Discogs reports record numbers as people stay home and catalogue their vinyl: More time at home? More time to get the record collection in order. It’s a good time to organise your record collection. That’s the verdict from online vinyl database, Discogs, which has just had its busiest ever two weeks. It seems with many of us being told to “stay home”, finding ourselves on lockdown or in self-isolation, and needing to busy ourselves indoors, cataloguing vinyl has proved popular. Discogs, which allows users to submit vinyl releases, log their record collections, value their library, and buy and sell vinyl, has reported that March 16th to 29th were the biggest weeks yet for contributions to the Discogs Database. The database saw 34,716 new releases submitted (compared to 25,584 in 2019), 79,400 edits (up from 58,258 in 2019), and 146,361 images added (107,036 in 2019). That’s a whole lot of sorting through dusty record collections.
UK / AU | Australia’s indie record stores celebrated in interactive map: The small retailers are currently doing it rough. Australia’s independent record stores have been highlighted in an interactive map as part of a larger campaign to support the industry amid the coronavirus pandemic. The online map is hosted by Beggars Group, which owns labels 4AD, Matador, XL, Rough Trade and Young Turks. Users are able to filter between stores by those that deliver locally, offer pickup services and mail out orders. Stores are listed for all states and territories with the exception of Northern Territory. View the map here. The map goes hand in hand with the #LoveRecordStores digital campaign, which sees music fans promote their favourite indie record stores on social media. Artists such as Elton John, Kurt VIle, Sleaford Mods, Hilltop Hoods and Rick Astley have already taken part in the campaign. As state and federal governments issue directives on distancing and public gatherings, many record stores have pivoted to home and mail delivery in order to keep making sales.
Kelowna, BC | Straight from Dehart: Underground Music rides the resurgence of vinyl records. Vinyl is back in vogue. Underground Music is a unique store at 4- 1331 Ellis St. in Kelowna that provides a trip into the past, a vinyl record store shopping experience. Owned and operated by the father and son team of Ed and Aaron Martens, Underground Music has the largest selection of new and used vintage vinyl and CDs in the Okanagan. The store also sells music DVDs, collectibles, posters, stickers and patches, 45s, 12-inch singles and vinyl accessories. It’s a truly unique shopping experience with new titles arriving every week.
Lansing, MI | Record Lounge opens online shop to stay afloat during COVID-19 outbreak: Heather Frarey, owner of the vintage Reo Town vinyl store The Record Lounge, is staying home these days. One of her customer’s sons built her a website so she could keep up an online storefront during the coronavirus outbreak. She said that she received three orders right when the site went live. “He needed some credit because he’s going to computer engineering school, so he said he’d make a website for me,” said Frarey. The Record Lounge also posts new inventory on their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. She’s still ordering new records from distributors two times a week. Frarey said that, since the state went on lockdown, most folks have preferred to order their records through the mail, though she does still offer delivery for local orders. “You know, people are scared,” she explained. Regulars have still been messaging Frarey on Facebook, asking her questions like if the new Pearl Jam is available to buy. Frarey has been trying to get all of the new releases online, but the used records aren’t there quite yet. She emphasized that if someone wants a particular record — new or old — she can order it.
Miami, FL | Danny Daze to support Technique Records in Miami with his new EP: Propaganda & Manipulation, which features the Brazilian producer RHR, is out May 6th. Danny Daze will support Miami store Technique Records with his new Omnidisc EP, Propaganda & Manipulation. The new EP sees the Miami star continuing his collaborative work with RHR, with whom he’s been working with since 2015, after receiving the Brazilian producer’s demos “from the São Paulo favelas.” The three-track record follows Daze’s 2019 collaborative EP with DeFeKT for Omnidisc as well as the El Cubano 12-inch for Mustache Records. (RHR put out his debut solo release, the Nocturnal Fear 12-inch, on Omnidisc last year.) 50 percent of the sales will go to Technique Records in Miami. “Supporting our hometown cultural institutions during this global crisis is important to me in preserving the chainlink, when (financially) their existence is under attack,” Daze says. “Record shops like Technique Records in my hometown (Miami) play an important role in the development of our independent music scene. Lending any support to some of these institutions through these uncertain times is crucial for the vitality of independent music around the world.”
Chicago, IL | Help us support Gramaphone Records: Gramaphone Records is a Chicago musical institution, a central hub of the city’s dance music scene that’s been in business more than 50 years. It’s both a vital source of vinyl in Chicago and home to a community where so many of the city’s DJs have paid their dues, whether as employees or just digging in the crates. Now Gramaphone needs our help. Keeping the lights on at Gramaphone is costly, and with foot traffic eliminated during COVID-19 lockdown, the store is struggling to stay afloat. In these challenging times, we need to band together with our community of friends, family, and fellow music lovers. Together, we can help ensure Gramaphone stays the home that we have all found it to be. Looking forward to seeing you all back in the bins (physically and digitally).
Victoria, TX | UHV professor writes book about the theory of vinyl records: Jeffrey Di Leo, a University of Houston-Victoria professor of English and philosophy, grew up around juke boxes and vinyl records, and of course, searching for the perfect vinyl record to add to his collection. His longtime interest in the history and cultural phenomenon of the record helped him to write a book about the intersection of vinyl records, philosophy and critical theory called “Vinyl Theory,” which was published in March by Lever Press. “I am excited to help spark a conversation about critical theory and the vinyl record,” Di Leo said. “In a time when music is all digital, people are again interested in this method of recording, and I look forward to being a part of the early conversation about the resurgence of vinyl records.” “Vinyl Theory” opens with Di Leo sharing reflections on his youth, his interest in vinyl records and how his music collection shape-shifted throughout the years. Record stores began to disappear after music jumped to digital and became available to download, he said. But several years ago, the vinyl record began making a cultural comeback.
