UK | Vinyl is still winning: sales are up 94% in 2021 with $467m revenue Stateside: The humble record’s remarkable resurgence continues apace. After a largely locked-down 2020, it seems vinyl is back on course and continuing its extraordinary winning streak in 2021. The Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) has just posted its mid-year music revenue report, with a key finding being that in the first half of 2021, revenues from vinyl albums grew 94 per cent to $467 million in the US. Although this comparison (ie. versus the prior year) includes the period in which retail stores were significantly impacted by Covid-19 – and Record Store Day 2020 was delayed, eventually taking the the form of three virtual RSD drops – it is certainly more evidence of the humble record’s continued resurgence. The RIAA report also found, for example, that revenues from CDs increased by just 44 per cent in the first half of 2021, to $205 million. Yes, it’s an increase on 2020, but what it really means is that revenues from our once beloved compact disc still remain 19 per cent lower than they were in the first half of 2019.
NY | Find your groove at these 12 upstate used record stores: Vinyl is back. In a very big way. Although most new releases now come out on vinyl, all of us have had those great, memorable old records in a box in our house somewhere. Those wonderful long lost musical memories from back in the day. Now used vinyl record stores are the hottest thing going. Here is a list of 12 of the best Upstate used vinyl stores where you can find those old memories once again. They won’t cost you $1.99-cents anymore, but what price can you put on your favorite old record album that you haven’t heard in years? Go and check these out! Poughkeepsie: Darkside Records: A vinyl; lovers dream. Thousands of records, CDs, and even cassettes. Remember cassettes? Give yourself plenty of time when visiting here. They even have old turntables. Lots of related items too, like rock T-shirts, posters, DVD movies, music magazines and more. A multi-winner as “Best Record Store in the Hudson Valley
Houston, TX | Memo Record Shop has one of the most eclectic Latino music collections in the country: Guillermo “Memo” Villarreal grew up with a love for music and has spent more than 50 years sharing his incredible collection with the city of Houston. Memo opened his record shop in 1968, selling music you couldn’t find anywhere else in the city. He’s seen the music industry move from records to 8-tracks to cassette tapes to CDs. The types of music have also grown. Customers can now find mariachi, conjunto, Caribbean, salsa, merengue, Tejano and much more in the aisles of the store. Memo Record Shop #1 also has a vast collection of Latin movies. “If we don’t have it, it doesn’t exist anymore,” Memo said. Memo’s business has grown into a museum of sorts over the years as well, with hundreds of photos, autographs and guitars hanging on the walls. His most prized possession is a signed guitar from Carlos Santana. “Music for me, it’s my life,” Memo said.
Alexandria, MN | In the groove: Local collectors wax rhapsodic about vinyl records: While most people are satisfied downloading a song or album onto their phone or iPod, the record collector wants a physical copy of that music. Almost everybody likes music, but some people take it a little more seriously than most. These would be the record collectors. While most people are satisfied downloading a song or album onto their phone or iPod, the record collector wants a physical copy of that music. And they want to do this for every album or song that they like, their collections swelling into the hundreds, sometimes even the thousands. “I would say I probably have a smaller collection than most,” said Rexford Sweetwater. “I have about 300 or so. I know people that have up to 2,000. Those are the kind of people that collect everything. And who listens to 2,000 albums? There’s no time in your life to do that. “I don’t buy anything, and I never have, that I would just buy for the sake of having it. It doesn’t make sense. It’s very important to get exactly what you want and take care of it. All of the albums that I had from when I was a teenager I still have in great condition. … No scratches, perfectly taken care of, because I love albums,” he said.
Barrow, UK | TNT record shop, Barrow get a surprise visit from Indie Dutch band, Pip Blom: Pip Blom paid a surprise visit to TNT records, Barrow. The popular Dutch group called in on the owner of TNT records, Dave Turner after it was recommended they pay a visit. Unfortunately the band had to postpone some dates of their tour due to a band member falling sick, but the band still came to Barrow to check out the Duke Street vinyl specialists. TNT records, owner, Dave Turner said it was an absolutely brilliant experience. He said: “When I saw them come into the store I was like ‘I recognise them, that’s Pip Blom.’ “I knew they were planning on doing a gig in the town but didn’t know they’d turn up at the store so it was a nice surprise. “They were blown away by the off chance that we were blasting out one of their tracks just as they walked into the shop!
