Opelika, AL | Record store 10,000 Hz survives pandemic by closing its doors and going online. For 10,000 Hz, a record store in downtown Opelika, adapting to the pandemic meant completely reworking the way it operates and sells vinyl records and merchandise to its customers. Beginning as a pop-up record stall at local events throughout the Auburn-Opelika area, 10,000 Hz finally got a brick-and-mortar location in the heart of historic Opelika by the railroad tracks in 2018, but after only a year and a half of being open the owners made the hard decision to close their doors to the public — doors that have remained closed for over a year. “We closed a year ago, [March] 14th, and we haven’t let any customers into our shop since then,” 10,000 Hz co-owner Russ Baggett said. “We closed the shop on a Saturday and got the website up by Monday. Basically overnight, we had to completely shift our entire business model to do everything by phone or doing everything through the website.”
Wigan, UK | Try out Scalextric and vinyl at Wigan pensioner’s new businesses: Peter Thompson, 73, from Ashton, has set up Ashton Slot Car Racing and Revolving Records at Greensway Shopping Centre. A Wigan pensioner has combined his love for music and cars to open two unique businesses. Peter Thompson, 73, from Ashton, has created Scalextric car racing tracks and a cafe in an upper floor unit of Greensway Shopping Centre in his home town. The business, known as Ashton Slot Car Racing, is due to open its doors on May 19 when lockdown measures are hoped to be eased further. It comes after Peter also opened Revolving Records, a music shop selling vinyl, in July on the ground floor of the same premises, which is currently open. Peter said he cannot wait to get started with the Scalextric business. He said: “I’ve never had a Scalextric track and I bought an American book in 1972 about slot car racing. “That’s where the idea came from but it never came about until a room became available at the shopping centre and I thought I’d go for it.”
Isle of Wight, UK | New Isle of Wight record label celebrates first vinyl release: A new record company for the Isle of Wight celebrates its debut release this weekend. Downer by Isle of Wight band Panda Swim is out as a limited edition white vinyl record from today (Friday), and it is already garnering interest from music fans across the UK, Europe, the United States and Japan. Only 300 copies of the 10-inch record have been pressed, with the first 100 copies being signed by the three members of the grunge-pop outfit from Newport and Cowes. Panda Swim’s upbeat first single School of Fools was released as a digital track during lockdown last year, bringing the three-piece to the attention of Andy Barding and Tony Pendleton of Wight Vinyl. The power trio comprise frontman Stu Spiller on guitar and vocals, drummer and producer Guy Page and bassist Joe Perry. The latter two musicians are gearing up for a busy year as they are also members of popular island indie rockers Coach Party. Andy, who is also co-proprietor of the AAA Records shop in Scarrots Lane, Newport, said: “Like all good things, Panda Swim found us rather than the other way around. Stu from the band is a customer in my shop.
UK | Record Store Day & Classic Album Sundays spotlight the UK’s independent record shops in new series: Exploring how they’ve survived throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Record Store Day and Classic Album Sundays, in partnership with Bowers & Wilkins, are re-launching their Behind The Counter series to spotlight the UK’s independent record stores. In doing so, Behind The Counter will also explore how these spaces bring music fans together and create communities. The 12-episode series will focus on shops including Flashback Records, Wilderness, Bear Tree Records, and Jumbo Records. Behind The Counter will premier on the 27th April, and continue throughout the lead up to this year’s Record Store Day Drops on 12th June and 17th July.
Ariana Grande Brings Back Vinyl, Setting Another Billboard Record: Ariana Grande is both supporting records and breaking them at the same time. Ariana Grande has proven that she’s the queen of nostalgia several times already. Beginning her career on the series Victorious, she has made one of the few truly successful transitions from kid icon to international celebrity. She is one of the most followed celebrities on Instagram and has set several all-time records on the Billboard charts. Her latest record was when she moved from spot 79 all the way up to spot 2 as her album Positions rallied behind a new series of sales. But where did this sudden increase come from? Ariana Grande recently released a vinyl edition of her album Positions. Last week, she sold 32,000 copies, breaking Lana Del Rey’s recent record-setting release Chemtrails Over the Country Club by a few dozen copies. The album was second only to Jack White’s Lazaretto which sold 40,000 copies. But even White’s release was in 2014, proving that vinyl is still a contemporary and marketable avenue for sales.
