Record Store Day 2017 and the importance of analog audio: Analog audio’s resurgence is something that has been developing for quite some time now: According to Forbes, CD and MP3 sales are steadily declining in contrast to a tremendous growth in record says in the past 10 years, with more and more artists releasing LPs for releases both new and old to an outpour of fan appraisal. Vinyl’s lesser quality cousin, the cassette tape, has also gone through a comeback (albeit in smaller numbers), which comes as less of a surprise due it it’s affordability to produce when compared to vinyl.
How vinyl got its groove back: “You can get anything you want …” or so Arlo Guthrie sings in his classic song/story-within-a-story about a woman named Alice. If, by chance, you’re not familiar with the folk/protest song that traditionally is played at Thanksgiving (at least at my house), you could have picked up a copy on vinyl Sunday at the Rochester Music Expo. Tim Schloe, who along with partner Rich Franson, organizes record sales events in the Twin Cities, La Crosse, Wis., and, twice a year, in Rochester, said he owns about 40,000 records, supplying record stores with vintage presses across the Midwest — including Rochester Records on Broadway — as well as the shows like Sunday’s.
Record Store Day 2017: Top Sellers Revealed, eBay Be Damned: A week after the 2017 edition of Record Store Day, the music-geek holiday designed to boost awareness of independent retailers, the results point to a record 10th year. With increased turnout and sales reported across the country, stores reported an unprecedented instant sell-through of the vast majority of their stock of the day’s 350 limited-edition new releases just last Saturday alone. And sales of vinyl albums in general, the day’s bread and butter, were up 14% compared to the same occasion a year ago, according to a report issued by BuzzAngle Music.
Vinyl album sales increased 14 percent this Record Store Day: The numbers are in for last week’s Record Store Day, which happened on April 22, and it proves vinyl is still kickin’! Vinyl album sales on Record Store Day at independent music stores were up 14% compared to last year’s RSD and stores saw a 2,000% increase in sales from the previous week. Coming in at the top spot for purchases was the Grateful Dead’s release, P.N.E. Garden Auditorium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and following in the second spot was David Bowie’s Cracked Actor.
Vinyl Record Collectors Memorial Sit-In, Heading To Ja: The Grand Caribbean Suite at The Knutsford Court Hotel was filled with nostalgic euphoria recently, as patrons, friends, well-wishers and vinyl record enthusiasts gathered for the launch of the 20th staging of the Vinyl Record Collectors Association (VRCA) Memorial Weekend Sit-In. The annual event, which is rotated among seven chapters situated in the USA, Canada and Jamaica, is having its fourth staging in Jamaica from May 26-29. Ron Wilson, a member of the organisation and a record collector in his own right, kicked off the proceedings with vintage vinyl music, played from two turntables, sitting atop a platform, beautifully draped in black, green and gold – the work of Errol ‘The Rock’ McGowan.
2017 Grammy nominees album now available on vinyl: Vinyl aficionados who were unable to score that Record Store Day exclusive they were eyeing can set their sights on a new prize. The Recording Academy and Atlantic Records have announced the double vinyl release of the 2017 GRAMMY Nominees album, marking the first time the GRAMMY nominees album has been made available via the format in its 23-year history. The vinyl release features 21 GRAMMY-nominated artists and hit songs from a selection of 59th GRAMMY winners and nominees, including Album Of The Year nominees Adele, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Drake, and Sturgill Simpson, and Best New Artist nominees Kelsea Ballerini, the Chainsmokers, Maren Morris, and Anderson .Paak, among others. The album also includes tracks from Sia, Demi Lovato and Kelly Clarkson that are available for the first time on vinyl as well.
