Kanawha City, WV | Iconic West Virginia Record Store, Budget Records and Tapes, to Close After 52 Years in Business: Budget Records and Tapes, a record store in Kanawha City, West Virginia, is closing after 52 years in business. The store owners recently shared this news on social media, expressing both pride and sadness about their decision. The store’s last day of operation will be March 3. Since the closing news, lots of people have visited the store. Some are there to buy a final record, and others are looking for special merchandise. The owners didn’t expect such a great response from the community. For many years, Budget Records and Tapes had a loyal group of customers. One employee, who has worked there for 48 years, noticed lots of customers coming in after the store announced it was closing. The store was more than just a place to buy records. It was also a gathering spot for the community. One long-time customer talked about how he used to visit the store with his family. He said the record store was more than just a business. It was a key part of the community.
Nashville, TN | 4-Story Bar & Venue Coming to the Ernest Tubb Record Shop Location: The Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Lower Broadway in Nashville is a national landmark and was a living piece of country music history. In 2022 after being shuttered amid an ownership battle and uncertainty for the future of the business, a set of investors stepped up to buy the property and business. At the time, the hope was that the Ernest Tubb Record Shop would be saved. The building at 417 Broadway will be preserved indefinitely thanks to historic covenants protecting the structure itself. But both the current ownership group of the building, and the company the owners have partnered with to lease and manage the property, are not currently committing to saving the record shop business itself. Instead the current plan is to build a multi-level honky tonk bar and music venue at the property, with perhaps a tip of the hat to the location’s Ernest Tubb legacy. …However, paying tribute to the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, and re-opening the Ernest Tubb Record Shop are two separate things.
Delavan , WI | Luxury turntable company in Delavan sells record players across the globe for up to $30,000: Music is consumed in so many ways, like with headphones, car stereos, and portable speakers. In a world where our listening experience is improving with new technology every day, SOTA Turntables has emerged as a world-renowned company from Wisconsin specializing in crafting record players. As the popularity of buying records continues to rise, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the need for turntables has grown. SOTA Turntables which is in Delavan, Walworth County offers a range of products, with prices starting at $1,500 and reaching up to $30,000, depending on the specific customization. These turntables are found in stores worldwide and are shipped to audiophiles across the globe. “If you’re going to drink a fine wine, you’re not guzzling something. You’re appreciating it on every level,” Christan Griego, the owner of SOTA Turntables said.
Why Millennials and Gen Z are Romantically Drawn to Vinyl Records: In an age of digital streaming and instant access to music, there’s a surprising trend among millennials and Gen Z: a renewed interest and romanticization of vinyl records. Despite the convenience of streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, many young music enthusiasts are turning to vinyl records for their listening pleasure. In this article, we’ll delve into the reasons behind this unexpected phenomenon and explore why vinyl records hold such a special place in the hearts of millennials and Gen Z. One of the primary reasons why millennials and Gen Z romanticize vinyl records is the nostalgia and vintage appeal associated with them. For many younger music lovers who grew up in the digital age, vinyl records represent a connection to a bygone era—a time when music was tangible, and album art was cherished. There’s something inherently nostalgic about the crackle of a record spinning on a turntable and the tactile experience of flipping through a stack of vinyl albums.
Swansea, UK | Man stole more than £300,000 from charity and spent it on holidays and rare vinyl records: The finance manager of a YMCA stole more then £300,000 from them, which he spent on long-haul holidays, home renovations, designer jewellery, and a vast collection of rare records. As a result of Andrew Philpin’s dishonesty the YMCA is on the edge of bankruptcy, has lost its charitable status, faces having to make dozens of staff redundant and it has thrown into doubt the future of its newly-redeveloped flagship headquarters. Sending the defendant to prison for five years, a judge at Swansea Crown Court said the impact of his offending was one of the most serious he had come across in a fraud case. …It also became apparent that the 57-year-old had been spending the stolen money on a “lavish lifestyle” which included five long-haul holidays, home renovations, and collecting limited edition coins, designer jewellery and watches as well as amassing a vast number of records. The record collection is now valued at around £60,000.
Beyond the music: Unveiling the secrets of the dead wax on vinyl record: For vinyl enthusiasts, the experience goes beyond simply listening to music. It is a tactile journey, a connection to the physical medium that holds the sounds we love. Furthermore, within the seemingly blank space on the outer rim of your favorite record lies a hidden world waiting to be explored: the dead wax, also known as the run-out groove. Unmasking the Mystery: What is Dead Wax? The dead wax is the area between the last track’s final groove and the record label on a vinyl record. While it may appear devoid of content, this seemingly blank space is etched with a wealth of information, offering a fascinating glimpse into the record’s history and production process. Decoding the Hidden Messages: Unlike the label, which provides basic details like artist and title, the dead wax speaks a different language, filled with alphanumeric codes, symbols, and occasional artistic flourishes. Here are some key elements you might encounter…
