Pittsburgh, PA | Record Store Day: Why it’s great, and why it isn’t: For its 2022 ambassador, Record Store Day turned to one of the industry’s brightest stars, Taylor Swift, who has said she tours with a turntable in hand and who, last year, released a vinyl version of “Red” that had fans thinking theirs was broken: You had to play the LP at 45, not 33⅓. In her RSD statement, Swift said, in part, “Record stores are so important because they help to perpetuate and foster music-loving as a passion. They create settings for live events. They employ people who adore music thoroughly and purely.” One Pittsburgh store specializing in such live events is The Government Center, the North Side location run by Josh Cozby, who came here from Portland, Ore., with his family in 2019 to open the store. “We had the bands booked and posters printed for the Record Store Day event in 2020, and we were all ready. It was super exciting and then, you know, obviously that got canceled,” he says.
Northampton, UK | Vinyl enthusiasts get ready for the return of Record Store Day: Two record shops in the county will be stocking official RSD releases, with others taking part in Saturday’s celebration of vinyl. Record Store Day returns this weekend with hundreds of pieces of limited-edition vinyl up for grabs. Both Spun Out and Vinyl Underground in Northampton will be stocking official releases while The Black Prince and The Lamplighter pubs will both be holding record fairs which will feature a host of other sellers including Spinadisc and Spiral Archive. Spun Out owner Chris Kent said: “We’re working hard to make it another big one for Northampton. We’ll have a massive selection of this year’s official Record Store Day Releases on sale. “It’s always a really great day and I’m sure it’s going to be another busy one. “Many of the biggest names in the music business such as Foo Fighters, The Who, Stevie Nicks and Noel Gallagher will be releasing rare records for the event.”
Newcastle, UK | Record Store Day puts vinyl sales on track for 30 year high – and that’s no surprise says Newcastle music shop owner: The format once discarded as dated in favour of CDs continues to enjoy its comeback thanks to a new generation of fans. Sales of vinyl records are set to hit the number one spot this year after climbing up the charts for the past few years. Last year saw the classic LP format – discarded in favour of futuristic CDs in the 1980s – reach the highest sales for 30 years. More than five million vinyl records were sold in 2021 – up by 8% on the previous year, and marking a 14th consecutive year of growth for the format, according to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). It is the biggest year of vinyl sales since the early nineties, when the Phil Collins album But Seriously was the best-selling record. The vinyl comeback is expected to peak later this year, when LPs are poised to become the dominant physical format in terms of revenue, according to industry publication Music Week. The figures come off the back of initiatives such as Record Store Day, which has helped drive sales of vinyl over the past decade.
Indianapolis, IN | Indy CD & Vinyl celebrates 20th anniversary with free music festival, plus Record Store Day: Two events have perfectly aligned this weekend—an Indianapolis record store celebrating two decades and a vinyl collector’s holiday. The 15th Annual Record Store Day takes place on Saturday, and Indy CD & Vinyl celebrates its 20th anniversary on Sunday. Altogether, it will be one big, busy weekend at the Broad Ripple staple. “It’s gonna be great. It’s, honestly, it’s a celebration of the work that we’ve put into this place for the last 20 years,” Andy Skinner, co-owner of Indy CD & Vinyl, told WRTV. “And the fact that it’s free to the public is a nice gesture to kind of say ‘thank you’ to everybody for supporting the store for the last 20 years.” Indy CD & Vinyl’s existence actually dates back to 1993 in Salt Lake City, Utah. There, the shop’s original owner, Rick Zeigler, operated Indy CD & Vinyl for about eight years until he decided to move to Indianapolis, and open up shop at 806 Broad Ripple Ave., where it’s been ever since.
Hartford, CT | How Connecticut music lovers can support independent record shops and pick up some rare collectibles on Record Store Day: Record Store Day, an annual explosion of ready-made collectible vinyl records, is happening again on Saturday. The event helps support independently owned record shops by releasing special LPs and singles by a variety of contemporary and classic musical acts. The Record Store Day website lists 20 Connecticut record stores as taking part this year, though the level of involvement can vary. The stores range from those which deal largely in used records (like the Telegraph in New London or Replay Records in Hamden) to those which deal with new releases (like Newbury Comics at The Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester) and those which do some of both (like Exile on Main Street in Branford). John DiBella, the owner of Revolution Records in Torrington, says that Record Store Day has “always been a good driver to bring people into the store.”
US | 8 of the Best Places to Score Country Vinyl in the Southeast and Southwest: Record stores represent more in an increasingly digital world than retail spaces that feed a consumer demand for physical copies of fresh releases and old favorites. They’re gathering places for not just new music discovery but also camaraderie with like-minded listeners of your favorite genres. During any given trip to your local record shop, you’re always a band t-shirt complement away from making a new friend with impeccable taste. Indeed, the eight independent shops or chains below exemplify the commercial appeal of the ongoing vinyl boom as well as the community-building possibilities of modern music stores. Our list spans the Southeast (which includes Missouri, per college football geography) and Southwest, starting in Georgia and working west to a pillar of the Austin, Texas music scene.
Denver, CO | Crazy For Vinyl? Take A Spin Around These Denver Record Stores: Once headed the way of dinosaurs, vinyl records have come roaring back. Last year, sales of vinyl jumped to $1 billion, the highest level since 1986. Happily, for those who can think of nothing more satisfying than thumbing through stacks of albums, wiling the day away searching for classic and obscure gems, Denver provides a mecca of vinyl venues. From a store that sell cocktails along with its cache of music to those that simply focus on the basics, “it’s never been easier to get into the highly addictive and wildly satisfying hobby of collecting vinyl,” notes a recent 5280 article. Here are a few of 5280’s favorites.
Manhattan, KS | ‘This Town Needs a Record Store’: Sisters of Sound Connect Their Kansas Community Through Vinyl: For 17 years, Sisters of Sound Records has been serving the Manhattan, Kansas community with its vinyl needs. Owned by actual sisters, Sarah and Leah Cunnick, the pair work in tandem to provide variety and education for all lovers of music. They’re located in the heart of Aggieville, a college shopping district – not just bars, the pair is quick to point out – that’s full of life and vibrant shopping opportunities. It’s one of the aspects that brings its quirky atmosphere to life in and outside of the store. The concept began when the town’s previous record store closed. Sarah had worked there for a decade and told her sister, “This town needs a record store really bad.” It was 2004 and in preparation for Sisters of Sound’s debut, they stocked with records and CDs – half and half. In their first day alone, they sold more than 400 records, a trend that only grew over time. Gradually, they phased out CDs and have focused on vinyl ever since.
Charleston, SC | 5 record stores in Charleston, SC: Ready to get groovy, Charleston? Record Store Day is just around the corner — Sat., April 23 to be exact — and we’re turning the tables on how you listen to music. From classic rock bands like The Beatles and Pink Floyd to iconic singers from various genres such as Bob Dylan + Marvin Gaye — there’s vinyl for just about everyone at these local music hubs. Unplug the aux cord and dust off your dad’s old record player. We’ve rounded up five vibrant + homey record stores that are well-stocked and totally in tune with your musical needs. 🎵
