Lubbock, TX | Celebrate Record Store Day 2024 at Lubbock’s only independent record store: Lubbock’s only independent record store has quite a history here in the 806. Ralph’s Records (3322 82nd St) has been Lubbock’s entertainment headquarters for over 40 years. And now it’s the only place in Lubbock where you can participate in Record Store Day, April 4th, 2024. Record Store Day was created “to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently-owned record stores in the US.” And it’s a fantastic opportunity to pick up Record Store Day only releases, which are very collectible, cool, and often appreciate in value significantly. There will be limited color vinyl records, picture discs, CDs, and even cassettes in a wide variety of genres. Record Store Day is a bit of a surprise and there is some element of luck involved with getting the titles you want most. Of the many RSD releases, many, but not all, will be at Ralph’s, and the quantity will be limited.
UK | Indie record shops boom in number—but supermarkets are deserting music: Data from Digital Entertainment and Retail Association finds there are now 122 more indie record shops compared with 2014. New data shows that the UK has dozens more record shops that it did 10 years ago, but the marketplace for physical music elsewhere is quickly collapsing. A study by the Digital Entertainment and Retail Association (ERA) finds that there are now 461 indie record shops in the UK, 122 more than 2014. Purely in terms of store numbers, the sector has recovered strongly after a small dip during 2020 that is likely attributable to the Covid-19 pandemic. The much-heralded vinyl revival—and its controversial premium pricing—drove revenue for vinyl to more than £170m last year, the 16th straight year for growth in the format. Of that revenue £110m came from archive releases rather than new music. ERA chief executive Kim Bayley celebrated the shops’ success, saying: “…Indies have found their niche and they are here to stay.”
UK | How young women are fueling the vinyl revival: Experts reveal female Gen Z are driving record sales by buying new albums from modern artists including Taylor Swift—as number of indie stores hits 10-year high: Gen-Z women are helping to fuel the vinyl revival by buying new records from modern artists including Taylor Swift rather than old albums, store owners have revealed today. Some 6.5million LPs on vinyl were bought across the UK last year, making it the 16th year in a row to see growth—with stars Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar and Harry Styles credited for the boom. Experts in the industry now say that Gen Z-ers are behind the trend, whereas in the past it was more likely that middle-aged men and women would go shopping for vinyl from their younger years. It comes as an industry group today revealed that the number of independent record shops has hit a 10-year high, with 461 indie record shops across the country—122 more than a decade ago.
Wilton, UK | LSD Records, Wilton, to feature in upcoming comedy film: A Wilton record shop will be at the heart of an upcoming comedy film set in Wiltshire. LSD Records (or £.s.d. Records) in West Street, has been the main filming set for Sleeves, a story following two aging mods who get together and open a second-hand record shop. Sleeves is a “massive” opportunity for the shop and everyone else involved, said owner Adrian Martin, who hopes the film will grow from humble beginnings into a cult classic. Big names in the film industry have shown interest and Adrian said the scriptwriter is constantly making adjustments as Sleeves has blown up to “massive proportions.” The 58-year-old Wilton resident has been asking his friends to step in as extras in the pub scenes which have been filmed in the Winchester Gate and the Bear Inn. “It’s like a diary of people I grew up with. I have never been so excited in my life,” he said.
Oxford, UK | State-of-the-art vinyl listening station coming to local hi-fi store: A local hi-fi retailer has announced the launch of a new vinyl listening station. Summertown’s Sevenoaks Sound and Vision is inviting music fans to experience its new state-of-the-art listening station located at the front of the store. The station is open to anyone wishing to listen to vintage classics or modern favourites on premium audio equipment. Store manager Geraint Evans said: “At Sevenoaks, we believe in the power of music to bring people and communities together. “With our new vinyl listening station, we hope to provide a space where Oxford’s diverse musical heritage and contemporary culture can be celebrated.” He added: “Additionally, in our experience, there are lots of people throughout Oxfordshire who own vinyl but no longer have a turntable. “This is a great opportunity for people to listen to their records.”
UK | Watch a 12-part series celebrating independent record stores in the UK: Behind The Counter explores the vibrant culture of UK record stores. A video series celebrating independent record stores in the UK has returned for its fifth season. You can watch five of the 12 new episodes below now. Behind The Counter first launched in 2019, with an aim to showcase the vibrant culture of independent and grassroots stores. Over the past five years, the series has featured 60 shops across the UK and garnered over 2.5 million views. This year’s series, hosted in collaboration with Bowers & Wilkins, Classic Album Sundays, and Record Store Day UK, features stores like Blitzkrieg Shop in Glasgow, Dark Earth in Merseyside, Defend Vinyl in Liverpool, Hey Joe in Essex, and more. The first five episodes of the series have already been released. Check out the inaugural episode, featuring Vinyl Van in Dorchester below.
Allentown, PA | Allentown event to offer vintage and modern vinyl: To many music fans, there’s nothing quite like the sound of their favorite song played on vinyl record, and thanks to an upcoming Allentown event, more people will be able to enjoy this experience. Both current and vintage vinyl will be on offer in the Lehigh Valley Music Expo Record DVD & CD collectors show next month, which is scheduled for one day only. Merchants Square Mall will be the venue for the occasion, and LPs, CDs, DVDs, and other items will all be available for purchase. Both serious collectors and casual music lovers will find plenty to browse through, and there will be rarer items that are hard to find in the general trade. Memorabilia will also be for sale along with guitars, effects pedals and cases, musical instruments from India, and headphones. …The Lehigh Valley Music Expo Record DVD & CD collectors show will be welcoming music lovers on Saturday, April 6. Interested parties may find out more information on the organization’s event listing online.
Most Collected Vinyl Of All Time Revealed: What do you think is the most collected vinyl album of all time? Something by Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Adele, Taylor Swift, or something left field? What do you think is the most collected vinyl album of all time? You’re probably thinking about the albums you always see in stores, when you’re doing some online shopping, or the records you see in people’s collections all the time. You’re probably imagining albums like Led Zeppelin IV, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon, 21 by Adele, or anything by Taylor Swift—world-conquering records and albums that have seen numerous represses due to their popularity (and sound quality). You likely wouldn’t have guessed the most-collected album in people’s collection. According to new data gathered by the music database Discogs, where fans can catalogue their physical music collections, Daft Punk’s 2013 fourth and final album, Random Access Memories, is the website’s “most collected release.”
