Author Archives: TVD HQ

UK | HMV puts UK expansion on hold because of budget tax rises: Retailer had hoped to open more stores in Britain in coming year but will do so in Ireland and Belgium instead: HMV has put its UK expansion on hold and is to open stores in Ireland and Belgium instead, because of rising wage costs announced in last autumn’s budget that begin next month. Phil Halliday, the managing director of the entertainment retailer, said it had hoped to open up to 10 more stores in the UK in the coming year but had put that plan on hold as it was “peddling pretty hard” to maintain profits despite strong sales growth. Sales rose 6.5% to £189.6m in the year to 30 May 2024, as the group reopened its Oxford Street store in London and grew online sales amid a resurgence in traditional formats including vinyl and CDs, but pre-tax profit fell more than 6% to £4.9m amid rising costs led by higher wages, according to accounts filed at Companies House this week.

UK | The Vinyl Revival: Why John Lewis and WHSmith Are Selling Records Again. The UK music industry has recently witnessed an unexpected but favorable trend – a 20-year high in physical album sales. In digital streaming societies, traditional formats such as vinyl, CDs, and even cassettes are making a comeback. Major retailers such as John Lewis and WHSmith have responded by restoring the sale of vinyl records after being off the shelves for decades. In 2024, the UK saw a 1.4% growth in the sales of physical albums and this resulted in 17.4 million units being sold, the first increase in sales since 1994 (Official Charts Company, 2024). This growth was mainly due to a 9.1% rise in sales of vinyl which had been reignited and reached a 30-year high of 6.7 million units. Remarkably, only three out of the top 10 best-selling vinyl albums were old records, which means that new artists are equally as relevant to this trend as old-school artists (Official Charts Company, 2024).

Chicago, IL | Flipside Records Remembered: Flip Side owners Carl and Larry Rosenbaum had three choices they were considering at the beginning of their careers. “Hot dog stand, a dry cleaner, or a record store,” Larry confirms. “And fortunately, we chose record store.” That record store became an empire in Chicago (1970s—1990s), a string of stores throughout Chicagoland, soon to be accompanied by a concert promotion arm, Celebration/Flip Side. The two brothers, who had considered opening a dry cleaner, became major players in the rock and roll business. But it didn’t come without defeating some scary crosswinds. “Yeah, the mob came after us,” Larry says. “When you’re approached by a couple of thugs that tell you that they’re going to be partners in your concert business, and you have meetings after that. That indeed was terrifying.”

Reykjavík, IS | Watch Lúpína perform live in session for Best Fit in Smekkleysa records in Reykjavík: Ahead of her US shows this month at SXSW and New Colossus, we’re dropping a session filmed at the Sugarcubes-founded record store Smekkleysa during Iceland Airwaves last year with rising uber-talented Nína Solveig Andersen – better known as lúpina. Under the name Luípina, Oslo-based Andersen kicked off her solo career in 2022 after releasing two records with experimental folk trio Dymbrá. The 21-year-old half-Norwegian, half-Icelandic songwriter and producer wrote most of her 2023 debut album ringluð as part of a school project and followed up with her second album marglytta back in the autumn last year. The record blends complex layers of synths, soundscapes and captivating lyrics, fusing the electronic with a pop sensibility.

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Bridgeport, CT | The Emporium, Bridgeport record shop to close its doors this month: A Bridgeport store specializing in vinyl records and antique books and ephemera will be closing down at the end of this month, according to its owner, Mike Roer. The Emporium’s last day is March 31, Roer confirmed to Connecticut Insider. “The traffic really never recovered after COVID,” Roer said, adding that he noticed car and foot traffic dwindle near the shop post-pandemic. The Fairfield Avenue shop boasts thousands of vinyl records that range from house music to classic rock. Shelves of the store also have antiquarian books and other historical items for sale. Roer said that some of the books and “historical items and historical ephemera” will be donated to Bridgeport’s library.

Lynchburg, VA | RiverView Vinyl moves to 5th street: A Lynchburg record store has moved locations with big plans in the works. RiverView Vinyl is now open in the former Easy Speak Dance Hall space on Fifth street. Co-Owner Steven Ramsey said they are excited to have more room to expand and host events. “The bar, being able to run larger shows at that point, obviously not too big, but music is a big part of what we do here and live music at that point is also very important,” Ramsey said.

Upper Darby, PA | This Upper Darby Record Collector Has a Store, But You Shouldn’t Stay Too Long: The owner of R&B Records in Upper Darby has an interesting customer approach: if you must come to his store, don’t stay long and know what you want, writes Beccah Hendrickson at 6abc. Val Shively prefers doing business by mail. “This is a landfill, not a record shop,” he said. The store, open since 1990, gives him somewhere to keep his extensive collection. “I sell records. I sell enough to still be here. But I love to buy, that’s my game. That’s me at my best,” Shively said. The older and more obscure, the better. He’s been collecting records since the 1950s. “I heard this record ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ by Elvis Presley when I was 12 years old, and I went nuts. I don’t know what it was. It just hypnotized me or mesmerized me or something,” he said. It’s possible he has the largest record collection in the world, numbering in the millions.

Memphis, TN | Record company opening warehouse in Memphis: Light in the Attic Records announced plans to open a warehouse in Memphis. Light in the Attic was established in Seattle in 2002. They largely produce re-issues of classic albums on vinyl. The company is seeking to hire employees in Memphis. They will join Memphis Record Pressing in the Bluff City, which already produces about 100,000 records each day.

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Wirral, UK | West Kirby’s Dig Vinyl to take part in Record Store Day: A Wirral vinyl shop has announced it will be taking part in Record Store Day. Dig Vinyl in West Kirby has announced that it will participate in Record Store Day UK on Saturday, April 12, 2025. This marks the shop’s second year taking part after its successful debut last year. Record Store Day, which began in 2007, celebrates and promotes the distinctive culture of independent record shops with special vinyl releases made exclusively for the event and stocked only by participating retailers on the day. Over the years, it has evolved into a global celebration of record shops, with thousands of stores taking part across the world, including over 260 in the UK. Dig Vinyl expanded to Wirral in November 2023, opening its second shop on Banks Road in West Kirby marking a major milestone in Dig Vinyl’s decade-long journey, which began with the opening of its Bold Street shop in Liverpool back in 2014.

AU | Record Store Day 2025 Australian release list gets updated: Several new titles have been added to the list, including You Am I’s Someone Else’s Crowd: Live at Memorial Stadium, Seattle, August 1994 12”. Two new titles have been added to the list of Aussie vinyl dropping on this year’s Record Store Day. You Am I are releasing Someone Else’s Crowd: Live at Memorial Stadium, Seattle, August 1994 12” for the very first time on vinyl. The record will be released on black vinyl with new album artwork. Royel Otis are also releasing their Nashville Sessions EP 10”, which is sure to be snapped up quickly by fans of the band. These two Aussie acts join the likes of local artists Danni Minogue, Pond, The Saints and everybody’s favourite cartoon dog, Bluey, who all have special edition vinyl available on Saturday, April 12. Confidence Man, Ruel and The Veronicas also have Australian imports up for grabs for international fans.

UK | Record Store Day 2025: When is it, Scottish participating shops, available records, how to buy, and can you buy online? Vinyl outsold CDs for the first time in over 35 years in 2024—meaning that this year’s event celebrating the reinvigorated music medium is likely to be as popular than ever. Record Store Day has become a major event for vinyl lovers since the inaugural event in the US in 2007 sold barely more than 10 different limited edition pressings by artists including Death Cab for Cutie, R.E.M. and Stephen Malkmus. Now over 200 independent record stores across the UK take part each year, selling thousands of copies of exclusive vinyl, from new releases to old classics. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s event.

Sarasota, FL | Record collector turns passion into retail with Vinyl Vault: The vintage record store held its grand opening March 2, inviting The Garbage-Men band for a performance. When he found a space in an old plaza near Downtown Sarasota, Brad Schalk decided it was the perfect retro spot to house vintage records. He had started collecting records in high school before he moved into selling them. On March 2, his store, Vinyl Vault, held its grand opening celebration. While the new store has around 20,000 vintage records in stock, he hopes it will also serve as a hub for the community, offering “open mics and kind of a community outreach.” “I want to be a touchstone for the community to bring collections in that maybe they don’t know much about, and then feature that stuff,” he said.

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Miami, FL | Adrian Quesada Helps Sweat Records Celebrate 20th Anniversary: Sweat Records has long championed the work by Black Pumas’ Adrian Quesada. Adrian Quesada, the multitalented musician and producer behind Black Pumas, is set to headline Sweat Records’ 20th-anniversary celebration at ZeyZey on March 15. While the event is primarily a testament to the two decades of Sweat’s dedication to Miami’s music scene, Quesada’s presence adds an extra layer of significance, as the independent record store has long championed his solo work. The Latin Grammy-winning Mexican-American artist grew up in Laredo, Texas, absorbing a rich blend of musical influences that have shaped his diverse career. “Because I grew up in a border town between two countries, two languages, and two cultures, I have always found it easy to navigate between various worlds, particularly in music…”

Devon, UK | ‘Cherished our time on Queen Street’, says record shop ahead of move: ‘We have cherished our time on Queen Street’ says a Newton Abbot record shop ahead of its move to new premises within the town. Phoenix Sounds, one of Devon’s leading, independent record shops, has today, Monday, March 3, announced that will be leaving Queen Street. The shop says the decision is not linked the controversial scheme to enhance the road, rather it is a result of ‘rising costs’ which ‘forced us to look for alternative premises to ensure the survival of Phoenix Sounds.’ ‘We have cherished our time on Queen Street, but this next chapter presents an exciting opportunity to keep bringing you great music, brilliant finds, and the same passionate service—just in a new spot’ Phoenix Sounds’ Marsha and Roger Cox said. Phoenix Sounds, whose current lease ends on June 14, will reopen in new premises in East Street, a stones throw from St Leonards clock tower, on Monday, June 23.

Boise, ID | Record Exchange faces possible price increases as Trump tariffs take effect: In the past weeks, the Trump Administration has unleashed a barrage of tariffs against some foreign countries, impacting their business. The Record Exchange in downtown Boise is a place where people can find a bit of reprieve from the monotony of everyday life. However, the owners cannot ignore what is happening in the real world. In the past weeks, the Trump Administration has unleashed a barrage of tariffs against some foreign countries, and co-owner and marketing director Chad Dryden said it is impacting their business. “It’s a nice thing to go into a record store when you need some mental comfort food, and spend a couple hours on a Saturday and forget everything that’s swirling around in the world or your world, and to come here and buy a record and go home and engage with that and feel better about yourself,” Dryden said.

Sydney, AU | Andrea Black travels the world for vinyl records, these spots stand out: Based in Sydney, travel writer Andrea Black’s love of collecting music has taken her on a quest to visit record shops over the world. Andrea Black started collecting records when she was 16. “I grew up in Perth and every Saturday my friends and I would go to Dada Records to sift through the racks and then to 78 Records to hunt for vinyl. My husband collects as well—between us we have about 10,000 records,” she says. “I like to find records that came from the city I’m travelling in. Memphis and New Orleans are particularly good for this as both cities have produced a rich vein of music. “I have bought a few portable record players on my travels because I can’t wait to get home to play the records.” Here, she shares her favourite locations for record shopping.

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Houston, TX | Physical Music Is More Popular Than Ever in Houston: Even in the digital age, independent record stores like Cactus Music and Vinal Edge are thriving thanks to music fans wanting to support their favorite artists. …Vinyl, as a medium, never actually went away. Even as cassette tapes, CDs, and then digital files all became mainstream distribution options for artists and record labels, the little polymer that could continues chugging along to entertain physical media collectors, serve as an owned archive in an age of licensing, and provide musicians with higher royalty rates than what they’d otherwise receive with an mp3 file. In fact, Billboard revealed that, in 2022, 43 percent of albums sold were vinyl records, representing a 17-year pattern of growth. “It’s just a great format overall. Just the size of it. You get the graphics. There’s the ritual of it. You can put in really cool posters and all kinds of stuff. You can have fun with the packaging, and it’s just vibrant, you know…”

Hobart, AU | Hobart-based Suffragette Records part of movement to amplify female artists in male-dominated industry: When visiting this record store in Hobart you might find Lauren Carter and her three daughters playing hidden gems or well-loved works from a breadth of female artists. In 2020, Lauren was on a mission to listen to more music by women. But whilst sifting through the crates of records at her local record stores, she became frustrated, unable to find her favourite artists on vinyl. After breakfast one morning she posed an idea to her husband Oberon: a record store that just celebrates music by women. Three months later, Suffragette Records was opened at Battery Point. …Passionate about empowering women, Suffragette Records is an extension of the values Lauren instilled within her daughters from a young age. “I’ve always said to girls, ‘Make sure you take up space, because you deserve to be here, and you deserve to do whatever you want to do.'”

Stone, UK | Sad sign of the times as record store shuts today and goes completely online: It has been open for seven years. A town centre record store is shutting today – and going completely online. Fish Records has been in Crown Courtyard, in Stone, for the past seven years. But it closes for good this afternoon. It follows a closing-down sale in recent weeks. In a social media message to customers, the shop stated: “It is with regret that we at Fish Records announce the closure of our Stone shop from 1 March. Unfortunately it is no longer viable to operate a physical record store. We will continue to operate online with an enhanced and expanded offer. “We would like to thank those loyal customers and friends made over the past seven years. Your support has been appreciated. To those who still come in and say I didn’t know Stone had a record shop well it won’t from 1 March.”

Leeds, UK | The Vinyl Whistle: How a Leeds record store once owned by a Premier League referee became a West Brom stronghold: Leeds might be a one club city but one small corner is firmly Albion. To be more precise, it’s the corner of a record shop. Wander into the back room of The Vinyl Whistle in Headingley, a 15-minute drive or so from Elland Road and you can’t help but notice three pictures on the wall behind the counter. …Westwater is an Albion season ticket holder who has lived in Leeds for more than 30 years and bought the shop nearly 18 months ago from its previous owner, former Premier League referee, Jon Moss. It is the latter who was responsible for its witty, football-themed name. “I was never going to change that,” smiles Westwater. “The football connection suits me down to the ground as that and music are my two passions.

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