Category Archives: A morning mix of news for the vinyl inclined

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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Fort Myers, FL | Record store, music venue Beach Records to close after 6 years: Beach Records, a record store doubling as a music venue in Fort Myers, is closing after hundreds of shows and many more records sold. Owner Martin “Marty” Bourgeois is going on sabbatical after six years of serving the community with shows and records, reciprocating his love for live music and giving the scene a place to play and buy records. The shop has a vintage feel. Rows of used and new vinyl are packed in wooden boxes labeled in marker over recycled vinyl. Bourgeois sees this as more of a sabbatical than a closure. However, this location, 15560 McGregor Blvd., Unit 8, which has been active since 2019, will close for good. Bourgeois was going to close down temporarily starting in June or July, but his landlord sought to raise the rent by 30% and have him sign a three-year lease, WINK News reports.

Miami, FL | Sweat Records, Miami’s beloved vinyl shop, celebrates 20 years: When Lolo Reskin opened Sweat Records in 2005, she had “no long-term plans” for the vinyl shop. She was 22 years old; her best friend and cofounder, 24. “We just wanted to build this cool thing together because we loved music and we loved our city,” she said. Why it matters: Twenty years later, the Little Haiti shop is central to the community, having grown into a local hub and safe space for residents and tourists alike. Fittingly, ahead of its 20th anniversary Wednesday, Miami-Dade County declared March 12 to be “Sweat Records Day.” Flashback: The independent shop’s first location opened in Edgewater, less than a year before Hurricane Wilma hit Miami. The storm destroyed the building, forcing Reskin to relocate to a temporary space behind the Churchill’s Pub—”a complete landmark” at the time, Reskin told Axios.

Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis’ Outta Wax is keeping vinyl alive and well: Lovers of old-school records in the Twin Cities, listen up: you can get a record made in your own backyard. Alex Stillman is a record presser with Outta Wax. The small business got its start during COVID when Stillman’s business partner, Sara Pette, decided to give record-pressing a spin. “My job at the time was non-existent because of COVID, so I sort of freaked out and wanted to start another business,” Pette said. She also saw a need in the Twin Cities. “When you are an independent artist with no label, it’s really hard to get your foot in the door to get stuff made like this,” Pette said. So, they got their hands on antique lathe machines which grooves music into plastic discs. They also got their hands on a more modern set-up. The record-pressing process begins with a machine called the extruder, which turns plastic into a pre-mold that looks like a hockey puck.

Southampton, UK | HotWax rock record store to celebrate album: An alternative trio rocked a record store in Southampton Wednesday night in a performance to promote their debut album. HotWax performed an in-store gig at Vinilo Record Store in Queensway to celebrate the release of their first album Hot Shock, which was released March 7. The record reached number nine in the mid-week album chart and the band spoke to fans and signed copies after the performance. The alternative rock band members of HotWax are vocalist and guitarist Tallulah Sim-Savage, bassist Lola Sam and Alfie Sayers on drums. When the album was released, the band posted on social media: “After a crazed adrenaline filled year of touring, writing and recording our debut album ‘Hot Shock’ is here. “We’re feeling extremely overwhelmed and proud, from our first gig together nearly 8 years ago to now having our first album out in the world made with the most incredible people feels surreal and we can’t quite believe it.”

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Minneapolis, MN | Electric Fetus owners say Franklin Avenue redesign will hurt business: For more than 55 years, Electric Fetus has stood as a Twin Cities record store landmark along Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. “We draw people from not only just the Twin City community, but from around the world,” Aaron Meyerring, co-owner of Electric Fetus, said. Owners Aaron Meyerring and Stephanie Meyerring said new plans to redesign Franklin Avenue would disrupt their years of success. “This design would be detrimental, not only to our business, but I just think our surrounding community and neighborhood,” Stephanie Meyerring said. Hennepin County’s plans include a reduction to three lanes and additional sidewalks and bike lanes. The county’s goal is to improve safety, accessibility and comfort along the roadway.

Cheshire, UK | Record shop owner says Covid helped realise dream: The owner of an independent record shop in Cheshire said the pandemic encouraged him to realise his dream of selling vinyl. Steve Cook quit his job as an internal auditor in 2022 to focus full-time on Applestump Records in Nantwich – named after the first record shop he went to as a boy. The move into retail began during lockdown when he and his wife Danielle could no longer enjoy their hobby of touring cities in the UK to buy records. “So we decided to try and make the record shop come to us,” said Mr Cook. They initially built a website and bought around 80 records to sell, which customers would collect from the end of their driveway or Mr Cook would deliver after work. He said it was very slow to start, but the “stroke of luck” came after being invited to be part of a pop-up market in a local café, which demonstrated the appetite for a record shop.

Cambridge, MA | Get ready for a Record Store Day walk and show from Cambridge Day and Hump Day News: Walk the walk. Punk the rock. That’s my current motto because on April 12 we’re celebrating Record Store Day with local artists, music merchants, and, hopefully, you! Here are the basics of this two-part throwdown. First, walk the walk. We’ve mapped some of our wonderful local record stores for a patent-pending Cambridge Day Record Store Walk. Construct your own route and see how many you can hit on Record Store Day. You may recall a similar call to action with last year’s “Totally Excellent Mid-January Cambridge Day-Approved Record Store Walk & You Better Dress Warm” article. Similar, except with better weather, on April 12 you can pick up specially marked copies of Cambridge Day’s print edition, The Week, in participating stores (Planet Records, vinyl index. and Big Dig Records).

Fort Myers, FL | Local record store and venue, Beach Records, closing after 6 years: Beach Records, a record store doubling as a music venue, is closing down after hundreds of shows and many more records sold. Owner Martin “Marty” Bourgeois is going on sabbatical after six years of serving the community with shows and records, reciprocating his love for live music and giving the scene a place to play and buy records. The shop has a vintage feel. Rows of used and new vinyl are packed in wooden boxes labeled in marker over recycled vinyl. Entering the store, you’ll feel like you’re in a collector’s garage, immersed in decades of records spanning many genres. It was a place for all music fans. Bourgeois is seeing this as more of a sabbatical than a closure. However, this location, which has been active since 2019, will close for good.

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South Devon, UK | Record store gets into the 21st-century groove with Start Up Loans: A husband-and-wife team are bringing a South Devon record store into the 21st century with the help of a Start Up Loan. The £5,000 loan, secured with the assistance of not-for-profit lender GC Business Finance, was used to update the shop’s branding, website and online sales provision. Lifelong vinyl fans Roger and Marsha Cox took over Phoenix Sounds in Newton Abbot in 2022 upon the retirement of its previous owner. “We were regular customers, and one day, sales assistant Jackie asked us, half-joking, ‘Would you like to buy the shop?’” recalls Roger, a fan of 80s music including Simple Minds and Depeche Mode. “We replied: yes, please! It was a huge step—we had to remortgage the house. At the time, I was working 80-hour weeks as an area manager for a cleaning company. In contrast, this isn’t work—we both love music. It was a no-brainer.”

Austin, TX | Last day parties at Waterloo Records mark final bow at North Lamar location: The decades-old record store is starting its farewell residency tour March 11 before it relocates to a spot down the road on North Lamar. Waterloo Records is hosting its Last Day Parties March 11 through March 14, featuring a variety of artist concerts throughout the week. Musical acts include Hope Tala, Vanessa Zamora, Jo Hill,Charley Crockett and more. The events are free and open to all ages, with most performances open to the public without badges, wristbands and RSVPs required. Capacity limits may apply. A number of sponsors and partners, including White Claw, Gold Rush Vinyl, Tequila 512, Rambler Water and more will be giving out a limited number of samples, vinyls and other products throughout the week-long celebration.

Milwaukee, WI | Vintage shop On and On Milwaukee rounds out flourishing block; offers fun promo: Love local art, vinyl records, vintage items and clothing? Put On & On Milwaukee on your swing-by list. The new biz also partnered with 10 vintage shops for “March Market Meltdown.” Until recently, Milwaukee and Scranton, Penn. had very little overlap. But now we have a vintage and handmade shop in Walker’s Point that’s the sister store to a similar spot in Scranton. (Yeah, yeah there will be more about “The Office.” Keep reading.) In October, On and On Milwaukee opened at 1031 S. 5th St. inside a former auto body shop. The marketplace features 40 local artists and vendors selling art, jewelry, vintage clothing and household items, vinyl records in an area of the shop called “Record Town” and more. “It’s a little bit of everything,” says co-owner Meegan Possemato.

Dallas, TX | Garland Welcomes 2 New Record Stores: The Dallas suburb is a record haven, with new locations from Josey and Dead Wax. On Saturday, May 17, the Texas Music Office will hold a ceremony in downtown Garland to designate the Dallas suburb as a “music-friendly city.” The ceremony comes amid a weekend celebration for Willie Nelson’s seminal Red Headed Stranger album, released and recorded 50 years ago in Garland. The city has done much in recent years to cultivate and grow its community, culminating in a massive revamp of its downtown square in 2023. The surrounding area may be starting to take notice. This month will mark the second local record store to open a new location in Garland. In November, North Texas music behemoth Josey Records opened its third location on Northwest Highway. The grand opening was on Saturday, Nov. 9, preceded by two days of soft launch celebration.

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Taunton, UK | Taunton record shop closes its doors as works begin: A record selling store in Taunton has temporarily closed its doors after serving its final customers last Saturday (March 8). Moore’s Music, located on Station Road, in Taunton, will close its doors to customers as the business gets a sort out. The owner has confirmed that the store will reopen ‘sometime in May.’ Known as one of the few places in Taunton where you can get vinyls, Moore’s Music’s owner was reportedly debating closing the business for good a number of times in the past months. The business had a huge clearance sale at the weekend, offering customers 50% off all vinyls and up to 30% off other items, such as hi-fi and CD players, films, and more. A sign has also been put in the shop’s window to confirm it will be closed for a few months.

San Antonio, TX | Record shop brings sweet sounds into San Antonio bar space: Visitors to the Southtown bar Gimme Gimme can now drift over to an adjacent space where they can dig for vintage vinyl records to their heart’s content. The owners of Gimme Gimme have transformed their next door wine bar concept, A Perfect Day, into a second location for Friends of Sound, a store that sells, buys and trades used records. Friends of Sound founder David Haffner hosted a grand opening party on March 7, including DJs spinning records all day and night. Bar co-owner Aaron Pena recalls having coffee one day last year on Fredericksburg Road near where the team at Friends of Sound was busy relocating their neighborhood shop. “I’ve known Friends of Sound since The Squeezebox days,” says Pena, referring to the bar and live music space he owned on North St. Mary’s Street for seven years until he closed it in 2024. “I’ve had a rapport with them.”

Manchester, UK | New music venue and events space to open in Manchester’s northern quarter, renae: renae is set to feature a record store, dancefloor, and more across multiple floors. A brand new music venue, record store, and events space is set to open in Manchester’s Northern Quarter at the end of the month. renae will open for the first time on Friday, March 28, featuring a dedicated dancefloor, a bar area, space to throw live music events, co-working desks, and a record and book store. …Launched by local DJs and hospitality workers Brad Parkins and Harris Mouridis (AKA Mouridis), renae draws from the pair’s expertise in nightlife, bringing together their shared passion for music. Speaking to DJ Mag, Mouridis explained that renae will operate as a “hub for people who are into music and decent hospitality, so you can come and listen to great tracks on the ground floor, which will be very informal and open to everyone.”

Isle of Man, UK | Much-loved Isle of Man record shop for sale as owners say it’s ‘time for a change.’ ‘The demands of retail and social media have taken a toll on my personal wellbeing.’ A much-loved Isle of Man music shop, Sound Records, has been put up for sale, offering a unique opportunity for music enthusiasts to take over the established business. The independent record store, located on Wellington Street in Douglas, is run by passionate record lovers Ed Oldham and Jack Doyle. Since opening, Sound Records has built a strong reputation for its extensive vinyl collection, vintage clothing, record players, and guitar equipment. It’s had a number of locations in Douglas, most recently moving to their current store on Wellington Street in October 2021. However, the owners have now announced they are ready to move on to their next challenge. In a heartfelt social media post on Sunday evening, Jack shared the news with the shop’s loyal customers.

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UK | Putting finishing touches to Record Store Day plans: I finished placing our orders for Record Store Day on Wednesday, which is always a relief. The earliest order had to be in last week but quite a few had a deadline for the middle of next week. My last two decisions were whether to stock an EP by Wallows, who are a band we are occasionally asked about but whose album we didn’t stock last year, and whether to take even more Charli XCX than I originally intended given her success at the Brits. In the end I hedged my bets on Wallows and took a couple and more obviously increased what was already a large order for the two Charli XCX releases. There had already been some tricky decisions with two female singers who are big sellers for us in Gracie Abrams and Laufey both having live albums released for Record Store Day. The young girls who make up most of our sales are certainly fans but not collectors the way fans of some of the other older artists are and may well decide they don’t need a live album.

Barrie, ON | Music lovers ‘devastated’ by impending closure of local Sunrise Records: ‘It’s a spot my dad and I regularly come to, so it’s kind of a closed opportunity for us and other record buyers, too,’ says record collector. A popular destination for local music lovers is closing its doors after more than two decades. Sunrise Records, located inside Bayfield Mall in Barrie’s north end, is scheduled to pull the metal security gate closed for good at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, store manager Earl Young told BarrieToday. The store, which sells a wide variety of vinyl records, games and other pop-culture paraphernalia, was previously a Sam the Record Man before being taken over by Sunrise Records, noted Young. While the outside of the store boasted a 50 per cent off sale on apparel today, Young said there weren’t really any big sales on vinyl. “Everyone wants everything to be on sale now that we are closing … if the whole company was closing that would be different, but it’s just our location,” he said, noting Sunrise Records has more than 80 stores across Canada.

Glasgow, UK | Glasgow gets new independent record store as Second Line opens in the west end: Second Line Records has opened on Hyndland Road offering an independent record shop with an extensive collection of music genres such as hip-hop, soul and blues. Glasgow’s music fans can now enjoy a new independent record store after the city’s latest spot opened in the west end. Second Line Records has just opened on Hyndland Road, offering an extensive collection of music genres. While specialising in jazz, the shop boasts an eclectic mix of genres, from hip-hop to soul and blues. The new store, which opened in February, has a sleek wooden interior and features an in-store dedicated listening lounge with cosy seats and listening posts where you can sit and enjoy the rare and high-end re-issues of classics and live recordings available in store. The team behind the shop say the name of the store is a nod to New Orleans jazz parades, with the parade leader and band named the ‘first line’, while the ‘second line’ were the strutting revellers who would fall in behind to dance and listen to the music.

San Antonio, TX | Friends of Sound opens cool, new location in Southtown neighborhood: The record shop is replacing a short-lived wine bar. Big things have been happening for Friends of Sound, the long-running record shop that’s served San Antonio for nearly a decade. In January, the Beacon Hill vinyl seller moved a few blocks away from its home on Fredericksburg Road, landing at a new space between NoFi Slow Bar and The Wicked Wich. This month, Friends of Sound also expanded with a new location in Southtown. If you ever visited wine bar A Perfect Day, you’ve already been inside of the new Friends of Sound. The difference is, instead of dining tables and wine bottles on display, you’ll now find a curated collection of records spanning every genre from funk to punk. On Wednesday afternoon, I stopped by the reimagined space, which remains connected to Bar Gimme Gimme with its own entrance on South St. Mary’s, like the previous neighboring concept.

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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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Denver, CO | Despite rising costs and competition, Denver record stores are spinning gold from new customers: By any standard, Greg Daniels is a Denver music veteran. He’s been playing in bands since the mid-1990s, and has lately been reissuing albums from his past groups Glass Hits and Vaux on limited cassette runs, then selling them at his Drop To Pop Records and Curio, at 2185 N. Broadway in downtown Denver. Despite its 88-square-foot footprint—and the fact that it’s only open Thursdays through Saturdays—he sees a steady stream of tourists, vinyl collectors and scenesters digging through his curated collection of vintage punk, indie rock, jazz and pop LPs. As the only record store in the commercial core of downtown, he also sees music legends such as Billy Corgan (of Smashing Pumpkins) pop in for a look, thanks to online searches that balance out his lack of pedestrian traffic.

Miami, FL | Sweat Records Celebrates 20 Years of Music, Community, and Resilience: Sweat Records, Miami’s beloved independent record store, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Sweat Records, Miami’s independent record store staple, is gearing up for a monumental milestone—its 20th anniversary. Founded in 2005 by Lolo Reskin, Sweat has not only weathered the ups and downs of Miami’s volatile cultural and real-estate landscape but has also emerged as a key player in shaping the city’s music scene. To commemorate the occasion, Sweat is hosting a special 20th-anniversary event on Saturday, March 15, at ZeyZey, featuring an impressive lineup. Headlining the night is Grammy winner Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas performing some songs from his albums Boleros Psicodélicos and Jaguar Sound.

Manchester, UK | New Northern Quarter venue will double up as bar, book shop and record store: A brand-new music-led bar and venue is set to open in Manchester’s Northern Quarter this spring. renae, which will open on Thomas Street, is described as a ‘multi-concept venue set to redefine community spaces.’ The project is a shared vision of two long-time friends who first met on a dance floor back in 2010. Opening in stages, renae begins its journey with the launch of its ground-floor neighbourhood music-led bar on Fri 28 Mar. By day, the ‘laid-back yet stylish space’ will operate as a curated record and book shop, with an intimate bar serving craft beers, natural wines, and cocktails at ‘accessible prices’ late on into the evening. DJ and digger Patrick Ryder from Manchester collective Talking Drums, formerly of Piccadilly Records, will be stocking the finest new releases from global boutique labels alongside a second-hand selection of crowd-pleasing classics, rarities and future favourites.

Richmond, VA | Coffee-and-records shop Le Cache Dulcet opening in Arts District: A former music industry pro relocating from the West Coast is turning his love of coffee and vinyl records into a new business venture in Richmond. Patrick Weaver planned to open Le Cache Dulcet at 109 E. Broad St. on Friday. The coffee-and-records combo was inspired by Weaver’s years living in Los Angeles, where he rekindled a passion for vinyl and developed an interest in coffee over professional and social meetups in the city’s cafés. “In 2017, I started to pay attention to what I was drinking, picking up the terminology and what I liked to drink at these cafés. It was around that time I got back into collecting records…”

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Asheville, NC | Harvest Records celebrated its 20th anniversary as vinyl records continue to inspire a new generation of musicians in Asheville: Asheville serves as a foundation for the comeback of vinyl as local stores continue to promote the narrative of a beloved classic into the hands of a new generation, according to Harvest Records Co-Owner Mark Capon. “I don’t know that we ever would have necessarily predicted the vinyl resurgence as it is now, but I think we’ve always known from the beginning that there’s people like us that want to support musicians, buy music, collect music, have that experience with music that’s beyond just the digital relationship,” Capon said. …“We set out to create a space that sold music but also was sort of a safe fun environment for people to just congregate and hang out, and talk about their lives and talk about music and what it means to them…”

London, UK | Grooves Records is London’s vinyl haven for music lovers: Though small and narrow, Grooves Records is brimming with character. Step inside, and the walls are plastered with gig posters and album release flyers, while shelves overflow with vinyl in every colour and pressing—most shrink-wrapped, others well-worn from years of love. Music plays softly in the background, never too loud but always drawing you in. Some days, it’s a newly released album. Other days, it’s a hidden gem that makes you stop in your tracks, forcing you to listen. Grooves was founded 21 years ago by Troy Hutchison and David Clarke, both veterans of the city’s legendary Dr. Disc Records shop. “We were both vinyl fans,” Hutchison says. “It wasn’t quite how it is today back then, but we made vinyl a priority while stocking CDs and DVDs, and it slowly grew from there.” While the name wasn’t chosen on a whim, it didn’t take long to settle on it. “We were just spitballing names, and that one was on the list, and it stuck,” Hutchison laughs. “It’s one of those classic, solid record store names.”

Long Beach, CA | World Famous VIP Records sign may get a new home across from original Long Beach store: After years of languishing in storage, city officials are planning to return the famous VIP Records sign to Central Long Beach. Officials confirmed last week—barring public disapproval—their desire to raise the sign at the southwest corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, across the street from the original storefront location. It will sit on a quarter-acre plot of public land, which officials said can be used to hold events, artwork or something more permanent—it all depends on what the community wants, they said. The location was laid out during a community forum Thursday at Long Beach City College, during which officials detailed building plans ahead of the Summer Olympics in 2028.

Randolph, VT | Speaking Volumes Opens Third Store in Downtown Randolph: The purveyor of used books, records, vintage clothing and antiques will set up shop in an old grain mill on Main Street and will also offer Vermont-made crafts. Central Vermont will soon have a new purveyor of used books, antiques, vintage clothing and vinyl when Speaking Volumes opens its third store, in downtown Randolph. Proprietor Norbert Ender said he’s excited to continue the tradition of promoting “slow shopping and slow fashion” with the upcoming launch of the new location. The Austria native and former restaurateur opened his first used-book store in 2006 on Burlington’s Pine Street behind Barge Canal Market, the latter of which he also founded but has since sold. He followed that with a record store and audio repair shop across the street on Marble Avenue. “Over the years I’ve been accumulating so much inventory, and I’ve been looking for additional outlets,” said Ender.

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