Author Archives: TVD HQ

Valdosta, GA | Hole in the Wall Records sustains Valdosta’s vinyl revolution: For years, Red Door Records was a beloved spot in Valdosta’s music community for vinyl collectors, music lovers, and locals to connect. When Red Door Records announced its closure, Bryan Gay knew he had to do something to keep the store’s legacy going. …Determined to keep the music playing, Gay transformed a room inside Ashley Street Station, his longtime bar and music venue, into a small record shop. The space was modest—just a “hole in the wall,” as he put it—but it offered vinyl lovers a place to browse and buy records without leaving town. For three years, Hole in the Wall Records operated from within the bar, catering to collectors and casual listeners alike. However, as the vinyl resurgence continued, so did the need for a bigger, more accessible space.

Courtenay, BC | Record store gives back with community music fund: “With music, your curiosity is never over because there’s always something else to check out. So it’s a way of traveling the world in a way, through different cultures, through their music,” said Kip Luce. Kip and Karen, spouses and co-owners of Bop City Records Bop City Records in Courtenay, are launching a brand new community music fund to support the local music scene. Bop City Records sells new and used CDs, records and cassettes, and sometimes when patrons bring in collections to sell, they opt not to take the cash or store credit offered in exchange. Co-owner Kip Luce explained how as a for-profit business, it felt important to find a way to give that back to the community. “I always feel a bit weird about taking tips or freebies and I explain, ‘well, we’re a business so we want to pay you out.’ And then we realized, well, maybe we can just turn that money that people don’t want into something good,” he said.

Winnipeg, CA | Appetite for ‘authentic sound’ pumps up demand for vinyl records, Winnipeg shop owners say: For the past 20 years, Mark Cardy has been buying vinyl records seeking the “real, authentic sound” he can’t find on CDs or streaming services. “[With] a lot of this digital stuff, you lose a lot of the soul that’s involved with all the music,” he said. “I just appreciate how authentic a record can really make you feel.” As a “flower child” son of hippie parents, Cardy grew up watching his relatives collect records. “Once you start collecting one, it’s hard not to collect more,” he said. “It makes you feel like something that your parents did and your grandparents did, and it’s kind of neat to see how they felt when they did it.” Cardy is also part of a shift that in recent years has reshaped the content at some Winnipeg music stores.

Toronto, CA | Futhark Records: Toronto’s Destination for Metal Vinyl: We spoke with Futhark Records owner, Claus Nader, about opening Toronto’s only metal-dedicated record shop and label. In East York, Toronto, Futhark Records is the city’s only dedicated Metal record shop. Claus Nader, the store’s owner and the founder of a budding record label, has built a space dedicated to the overlooked and underappreciated sounds of the global underground metal scene. Nader has always wanted a record shop. His fascination with record stores began in his late teens, where he spent time immersed in music culture but never had the chance to work in one. Years later, after extensive research and exploration of Toronto’s record store landscape, he realized something was missing. While a handful of stores carried Metal sections, none dedicated themselves exclusively to the genre. Given Toronto’s status as North America’s fifth-largest city, Nader saw an opportunity and took the leap.

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Godfrey, IL | Godfrey Business Spotlight: RiverBend Records Promises Rare Finds and Classic Spins: Whether you are looking to start a vinyl album collection, looking for that rare album not found on subscription services, or you just want to talk music with true fans, RiverBend Records is your record shop. Unlike subscription music services like Pandora and Spotify, you can get advice from true music professionals. RiverBend Records can help you start or upgrade your music collection. In addition, they help you find the best equipment to play your favorite music. The store opened in October of 2020. Owner Billy Hurst had a career in doing photo shoots for area schools and local sports teams. When the COVID scare brought about a cease of school activities, the need for taking pictures became mostly unnecessary. At that point, Mr. Hurst decided it was a good time to pursue his dream of owning a record shop.

You Can’t Just Sell Records: A Heartfelt Documentary Celebrating Music, Community, and Vinyl Records: Double Farley Creative Partners is thrilled to announce the release of You Can’t Just Sell Records, a captivating new documentary that delves into the heart of independent record store culture, timed perfectly for Record Store Day on April 12. The documentary tells the story of Ron, a passionate music lover who opens a vinyl record shop in his hometown of Whanganui, quickly transforming it from mere retail, into a vibrant hub for a diverse community of music enthusiasts and collectors. As Ron dreams of expanding his business and competing with larger retailers, he discovers that selling music is about more than just transactions; it’s about fostering connections and sharing the stories behind the records.

Owensboro, KY | Displaced Pages; new book & record store opening in Owensboro: I say a “new” book store is opening in Owensboro, but Virginia Hardesty has been slinging good reads for about a year now. With a former booth at a local vendor mall and pop ups all over town, she even created the first Adult Book Fair at Brew Bridge that was a HUGE hit. In between meetings of her Silent Book Club, Virginia has been searching for the perfect place to home a permanent location for Displaced Pages. “Its kinda been a long time coming…for as long as I can remember, my mother and I used to talk about opening our own store,” she told me. “It seemed unattainable, and one of those “meh. Maybe one day” type of things. But after opening at the vendor mall, doing pop-ups and book fairs, and meeting so many in the book community, it became apparent to me that I could make this happen. And why wait? I’m just gonna go for it.”

Raleigh, NC | Things to know before visiting The Pour House Music Hall & Record Shop: If you’re looking for a place that supports independent music, has craft beers on tap, vintage vinyl records for sale, and a stage where local and national touring artists can entertain an intimate crowd of 289 guests – you need only go to one place. The Pour House Music Hall and Record Shop is a local treasure for music lovers in Raleigh. It’s not just a live music venue, but a record store by day, a bar, and a vinyl record printer, all wrapped up in one. The Pour House isn’t just a place where music is heard—it’s celebrated. So whether you’re looking to flip through the records or dance along with Raleigh’s intimate indie music scene, this guide is everything you need to know about visiting The Pour House in Raleigh. The Pour House Music Hall is a music venue in downtown Raleigh in the historic Moore Square, which also serves as a record shop during the day.

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UK | Generation Z is Driving Vinyl & CD Sales: Why This is Great News for Music Fans. For years, many of us wondered whether physical music—vinyl records, CDs, even cassettes—would slowly fade away, replaced entirely by streaming. But according to a new report from Music Week and the Vinyl Alliance, something incredible is happening: Generation Z is now the driving force behind the resurgence of vinyl and CDs. Yes, the same generation that grew up in a digital world, surrounded by streaming services and instant access to music, is now choosing physical formats in increasing numbers. This is something to celebrate—not just for the music industry, but for the sense of community and connection that comes with collecting physical music. Let’s take a closer look at the report and what this means for music lovers of all ages.

US | Vinyl record sales continue to rise amid music streaming’s dominance: The RIAA says vinyl revenue hit $1.4 billion in the US last year, the highest figure in four decades. Despite streaming services continuing to dominate the business of recorded music, there’s still very much a place for physical media in that sector. The Recording Industry of America said in an annual report [PDF] that sales of vinyl records rose for the 18th straight year in the US to $1.4 billion—the highest revenue for that format since 1984, when CDs started to emerge. …Many fans prefer to own physical copies of music for many reasons, such as their belief that vinyl offers better audio quality and an all-round superior listening experience to streaming services, as well as a way to perhaps better support artists.

UK | New documentary explores impact of record shops that specialise in Black music: The documentary will feature appearances from Jazzie B, Trevor Nelson MBE, DJ Rap and many more. …The Record Store & Black Music: England’s Tastemakers documentary features appearances from Jazzie B, Trevor Nelson MBE, Marcia Carr, Claudia Wilson, Ammo Talwar MBE, DJ SS, DJ Rap, DJ Spoony, Wookie, Jeff Smith, Simon Dunmore and Carol Leeming MBE. Made with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the documentary and website are a collaboration between Leicester’s 2Funky Arts alongside London’s Sound/Image Research Centre (University of Greenwich) and Manchester’s Brighter Sound and music:defined. “This film and website are the culmination of research from across the South, North and Midlands,” says Vijay Mistry. “It’s a unique opportunity to experience this aspect of Black history in all its vibrancy.”

Salina, KS | Gryphon’s Wing Records Ready to Open: A new record store about to open is the result of a Salina couple’s hard work, and love of music. Jonathan Hess and Olivia Hamilton Saturday will open the doors for the first time to Gryphon’s Wing Records in Downtown Salina. Jonathan tells KSAL News he has had a love of music his whole life. He played in the orchestra in elementary school, and jazz band in high school. In high school he started working at Acoustic Sounds in Salina, a world leader in audiophile music. He started in the pressing plant, later worked in the warehouse, and he currently manages the vinyl vault, which is the pre-owned section. Jonathan says while there is an online market for vinyl, there is also opportunity for vinyl sales in a brick and mortar store. He believes the music sales market in Salina right now is untapped, and he’s excited to be come part of downtown.

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US | US Reaches 100 Million Paid Music-Streaming Subscribers for the First Time, Vinyl Sales Hit $1.4 Billion: RIAA 2024 Year-End Report. For the first time, paid streaming subscriptions hit the 100 million mark in the U.S. last year, while vinyl sales continued their nearly two-decade resurgence with $1.4 billion in sales, according to Recording Industry Association of America’s annual recorded-music revenue report. Despite that milestone, streaming growth continues to slow — it was up just 4 million for the year, continuing a slowing trend over the past five years. Streaming numbers grew by nearly 9 million between 2020 and 2021. This trend has led music companies to seek other sources of growth, including such tactics as Universal’s “Streaming 2.0” and a focus on “superfans.” The U.S. recorded music business is now valued at $17.7 billion retail and $11.3 billion wholesale, according to the report, adding adding half a billion dollars in revenue since last year.

Boulder, CO | New Music Venue and Studio Opens in Boulder With Intimate Events: Stone Cottage Studios is the city’s latest music venue that will host intimate concerts, vinyl listening events and so much more. Jamie and Davis Maynard know how to throw a house show. But what the father-son duo is doing at the new Stone Cottage Studios space along Boulder’s Pearl Street is much more than hosting typical DIY gigs in a room full of well-worn furniture and a keg in the corner. Instead, the Maynards offer a highly curated listening experience that welcomes local and touring acts alike for an intimate evening of live music, complete with professional audio and videography. While seats are limited to forty people, all the sessions are livestreamed, too. Between the wall of vintage vinyl, the black-and-white photos of legendary musicians and the antique audio equipment throughout the venue, it’s easy to see that Stone Cottage could put on the most cozy concert you’ll ever experience.

Adelaide, AU | Yorke Peninsula’s new hidden gem sells vinyl records and books: Tucked away in Stansbury on the Yorke Peninsula and only open on select days, Peninsula Records and Books offers an eclectic mix of Australian authors and global vinyl. “We just wanted to provide a place where people could come and buy a brand-new or second-hand book or a record, because there wasn’t really anything like that in the area,” owner Kate explains. The idea grew from the online store, which was already gaining traction for Aussie authors before the couple decided to open a physical location. “We had it online for a while, and it was doing quite well. Then we thought, why don’t we open it up down in Stansbury since we had the space?” says Kate. Less a shop and more a passion project where visitors can come in and rummage through the collection that runs from a small garage space—like a friend’s collection, but one that focuses exclusively on Australian authors.

Fort Myers, FL | Beach Records hosts benefit concert for mother with thyroid cancer: Beach Records hosted a benefit concert for the mother of a 5-year-old battling thyroid cancer in Fort Myers on Friday night. The event, titled “Dude Where’s my Thyroid?” featured five local bands and proceeds from the event went to Emily Meacham, a mother who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in January. Last October, her doctor noticed a lump on her neck. After more appointments, her doctor discovered that there was a large cancerous tumor on her thyroid. Due to the size and placement of the tumor, doctors had to act fast, and on Feb. 14, Emily Meacham had a total thyroidectomy and had one of her neck muscles removed. One month removed from surgery, Meacham said that she was not prepared for how the cancer diagnosis would affect her life. “My life whole life switched to a matter of 180. I wasn’t expecting any of this,” Meacham said.

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London, UK | Miraval’s vinyl pop-up returns for Record Store Day: Record Store Day and Studio by Miraval, in collaboration with War Child, are joining forces to host a pop-up event at Truman Brewery. At the one-day event, which will be taking place on April 10 between 12-8pm, there will be a lucky dip, with the winner receiving a brand-new vinyl and a glass of Studio by Miraval rosé. One winner will also receive the Studio by Miraval Golden Disc, which awards them with a Limited-Edition Magnum by Studio Miraval. There will be a live performance from Brighton band Creeping Jean, who will also be releasing two tracks exclusively for Record Store Day, which is taking place on April 12. All proceeds from the event will be donated to War Child and CALM.

Greenwich, CT | New Greenwich Avenue boutique music store to sell high-end guitars, vinyl records: Whether you’re looking for a new vinyl record or want to find a new high-end guitar, a new music store on Greenwich Avenue is setting out to become a music destination in Fairfield County. Round Hill Music Co. is opening its doors at 398 Greenwich Ave. in May, carrying guitars, records, clothing and other music-related goods. “Opening this store is a great way for me to connect with the community and offer an experience that I’m strongly connected to, while bringing back something that Greenwich Ave. has been missing for a long time—a music store,” Josh Gruss, founder of Round Hill Music Co., said in a news release. Gruss is both the founder and CEO of Round Hill Music, a private equity firm that owns and manages the rights of nearly 200,000 songs from artists like Whitney Houston, Morgan Wallen, The Killers, Meat Loaf and Madonna, according to the news release.

FL | Women ready for business: South Florida women entrepreneurs on the rise to success: Being an entrepreneur hasn’t been easy for women historically, but with over 45% of businesses in South Florida identifying as women-owned, these women’s stories demonstrate their resilience. …Natalie Martinez, Connect Record Store: Navigating often untraditional spaces is nothing new to Natalie Martinez, musician and owner of Connect Record Shop in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Martinez started her career at 14 playing music at different shows and events. …In South Florida, Martinez worked at Revolution Live, a rock music club in Ft. Lauderdale, selling show tickets. She would soon come across Radioactive Record Store, a longtime Ft. Lauderdale staple to the South Florida record industry, where she worked for over 15 years. After 30 years of working for the company, Radioactive Records announced they would finally close their doors in Aug. 2024. Martinez explained that although the closure was heartbreaking, it allowed her to put her business idea to fruition.

Winnipeg, CA | Mega music fan searches for forever homes for his epic collection: Winnipegger Doug Kretchmer’s home is floor-to-ceiling vinyl, CDs, cassettes and movie DVDs. It’s a good thing Doug Kretchmer isn’t enthralled with cats. Instead, the Winnipegger is passionate about, or possibly obsessed with, music. Inside a north Winnipeg warehouse that is also his home, Kretchmer came to a realization. He needed to dramatically downsize his music collection, estimated at more than 10,000 pieces. “The main living area is 14 by 14 [feet, roughly four metres by four metres]. The left wall is all records. The right wall is all records. The front wall is all CDs. And we’re talking about a 12-foot-high ceiling, so I’m surrounded by it,” he said. But shortly after moving into the warehouse, he was in two major car accidents within two months. “I could not walk for a while,” said Kretchmer. “My life kind of really changed. And you really rethink everything, and I’m thinking, ‘Wow, if that was fatal, my family would have had to deal with my whole collection,’ and where would it have ended up kind of thing.”

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Monmouth, UK | Grinning Soul Records open in Monmouth: Goldie Lookin’ Chain rapper Graham Taylor and novelist and broadcaster Gary Raymond are using a start-up loan from the Development Bank of Wales to share their love of vinyl records in Monmouth with the opening of Grinning Soul Records. As Monmouth’s only vinyl record shop, Grinning Soul Records can be found at White Swan Court on Priory Street. The micro loan from the Development Bank has been used to part-fund the kit out of the new shop and purchase stock. Having been close friends since their school days in Newport, Graham Taylor of Welsh rap group, Goldie Lookin’ Chain and BBC presenter and author Gary Raymond had a childhood ambition to open a record shop. Gary Raymond said: “Music fans come from all over the world to visit Monmouth as the home of Rockfield Studios, the legendary Welsh recording studios. Bohemian Rhapsody was recorded here yet there was no record shop in the town.”

Sussex, UK | Business secretary visits vinyl and bottle shop as he launches trade board: A secretary of state visited a Sussex town to launch a new initiative for small businesses. Jonathan Reynolds, secretary of state for business and trade, took a trip to Shoreham yesterday, March 13, visiting local traders. Mr Reynolds also unveiled the new Board of Trade yesterday, made up of CEOs and business leaders including Apprentice star and entrepreneur Mike Soutar, BT Group chief executive Allison Kirkby and Michelle Ovens CBE, the founder of Small Business Britain. Members of the board will strive to be “advocates and ambassadors for their sector, supporting businesses so they can trade more and grow.” During the trip, Mr Reynolds and members of the board visited a number of small businesses in Shoreham town centre, including Slipped Discs record shop, Fresh Cut Flowers and Palate, a specialist wine and beer shop.

Edinburgh, UK | Avoiding the rookie mistakes in Record Store Day stock up: There is nothing more frustrating than seeing people make the same mistakes over and over again, so last week’s episode of The Apprentice, pictured, was particularly annoying. Many of the candidates each year claim to be fans of the show and yet regularly go on to make the same mistakes that have happened in the previous series. Even if they haven’t particularly watched the programme before you would think that once they knew they were going to be on they would swat up on the tasks which are generally the same in each series. …I’m starting to get the same feeling as we are told the numbers we will receive for Record Store Day releases. There are always some cutbacks on some of the bigger titles and our aim is always to try to make sure that we at least have all the big releases for most if not all the day, as we don’t want to return to the bad old days when we would spend most of the day disappointing people that we didn’t have what they wanted.

Toronto, CA | The history of the iconic Sam the Record Man in Toronto: When it comes to legendary Toronto retail landmarks, few could truly rival the cultural significance of Sam the Record Man, where stepping into the store felt like you were entering the heart of the world’s vast musical catalog, and the knowledgeable staff there could effortlessly find you any record—no matter how obscure—with just a few hums of a tune.A staple of the city’s music scene for half a century, the iconic record store became much more than just a regular place to buy albums, it became a gathering spot, a symbol, and eventually, an institution, with its towering neon sign of two spinning discs above Yonge Street. Born in Toronto in 1920, Sam Sniderman’s journey into the world of music retail began in 1937, when he started selling records in his brother Sidney’s College Street store, Sniderman Radio Sales and Service. The two brothers convinced the family to designate a corner of the store for records under the name “Sniderman’s Music Hall,” and by 1959, the business was booming.

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