Thanks, Swifties? U.S. Vinyl Sales Volume Returned to Double-Digit Growth During H1 2024, Report Shows. Who says vinyl’s nearly two-decade commercial resurgence is slowing? The format achieved double-digit stateside sales-volume growth during 2024’s opening half after turning in a single-digit expansion in the same category throughout all of 2023. That data point comes from the RIAA’s newly released mid-year report, which charts the performance of the U.S. recorded music space in H1 2024. As many know, revenue from vinyl sales has improved in the States for 17 consecutive years, besides managing to grow in a number of different markets. But last year, the RIAA identified relatively modest year-over-year volume growth of 6.6 percent for the format, with 43.2 million units having generated around $1.35 billion (itself up 10.3 percent) at estimated retail value. Importantly, the latter is, as its name spells out, just an estimate—not necessarily the price that the products ultimately fetched when bought by customers.
Camberwell, UK | Popular music store Dash the Henge in Camberwell opens up a coffee shop: The founders of the Camberwell record shop, and now second coffee spot, talk local music and the secret ingredient to the best cheese toastie. Dash the Henge is a focal spot on the South London music scene, having taken over the well established Camberwell store Rat Records, and now they have opened up a coffee shop two doors down. HENGE Coffee opened at the end of July as an extension of their popular store. So where did it all start and what’s this new addition to area’s self-proclaimed “Golden Triangle” of music? Dash the Henge, the record label, was founded by Nathan Saoudi from Fat White Family and Tim Harper of FreakFreak in 2019, to provide a home for outsider artists. It aimed to champion local artists, and it still does, says Tim. Dash the Henge, the store on Camberwell New Road, was co-founded by Tim and Chris OC in 2022 with a similar mission. Sat in the space of Rat Records, the physical store has everything you hold dear—music, books, merch, decks and lots more, plus live music events and now a coffee shop two doors down.
Walnut Creek, CA | A Popular Walnut Creek Indie Record Store is Moving to a Huge New Location: Popular record store “Up The Creek” is set to relocate to a much larger space on Mt. Diablo Blvd., next to Ace Hardware. The move, scheduled for mid-August, will take the store just a little further “up the creek” from its current location on Tice Valley Blvd. The new space, formerly occupied by Terra Outdoor Furniture, will allow “Up The Creek” to significantly expand its offerings. The store plans to increase both its new and used record inventory, with a special focus on jazz records. Beyond just selling music, the shop aims to become a community hub for music, art, and creativity. …The store’s motto, “Fingentes Dum Progredimur” or “Figuring it out as we go,” reflects the owner’s excitement for the new possibilities the larger space will bring. The new location even boasts an outdoor patio, opening up potential for movie nights, food trucks, and more.
Toronto, CA | Best Vinyl Record Stores in Toronto: Whether you’re a long time vinyl collector or are looking for a new way to listen to your favourite tunes, there are so many cool vinyl record stores that you’ll want to check out in Toronto. Here is a list of the best vinyl stores in Toronto. 1. Sonic Boom: Sonic Boom Music is the country’s largest independent record store and a much-loved staple of the music scene in Canada. They have an impressive selection of hundreds of thousands of new and used records, CDs, and cassettes. 2. Rotate This: Located on the trendy Ossington strip, Rotate This is one of Toronto’s leading and best known independent vinyl record stores. They are committed to filling their shelves with as much vinyl as possible, with a focus on new releases from independent bands. 3. Dead Dog Records: Dead Dog Records has two locations in Toronto where you can find a wide selection of new and used vinyl records. If you need any help while shopping, their staff have more than half a century of collective experience in record retail!
Portland, OR | Inside Eerie Oregon Store Abandoned Full of CDs and DVDs: ‘Left To Rot’ An urban explorer has shared photos from inside an abandoned retail store where unopened CDs and DVDs still line the shelves. Allen, who goes by the moniker of Curly online, has been exploring and photographing “urban and rural decay” for more than 20 years. “That particular site caught my eye because it looked simultaneously apocalyptic and untouched,” he told Newsweek. The pictures come from the site of what was once a thriving retail store in Portland, Oregon. According to Allen, it was abandoned because of “both a change of ownership and some chemical contamination.” In a post shared to Reddit under the handle RangerPoundcake, Allen took social media users inside the store. Almost all of the ceiling tiles are gone and there’s a thick layer of dust and dirt covering pretty much everything in sight. The floor is strewn with debris, while the lack of lighting gives everything a grim, atmospheric feel. What’s also striking is the number of CDs and DVDs that lie untouched on the shelves, largely in disarray but likely never played.
Best vinyl storage to keep your precious records secure: Change the record? It’s easy with these genius space-saving ideas. The Rolling Stones are still touring, Bruce Springsteen looks better than ever, and Oasis are back together. Vinyl records are no longer just a collector’s item, they’re our primary means of enjoying music. Life is good. For many music fans, the concept of physical records being a trendy piece of home décor is repugnant. Collecting vinyl is a lifestyle, one that stems from a childhood spent crate-digging for deep cuts and soulful sounds. Like expensive jewellery or first-edition books, both vintage and brand-new vinyl must be properly cared to keep them preserved. For true obsessives, that means investing in anti-static record sleeves and safe and sturdy storage.
Weymouth, UK | Record and CD fair at the Royal Hotel on Esplanade: A record and CD fair will be returning to Weymouth next weekend. It will be held between 10am to 3pm at The Royal Hotel on the Esplanade on Sunday, September 8. Visitors can peruse the thousands of new, used and rare records and CDs which have been collected by sellers from Dorset, Cornwall, the Midlands and South Wales. A range of music will be available spanning from the 50s to the 00s with a mix of rock, punk, metal, reggae, dance, hip hop, folk, classical, blues, jazz indies, and soul available to purchase. There will also be an opportunity to trade records with sellers, depending on the condition and type of music. Sellers recommend doing this between 1pm and 2.30pm when it is expected to be less busy. Admission for the event is £1. Not all dealers have cash machines so it is recommended to bring cash.
Culture Club To Release ‘Kissing To Be Clever’ On Vinyl: The group’s 1982 debut album is getting a vinyl reissue. More than four decades after their groundbreaking debut, Culture Club‘s Kissing To Be Clever is getting a vinyl reissue. Featuring the international smash hits “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me,” “Time (Clock Of The Heart)” and “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya,” the record helped to establish the band as a force on both sides of the Atlantic and turned lead singer Boy George into a massive star. The reissue is due out in October. The newest reissue of Kissing To Be Clever enhances the classic album art with vibrant, restored color. The limited edition LP itself is pressed on purple vinyl, with lacquers cut from the original production masters. The music was remastered at Abbey Road. Though the album was reissued on CD in 2003, the LP itself has been long out of print, and versions that had been released in the years since 1982 had featured different album art than the restored version on this latest reissue.
Maharashtra, IN | India get its first record pressing plant in four decades: Records have a storied history in India, dating back to the mid-20th century when companies like HMV (His Master’s Voice) and The Gramophone Company of India played a pivotal role in bringing vinyl to Indian homes. These companies produced records featuring classical, folk, and film music, shaping the listening habits of a generation. However, with the advent of cassette tapes and eventually digital formats, vinyl production ceased in India in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Samanvii Digimedia Art And Solutions Pvt Ltd has launched India’s first vinyl record manufacturing plant in over four decades. Led by Managing Director Saji Pillai, the initiative represents a significant milestone in the country’s music industry, marking a resurgence of vinyl culture in India.
