Brighton, UK | Resident Music talk vinyl, retail and the industry ecosystem: Resident Music co-founders Natasha Youngs and Derry Watkins have spoken to Music Week about the vital role that record shops play in the music industry. At this year’s Music Week Awards, Resident Music triumphed in the independent retailer category and were the first winners on stage at the event. A visibly emotional Youngs spoke backstage of how much the recognition resonates. “It is really emotional because we put so much into this. It is a business, but it’s not just a business, it’s our livelihood. It’s what we talk about, it’s what we live and breathe, it’s what we do all the time.” “No one opens a record shop to get rich or to make money…” “Or to have a day off!” Youngs added. Watkins said it takes a special type of person to run a record shop, and the husband and wife team paid tribute to their fellow nominees.
Norwich, UK | All of the independent record shops to visit in Norwich: With eight independent shops and an array of vintage stores also selling records, Norwich is a paradise for vinyl lovers. From the latest cutting-edge indie releases at Soundclash to classic 1960s seven-inch singles at Out of Time, the city is the perfect place for a spot of crate digging. Soundclash: A Norwich institution, this shop has been providing the people of Norwich with the latest releases, cult favourites and classics from a wide range of genres since 1991. The store is particularly good for picking up new indie releases and is packed on Record Store Day…
Brighton, UK | James Bay to close intimate record store tour at Resident in Brighton: Former BIMM Brighton student James Bay will tomorrow (8th July) begin his up close and personal intimate record store tour when he draws on up at Manchester’s HMV. The Hertfordshire-born singer-songwriter will then be touring around the country in support of his forthcoming third album ‘Leap’ which drops tomorrow. He will be taking in performances in Birmingham, Preston, Liverpool, Dundee, Glasgow and Kingston, before saving the best to last, where on Monday 18th July he will be playing a Resident Brighton ‘outstore gig’ (in association with local promoters One Inch Badge) at the Chalk music venue located in Pool Valley. …The new ‘Leap’ album has eleven tunes and the pick of the formats must surely be the pink vinyl LP version! Fans may even be fortunate enough to catch James after his Brighton concert performance, when we have been informed that there is a meet and greet session, which will be an ideal opportunity for the faithful to get their brand new purchases signed by the artist.
Whitefish, MT | Slow Burn Records Holds Grand Opening: Whitefish’s newly remodeled shop hopes to bring vinyl records and community spirit to the Flathead: For Bernard Jones, Slow Burn Records is more than just a place to buy music; it’s a hub for artists, locals and visitors to gather and celebrate northwest Montana’s vibrant music scene. “As much as it’s about the vinyl records, it’s more about having a safe haven for artists to come and spend time,” Jones said. “People are excited about it.” Jones is the general manager of the new record store, which replaced local favorite Spanky’s and Gus after the shop closed its doors last year. When Slow Burn’s owners Mike and Dyan Colby heard Spanky’s planned on closing, they couldn’t imagine the city losing its only record store. The couple purchased the Spanky’s storefront — along with its record collection — in early 2021 and set out on revamping the space. “The store means a lot to Mike and Dyan,” Slow Burn’s Director of Operations Madde Borg said. “They’re passionate about music and when they saw [Spanky’s] was going out of business, they didn’t want to see it leave…”
Portland, OR | The Record Pub to open its doors in Portland this month: “Portland’s a great record store town, and we felt like we could be filling a niche a bit to combine the two.” A record store that sells beer? That’s the exact concept three Portlanders thought of during the COVID-19 pandemic and are now making their dream a reality. Chris Metz, Andy Clark and Dave Charbonneau are all owners of the Record Pub, located at 6034 S.E. Milwaukie Ave. The business will have 2,500 to 3,000 new and used records on the floor depending on the stock available. The music will be mostly rock-based with punk rock, metal and alternative music on the forefront. “Portland’s a great record store town, and we felt like we could be filling a niche a bit to combine the two,” said Metz. As for alcohol, people can find beer, cider, hard seltzer and with up to seven taps, along with to-go options. The co-owners plan to split the store to accommodate the drinks and music selection.
Birmingham, UK | Renaissance Records creates and encourages community through the love of music–here’s their story: Nathan Watson, Senior Content Producer at Bham Now visited Renaissance Records back in 2019 and wrote about how the shop made him, a newbie to Birmingham feel at home. Renaissance continues to foster this kind of community for locals and tourists by providing a comforting ”blast from the past.” Read on to learn about their story. …Renaissance Records is a record collector’s happy place. It provides a blast from the past while fostering community through the love of music. Located in the heart of Birmingham’s Five Points South, the shop was started by Gary Bourgeois and managed by his friend Jimmy Griffin, both big fans of music and record collecting.
Marietta, GA | The Atlanta Record & CD Show: One of the largest and longest running record conventions in the Southeast so please come and check it out! More LPs, 45s, CDs, DVDs, posters, t-shirts, and other collectibles than you can imagine under one musical roof! Vinyl has been making a big comeback the last few years and the hobby of collecting music continues to grow. “Vendors and vinyl collectors from across the South will all be attending the next Atlanta Record & CD show on July 17 (Sunday) at the IAMAW Union Hall – 1032 S. Marietta Pkwy, Marietta, Ga. A local institution for over 33 years, this event is the largest of its kind in the Southeast with (over 80 tables) loaded with records, CDs, DVDs and lots more for the music lover. All types of music can be found here in the Atlanta area’s best one day record store! Admission is only ($4). *Early Entry begins at 8:30am = $10
Green Bay, WI | Green Bay restaurant purchases Exclusive Company sign: Cheesesteak Rebellion on S. Broadway says it purchased the now closed Green Bay Exclusive Company sign. The Wisconsin music store closed all its locations earlier this year after six decades in the business. The 8 foot by 16 feet Exclusive Company sign will be removed from the building of the former store on Dousman Street and move a few blocks away to the restaurant. Cheesesteak Rebellion says it will eventually have it displayed at the restaurant once they figure out where to put it.
Esquire: The 12 Best Record Players to Embrace the Vinyl Boom in 2022: The best turntables to breathe life back into your record collection. If there’s one thing audiophiles can agree on, it’s that music sounds better on vinyl. The boom is at its proverbial loudest right now and it’s time you thought about upgrading your record player set-up to get the most out of your collection. The best record players look and sound so good that even Keith Richards would think twice about smashing them up. Not sure where to start? Don’t worry: that’s where we come in. Even as online streaming platforms offer vast libraries of music in convenient subscription packages, records are still thriving as music lovers refuse to give up on physical formats – including CD players. Not only did UK vinyl sales hit record highs in 2021 with more than five million records sold, but the rate of decline in CDs slowed. But before we start dissecting the merits of needles and plates, it’s worth knowing that the world of the turntable has evolved over the years. It can feel like there’s a lot to wrap your head around. With Bluetooth pairing, automatic playback, and eco-conscious materials, there’s a lot to consider, whether you’re a veteran jockey or a nervous novice.
