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

AU | Record Store Day 2025 Unveils Australian Release Slate: The Record Store Day 2025 release schedule is a kind of magic — it will make your money disappear. When the 18th edition of RSD rolls around on Saturday, April 12th, vinyl hunters will have a chance to score special editions by such homegrown acts as Pond, The Saints, The Grogans and even that world-beating blue heeler, “Bluey.” More than 200 stores nationwide will throw their doors open for RSD 2025, an annual celebration of independent music retail and the glorious times that can be had in a record shop. …“Have you ever watched the movie Empire Records?,” remarks frontman Nicholas Allbrook. “Have you gazed upon the cover of DJ Shadow’s album Endtroducing? Going to the record store is one of life’s greatest, most wholesome pleasures, and if it too gets gobbled up into our phones along with banking, dating and reading, then we are a very, very poxy species indeed.”

Danville, VA | River District Records curates and celebrates vinyl: Nestled behind a quiet home in Danville lies a hidden gem for music lovers—River District Records. The business, founded by Joseph Richardson, is a labor of love that reflects his passion for vinyl records and his commitment to sharing that passion with others. His is a story of resilience, love, and dedication. Joseph, a Danville native and U.S. Army veteran, has always had a love for music, but it was not until after his time in the service, where he lost some of his hearing due to prolonged exposure to artillery, that he found himself even more drawn to the tactile experience of vinyl. Despite the challenge of his hearing loss, his connection to music remains strong, with the analog sounds of his records offering him a unique and powerful way to engage with the art. His favorite? Gladys Knight, whose soulful voice continues to resonate deeply with him.

UK | That should be a smash hit… John Lewis to sell records in its stores again as department stores seeks to join the vinyl revival: John Lewis has become the latest High Street name to join the vinyl revival, announcing that it will sell records again. The department store, known for its home appliances and furnishings, has teamed up with indie music retailer Rough Trade to offer customers a range of classic albums at its stores and online. Records have made a remarkable comeback since the early 2000s – last year 6.7 million vinyl albums were sold in Britain. And John Lewis’s decision to bring them back into stores was influenced by a 17 per cent increase in sales of turntables and record players over the past five years. Jason Billings-Cray, a buyer at John Lewis, said: ‘It’s clear there is a strong market for the format.

Kingsport, TN | Vinyl’s shocking comeback: Why everyone’s talking about records again. It’s 2025, and there’s a sound revolution taking place you might not have seen coming: Vinyl records are back in a big way. Against all odds, this old-school format has soared in popularity, with global sales jumping over 20% in 2023, online audio distribution platform Bandcamp notes. But what’s driving the masses to spin records in an era when any song is a click away? It’s more than just nostalgia — it’s a cultural movement, a quest for a deeper, more intentional experience that streaming just can’t offer. In today’s world, everything is immediate. Playlists shuffle mindlessly, and the next hit song is a tap away before the first one fades out. Vinyl, on the other hand, demands attention in a different way. It’s not just about the music; it’s the ritual. From selecting a record, gingerly placing the needle, and watching it spin, there’s a physical, almost meditative aspect to it.

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Morristown, TN | Stacks of Wax: Soundtrax music store opens in Morristown: “Somebody was trying to tell me that CDs are better than vinyl because they don’t have any surface noise,” longtime BBC radio DJ John Peel once said. “I said, ‘Listen, mate, life has surface noise.’” With MP3s following CDs, and streaming options following soon after, music can still be as free from “surface noise” as we want it to be, but those wanting something a little more tangible can now drive to Soundtrax Records in Morristown and browse their large selection of vinyl records and explore music in a way that now seems quaint. “I think people like the experience and the fact that music is physical; it’s yours, you can connect to it,” Soundtrax Owner David Price said. “It’s a disposable world, and records are something you can keep.

Tokyo, JP | A Vinyl Lover’s Guide to Tokyo’s Record Stores: In a city that seems to run on digital energy, there’s something magical about Tokyo’s thriving vinyl scene. While streaming might rule most of the world, the humble record store remains a cornerstone of Tokyo’s analog culture. Whether you’re hunting rare Japanese pressings, seeking out contemporary releases, or simply looking for a record after visiting one of Tokyo’s listening bars, keep reading for the essential record shops across the city, from multi-floor megastores to intimate specialist havens. Tower Records: While Tower Records has faded from many global cities, its presence in Tokyo remains strong. The flagship Shibuya location stands as a nine-story monument to music culture, with its sixth floor dedicated to an impressive vinyl collection spanning both new releases and vintage finds.

Houston, TX | The art behind the vinyl record: A look inside ‘Good Stuff Records’ in downtown Houston: Alicia Cannady is the owner of ‘Good Stuff Records’; a vinyl record shop inside Downtown Houston’s ‘Off the Record.’ It’s an independent record store that’s bridging the gap in communities through music. Cannady has been operating this shop since 2023. She initially started with popups, online and then became apart of this partnership where she’d operate at the front of the store. She says that what she loves most is engaging with customers through music. According to Cannady, only 3% of independent Black owned record shops in the U.S, but vinyl is still thriving and quite popular here in Houston. Traditionally for the past 3 years, for Black History Month, Cannady does a vinyl challenge on social media to focus on supporting and highlighting black artists.

Washington, DC | Good news about good dudes in ‘Love and Vinyl’ at Byrdland Records: Performed in an actual record shop, Bob Bartlett’s homage to vinyl is also a heartening rom-com. When you enter Byrdland Records near Union Market to take in Bob Bartlett’s immersive, site-specific play Love and Vinyl, be prepared to experience a sweetly funny and tenderly heartfelt rom-com that will amuse you and move you in surprising ways. For starters, the plot turns out to be not at all what the setup would suggest. It’s nighttime; interior; a hip, urban record store stocked with racks and racks of LPs—rock, punk, metal, soul, hip-hop, pop, dance, gospel, blues, reggae, jazz, DC Go-Go—a veritable vinylophile’s heaven. The sole proprietor, a woman, has closed up shop and gone to a back room but not locked the front door. She lives upstairs, alone. Suddenly, a man comes through the door, followed soon by another. From their bro badinage, we get that this rendevous was premeditated. And abruptly, the lights go out.

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UK | Sound investment: John Lewis teams up with Rough Trade to sell vinyl: Decision to stock records in some stores and also sell online dovetails with rising demand for turntables in its shops. Alot of adjectives have been used to describe the middle-class favourite John Lewis but rock’n’roll is probably not one, until now. The department store chain is teaming up with the indie music retailer Rough Trade to sell records. In doing so it becomes the latest big high street name to bring back vinyl as Britons swap Spotify playlists for the crackle and warmth of listening to a physical LP. Last year, WH Smith reintroduced records in 80 shops after a three-decade hiatus. While John Lewis might be the go-to place for curtains or a new fridge-freezer, music fans head to Rough Trade to immerse themselves in music. Its stores host pop-up gigs and sell coveted vinyl reissues alongside the latest headphones and rock star autobiographies.

Paris, FR | Paris’s best record shops: where to find the rare gem? Whether you’re an avid collector, a vinyl enthusiast or simply curious in search of new musical discoveries, Paris is brimming with record shops from a wide variety of backgrounds. From jazz and rock to electro and hip-hop, here’s a detailed guide to the best places to find your favorite LPs. Despite the rise of streaming, vinyl is enjoying a considerable revival. Music lovers still appreciate the authenticity of analog sound and the uniqueness of each edition. Paris, a true capital of culture, is no exception to the rule, offering a multitude of record shops, each with its own identity. Whether it’s a store specializing in electronic music, jazz or indie rock, each Parisian record shop offers a unique experience, where you can discover classics as well as little-known nuggets.

Albany, NY | The surprising place you can find great vinyl records in Albany, NY: If you love vinyl and you haven’t been to this spot, you’re missing out on an opportunity to find some really great records. In the day and age of streaming music being the easiest way to enjoy all of your favorite songs there are still people who love to hear them on physical media. CDs and vinyl records have become a novelty thing for so many younger people who didn’t grow up with those forms of media. It’s all making a comeback. Recently I started to fall back in love with vinyl. It wasn’t something I ever really collected or listened to. Growing up in the 90s I was a CD kid. I had a huge collection of CDs and I remember going to places like Coconuts, Record Town (before it was FYE), and Best Buy when that came into the Capital Region. After getting a record player from my partner and my kids over Christmas I am fully obsessed with getting as much vinyl as possible. I found a place in Albany that is a great spot to pick up some classics.

Atlanta, GA | Editor’s Journal: Loving Atlanta. Peaches Records, H. Johnson on WABE—there are plenty of reasons to love Atlanta. My monthly ritual in college was a drive into Atlanta to make the rounds of the rich array of record stores across the city. My favorite haunt was Peaches, a warehouse-sized store that prided itself on having the back catalog of just about every music artist imaginable. This was long before iTunes and Spotify. There was a sense of exploration and discovery from walking into a record shop that’s sadly absent in the digital age. Most often, I had a couple of target albums I knew I wanted; after that, I could spend an hour or more flipping through the bins of albums in search of something that would catch my eye. The store also had an area for “cutouts,” albums that had flopped on the market and could be had for a buck or two. I’d usually walk out with five or six albums: a couple of certainties I knew were good and the rest experiments.

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Chicago, IL | Wax Trax building gets final landmark recommendation: The former records store is located at 2449 N. Lincoln. The Commission on Chicago Landmarks has approved a final landmark recommendation for the former home of Wax Trax! records. Located at 2449 N. Lincoln, life and business partners Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher opened the WAX TRAX! records store in 1978. Their shared passion for music inspired the retail venture and their personal tastes, creative generosity, and willingness to take risks shaped the store into an international source of eclectic and ground-breaking music. Meeting Criterion 1 for its value as an example of city, state, or national heritage, WAX TRAX! invigorated Chicago’s music scene. With bootlegs, imports, and hard-to-find records, cassettes, CDs, and videos, WAX TRAX! became an international retail destination. WAX TRAX! helped to shape the world’s perceptions of Chicago music.

College Park, MD | As CDepot closes, nostalgia for physical media lives on: Another business bites the dust in College Park. After serving the community for more 30 years, local record store CDepot closed its doors on Friday. Since the late ’80s, CDepot has sold a collection of CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, books, video games and vinyls in its store. Nowadays, customers can easily purchase these types of physical media at a large department store or general retail spot like Target or Walmart, but these companies can never match the charm of a record store. …CDepot is not the only local record store that has gone out of business recently. Last summer, the Record Exchange in Silver Spring closed after more than 26 years. Towson’s Record and Tape Traders—in business for more than 40 years—officially closed in 2019. And Kemp Mill Music in Temple Hills closed its last location in 2017.

Jacksonville, FL | Jacksonville record shop open for over 50 years, still thrives with vinyl resurgence: A Black-owned business in the Lackawanna neighborhood has been around for over 50 years. That business is DJ’s Record Shop. Owner Jerry West said he’s been keeping the community listening to hits for decades. The shop has been in its current location at the corner of McDuff and Edison Avenues since 1974 but has been in existence since 1968. “When I started I had less than $50,” West said. West said when he started there were around 14 records shops in the area. Now, his shop is the last one standing. “It’s just something about music I love,” West said. “Like I said I’ve been doing it ever since I was 19.” West said although he’s been around for decades, his sales have gone through ups and downs. But recently with the resurgence of vinyl records things have been good.

Los Angeles, CA | The house where 28,000 records burned: Charlie Springer spent a lifetime building his music collection. The Los Angeles fires incinerated it. Before it burned, Charlie Springer’s house contained 18,000 vinyl LPs, 12,000 CDs, 10,000 45s, 4,000 cassettes, 600 78s, 150 8-tracks, hundreds of signed musical posters, and about 100 gold records. The albums alone occupied an entire wall of shelves in the family room, and another in the garage. On his desk were a set of drumsticks from Nirvana and an old RCA microphone that Prince had given to him at a recording session for Prince. A neon Beach Boys sign—as far as he knows, one of only eight remaining in the world—hung above the dining table. In his laundry room was a Gibson guitar signed by the Everly Brothers; near his fireplace, a white Stratocaster signed to him by Eric Clapton. Last month, the night the Eaton Fire broke out, Charlie evacuated to his girlfriend’s house. And when he came back, the remnants of his home had been bleached by the fire. The spot in the family room where the record collection had been was dark ash.

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Bowie, MD | Bowie State University Professor Bob Bartlett Always Seeks to Innovate: Bowie State University Professor of Theatre Bob Bartlett isn’t just a playwright. He’s a visionary who brings theatre to unexpected places, making audiences see stories unfold in a whole new way. His latest play, “Love and Vinyl,” is no exception. Set in a real record store, this site-specific production is a celebration of music, memory, and human connection. For Bob, theatre is meant to be immersive, engaging, and transformative.“Whenever regional theatre is being produced in an alleyway or a bar or in someone’s home, I’m there,” he says. “Something magical and beyond theatrical happens when we take our art out of traditional performance spaces.” With “Love and Vinyl,” he taps into that magic, bringing audiences into a world where every spin of the record evokes a memory.

Chicago, IL | Terror Vision Records And Joe Swanberg Opening Pop-Up Video Store In Lakeview: The owner of Graveface Records and Curiosities and the Chicago-based director are opening Terror Vision Records and Video, a pop-up shop and video rental store next door to the Music Box Theatre in April. Two days after they were handed the keys to the place, Ryan Graveface and Joe Swanberg were standing in a mostly empty storefront on Southport Avenue surrounded by dozens of boxes filled to the brim with movies. “This is so not even barely scratching the surface,” Swanberg said, waving his arm over the thousands of Blu-Rays, DVDs and VHS tapes in the boxes, which came from Graveface and Swanberg’s private collections as well as the record store, museum, music venue and curiosity shop Graveface owns in Savannah, Ga. …The shop will be open from April 1 to Sept. 30 and not a day more. It’ll be a true pop-up, Graveface said. “We will be born and we will die,” he said.

Wenatchee, WA | Wenatchee Valley Vinyl Record Expo Founder Creates Space For Young Bands To Shine: Joel Myrene is passionate about music and creating spaces where young bands like the Wenatchee Valley’s Icarus can play to all ages. On Saturday, Feb. 8 I went down to the Wenatchee Odd Fellows Prosperity Lodge #301 on Chelan Avenue in Wenatchee and interviewed Rayce Jones, Finnegan Hart, William Rodriguez and Landon Ortiz – four teenage boys who make up the band Icarus. It was an all-age, drug and alcohol free rock show featuring Icarus and two other bands produced by Joel Myrene, founder of the Apple Valley Vinyl Record Expo. In addition to organizing that once-yearly vinyl record and music collectible expo, Myrene spends his free time producing music shows for local bands. And nurturing young bands like Icarus, giving them a stage to perform for their peers and promoting the performing arts to young folks is a priority for him.

Erie, PA | The Erie Record Riot! Over 10,000 vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Sat March 22nd at Quality Inn & Suites: The Erie Record RIot RETURNS! It’s a GIANT vinyl record POP-UP sale at the Quality Inn & Suites. Sat March 22nd. 10000+ vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Great music and amazing family fun. LPs, CDs and 45s. A giant record store lands in Erie! Dealers from far and wide converge for a giant music sale! LPs and 45s and CDs too. All types of music from punk to funk to country to classic rock, hip hop, soul/jazz and more. Dust off that turntable and come on down. DOOR PRIZES TOO! Regular admission starts at 10 AM ($5) with early admission at 9 AM ($15). Don’t miss the BIG VINYL DIG!

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Tallahassee, FL | 3 Tallahassee record stores you need to check out: This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FSU chapter. If you’re anything like me, you love music. Whether you have a Spotify playlist curated for any situation or love going to concerts, Tallahassee has a great music scene for anyone. Tallahassee has some fantastic record stores that anyone will love; whether you’re a seasoned Long Playing (LP) vinyl collector or want to explore some cool spots, here are a few Tallahassee music gems to check out! Rearview Vintage and Vinyl: Located just outside the heart of Midtown, Rearview Vintage and Vinyl is an ideal place for a casual day out with friends. Rearview frequently has CD and record drops (with CDs on Fridays and records on Saturdays), which they promote on Instagram. Rearview also carries a wide selection of genres, including R&B, classic rock, rap, and pop, so no matter your taste, you’ll be sure to find something you’ll like. They also have sections in the store dedicated to rare vinyl finds…

St. Louis, MO | Inspired by Japanese record bars, HiFi by Upshot Coffee finds a home in Clayton: Clayton has a new community-oriented coffee shop that celebrates music and conversation. HiFi by Upshot Coffee debuted in late November, featuring coffee, tea, breakfast and lunch items, and pastries in a refreshing atmosphere inspired by Japanese record bars. As reported by Feast in November, the concept comes from Upshot Coffee founder Conor VanBuskirk and co-owner Eric Peters, a St. Charles native who recently made a homecoming to the St. Louis area after working in the Los Angeles coffee industry for the past eight years. As the former president of Coffee Commissary, Peters grew the cafe business from three to eight locations, along with a food truck and roasting program. “My goal with coming in as a partner with Conor is just to help with some of my experience from growing my business in LA…”

Washington, DC | Discover B Side: where vintage vinyl and eclectic eats create a vibrant dining experience: Chef & Butcher Nathan Anda joined Good Morning Washington to describe the experience of eating at B Side—a vibrant bar and restaurant that puts an eclectic twist on classic dishes. B Side, named after the B Side of a record, combines culinary love with pop culture, vintage vinyl, and iconic tunes. Vinyl records, one of Anda’s passions, are featured throughout the combined bar and butcher shop. The Mosaic in Merrifield vinyl bar offers a charcuterie selection of smoked meats and butcher’s cuts. Anda showcased his twin smash burger, seared steak frites, pig wings, and a crafty selection of mixed drinks, wines, and beers.

Kent, OH | Dropping needle—and stream—Gen Z loves vinyl: Gen Z’s love of vinyl based on aesthetic, novelty and a little prestige. Vinyl record collecting has been a hobby since the first needle hit those grooves, but today’s college-age generation may be single-handedly helping keep this trend alive and thriving. Generation Z is now the driving force behind vinyl’s current popularity, says the Vinyl Alliance, the world’s leading industry collective for vinyl. Gen Z commonly refers to people born between 1997 and 2021, which includes today’s traditional college students. But what is the draw to vinyl over more accessible and portable media such as MP3s and streaming services? “I started collecting vinyl because I saw other people have them, and I loved the aesthetic,” Gavin Barnhouse, a junior accounting major told Kent State Today. “Vinyls have a vintage and old feel to music rather than on Spotify or other platforms.” For others, parents influenced their children into loving vinyl.

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Edinburgh, UK | Why one of world’s greatest record stores in Edinburgh had me singing ‘Dancing in the Moonlight.’ With no online sales, you have to go to the actual shop to understand the romance of the Thorne Records experience. I often wonder: If my life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be? One recent Sunday, the city awoke to sunny, clear skies. Morning joggers zoomed past me as I walked to my local specialty coffee bar in Edinburgh, pondering this question. What song would play when I’m happy, when the world is Technicolor, and walking feels like skipping down the street, or when I’m in love and my heart flutters like exploding pink butterflies or when I’m sad, and my chest sinks into a black hole? What would my life sound like? …Thorne Record’s distinct sunflower-yellow exterior makes it impossible to miss. The street was buzzing with traffic. Crossing the threshold of the shop door was like entering a bubble where time stopped – the sound of cars faded, replaced by old tunes playing in the background.

McKinney, TX | Red Zeppelin Records finds new home on McKinney’s downtown square: Red Zeppelin Records can now be found in a new spot in Historic Downtown McKinney, owner Katie Scott said. The shop, which sells vinyl records in a variety of music genres, relocated in mid-December to a space around the corner from its prior location at 206 E. Louisiana St. The store remained open during the relocation process, Scott said. “We made it happen really quickly,” she said. “We have such a great team and great community that was willing to help.” The record store is now adjacent to The Groovy Coop, a boutique also owned by Scott, and has the same amount of product held in the previous location, she said. Red Zeppelin Records will also continue to host live music performances in its new location. “We’re just here to be a space for everybody … Everybody’s welcome, we encourage diversity and inclusivity here,” Scott said. “We’re just happy to be here for good vibes and good music.”

Bristol, UK | New Mexican restaurant and record store to open in Bristol city centre: It is opening next month. A new venue serving up tacos, drinks and other Mexican street food, as well as records, is set to open in Bristol next month. Alta Loma will be ‘coming soon’ to number 18 Upper Maudlin Street in the city centre, near the BRI. In a post to its Instagram page, Alta Loma says: “Who’s ready for tacos and vinyl?! Tacos, tortas, drinks and other Mexican street food upstairs with a record shop in the basement. …The team have now confirmed via the official website that the venue is ‘coming March 2025’ and while there is no specific official opening date as of yet, more social media posts show the interior of the record shop and the transformation of the restaurant space. It comes after Alta Loma originally aimed to open by the end of summer 2024. The space will be shared, with Alta Loma in the restaurant above, and the record shop, Coffin Wax, in the basement selling music and merch from Bristol independent record label Stolen Body Records.

New York, NY | Rutherford Chang, Who Turned Collections Into Art, Dies at 45: He was best known for amassing more than 3,400 copies of the Beatles’ “White Album” and using them to demonstrate the aging of a cultural artifact. …Mr. Chang was not initially a collector of the 1968 double LP “The Beatles,” better known as “The White Album.” He bought one copy of it as a teenager, but when he got a second one some years later, he realized that the two — with their plain white covers as blank canvases— had changed over time. “The more I got, the more I could see how different these once identical objects had become,” he told the website The Creative Independent in 2017. “I didn’t know where it was going when I started other than that I wanted at least enough to see the differences between them. Then it just kept going and I can’t stop.” Mr. Chang’s installation, “We Buy White Albums,” unveiled at the Recess gallery in Manhattan in 2013, took the form of a facsimile of a record shop, with albums in bins and turntables to play the music.

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UK | Record Store Day takes a turn for the better this year: It may only be February but Record Store Day fever has already taken hold with the announcement of this year’s releases available from independent record shops on Saturday April 12. When I was asked what the biggest possible release could be I had said a seven-inch single of Taylor Swift covering Chappell Roan’s Good Luck, Babe! Unsurprisingly that hasn’t happened, but Taylor will issue an exclusive seven-inch white vinyl of her Post Malone collaboration Fortnight, which is the first time that the Fortnight [BLOND:ISH Remix] will appear on vinyl. …As a founder member of Record Store Day in the UK I’ve not been a big fan of the way things have developed over the years and certainly record companies have been scraping the barrel looking for things to release for some years now, but this year’s list is a big improvement on previous years, though I’m afraid the cynic in me sees the involvement of many of the current artists as more to do with their career choices than supporting independent record shops.

Chicago, IL | Artifact Records Opens In Logan Square With Rare Vinyl, VHS And Cassette Tapes: The record store carries items largely pulled from owner Jonathan Rakstang’s personal collection, plus a listening station shoppers can use to preview vinyl before buying. Music lover Jonathan Rakstang considers each record in his collection to be an artifact — “a man-made object with cultural or historical significance.” “The music contained on every record tells a story that reflects the culture at any given time,” he said. That belief helped inspire the name of Rakstang’s new store, Artifact Records, which opens Saturday at 3423 W. Fullerton Ave. with hundreds of new, used and rare vinyl records, cassettes and VHS tapes. The shop features a listening station for customers to test out an album before purchasing and Bluetooth headphones for customers to enjoy music on a Hi-Fi audio system while they browse. About 60 percent of Artifact’s records are from Rakstang’s personal collection, which he’s been growing over the past 30 years.

Kildare, IE | Kildare business is ‘not just a record shop.’ This Naas record shop has a different approach to retail: Vinyl fanatic and store owner Rob Garvey opened The Record Rack on Main Street, Naas more than a year ago with the intention of making it both a shop and a social hub. The shop is one of the most unique and wonderful recent additions to Naas town, bringing together people of all ages who want to buy and sell records, often expanding into chats about vinyl and music in general. Rob wanted to create a laid-back and sociable atmosphere with The Record Rack, noticing that people tend to relax more in the store when they realise that he is “not going to jump on them to sell them something.” He said: “I like the idea of bringing people together. It’s not just a record shop, but also people come here and meet people and get chatting.” Rob believes that having public spaces such as The Record Rack is important for connecting the local community. “It creates more interest than it just being a shop.”

Washington, DC | Meet the magic of ‘Love and Vinyl’ right inside Byrdland Records: James J. Johnson and Rachel Manteuffel talk about acting in Bob Bartlet’s immersive ‘backstage pass into the love of records.’ As playwright Bob Bartlett’s Love and Vinyl makes its DC premiere, this play about finding love in a record store in a digital age will perform at a record store, Union Market’s Byrdland Records. It’s about best friends Bogie (James J. Johnson) and Zane (Carlos Saldaña, who also directs), who visit a local record store and meet the “magic” of store owner Sage (Rachel Manteuffel). DC Theater Arts caught up with Johnson and Manteuffel about the process, their relationships to record stores, and the community-building that comes with site-specific work. Manteuffel originated Sage in Love and Vinyl at KA-CHUNK! Records in Annapolis, Maryland; Johnson portrays Bogie for the first time.

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Norwich, UK | Fine City Sounds Norwich record shop closure anniversary: This day marks the third anniversary of the closure of the Fine City Sounds, a beloved record store in Norwich, after 30 years in business. The shop, located on Pottergate, had been a haven for music lovers with its vast collection of vinyl and CDs spanning multiple genres. Owner Mark Long, who had run the store for 18 years after taking over from Paul Fisher, cited rising costs and ill health as the reasons for the closure. “It has been absolutely fantastic, and I’ve met some amazing people and made some amazing memories,” Mr Long said at the time. “It is really sad we are having to close, but it came to a point where there was no other choice.” Due to health issues, Mr Long had been unable to work in the shop for the previous two years, with business partner Andrew Watson taking over.

Chicago, IL | Evergreen Park couple opens a heartfelt record haven on 95th: Jeff and Jessika Law have been together for 27 years. Music has brought them together and is what has kept their marriage going strong. “Music is everything,” Jeff, of Evergreen Park, said. “It doesn’t judge you. It picks you up and it pushes you. It’s truly your best friend.” Jeff, 54, is a native of Evergreen Park, who attended Northwest, Central and Evergreen Park Community High School. During his teenage years, he could be found at Beverly Records, adding to his growing vinyl collection. At 21, he decided to open his own record shop in Joliet. After that shop closed, he moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he again found his calling in music at a mom-and-pop record store. Little did he know this endeavor would lead him to meet his future wife.

Kochi, IN | This vinyl record place in Kochi is more about community building than business: JD’s Jukebox in Kochi’s Kaloor has thousands of long-playing vinyl records, collected from homes of people within the country and internationally. The idea is to bring people together. With only minutes left for closing time, Sujit Ponoth still entertains the last three people who rush in, drenched from the pouring rain, scrambling through the thousands of LP records (long playing vinyl records) he has placed on racks spread across the cosily set up space in the ground floor. This is home, he tells those who call it a store, for this collection of music is as personal as it can get for him. He does not even have a board hanging outside the house, located a few metres into the Ponoth Lane in Kochi’s Kaloor, for this is more a venture for community building than a business. He calls it JD’s Jukebox.

London, UK | The rise of listening bars in London: where to drink to the vinyl revival: Drinks expert Neil Ridley—also an audiophile and vinyl junkie—explores the growing trend for high-end listening bars in London and shares his favourite spots. As a life-long vinyl-lover, trapped in a world where the likes of Spotify and low attention-span streaming habits have transformed how we consume music forever, there’s no better moment for me than opening my record cabinet, taking out an album, carefully dusting it off and slowly placing it on my turntable. The anticipation as the arm moves into position followed by the gentle thud as the needle hits its groove has become a ritual for many a like-minded vinyl junkie: it’s an experience that requires patience and demands the listener to appreciate a body of work, rather than idly skipping through a few selected tracks, like an over-excited toddler.

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Record Store Day 2025 Lineup: Vinyl Exclusives From Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams, Charli XCX, Post Malone, Wu Tang, John Lennon, ‘Wicked’ and Hundreds More: For vinyl aficionados, the rollout of the Record Store Day lineup each year, with 350-plus titles revealed all at once, can prompt a paralyzing case of information overload. There’s no hurry to absorb it all; the day in question is April 12, which leaves plenty of time to peruse the full list — which you can find here. But if you want a quick overview of what are bound to be some of the most covetable titles among the (mostly) vinyl exclusives, Variety is here to help. We’ve broken down some 2025 list highlights by categories, to give you a head start if classic rock, hip-hop, jazz, country or contemporary pop is your primary thing, even if it’s just scratching the surface of the whole list.

Coeur d’Alene, ID | Meet Major Tom, The Long Ear record store’s resident feisty feline: Amid the stacks at the Long Ear record store in Coeur d’Alene, you’ll find the usual fare: used Neil Young records, shiny new Taylor Swift releases, hundreds of CDs and plenty of groovy trinkets. But, if you’re lucky, sometimes you’ll be greeted by an adorable, furry face betwixt the vintage discs. That would be Major Tom, the Long Ear’s store cat. Named for a character in the opening line of David Bowie’s iconic song “Space Oddity,” Major Tom was rescued by longtime Long Ear employee Ben Schoelen just over a year ago. “We found him behind my house,” Schoelen says. “There are a lot of stray cats in my neighborhood up in Garwood. He was a kitten, teeny tiny, and we happened to become well-versed in cat trapping to give them to the local shelter.”

Dayton, OH | Dayton Record Fair 2025: We are excited to bring back the Dayton Record Fair to Eudora Brewing Company on Sunday, February 9th 2025! Come browse thousands of new & used records, CDs, tapes, and music memorabilia for sale from some of the best vendors in the midwest. Eudora Brewing Company and local record stores Skeleton Dust Records, Omega Music, Blind Rage Records, Catacomb Records, and Resignation Records are teaming up to co-sponsor the event and we’ll be giving out $20 gift cards to six lucky winners that attend the fair! Come ready to eat & drink as Eudora will be offering a full food menu from their kitchen, as well as their excellent selection of in-house brewed craft beers. Live all-vinyl DJs will be providing your shopping soundtrack for the day as well!

Kingston, UK | Music sales hit a 20-year high but what about CDs? It’s been the biggest year for music purchases since 2001 with market growth for streaming and vinyl. But CD sales have remained flat. The UK music market boasted a new record in 2024 – the nation’s most successful year in music consumption since the peak of CD sales in 2001, figures from the Digital Entertainment and Retail Association (ERA) show. While CDs continued to sell more than vinyl, a look the compact disc’s rapid decline over the years shows increased competition between the two physical formats. While vinyl sales grew by 10.5% to £196m, CD album revenue remained flat at £126.2m. …“Physical music is definitely coming back into fashion,” said Dan Burton, who works at local record shop Banquet Records. “People are not completely sacking off streaming, but realising I own my music, this is mine,” Burton added.

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New York, NY | 5 record stores near Washington Square Park for discovering new and old music: Replace doomscrolling and fall in love with physical media again by exploring these record stores near campus. With 2025 off to an unnerving start, it’s hard not to fall into an endless pit of doomscrolling. There is no time like the present to enter a time capsule — to travel back in time to when the state of the world didn’t feel like the brink of Armageddon. While we don’t yet have time capsules, a close second would be record stores, offering an escape into the universe of music. Whether you’re after chart-toppers or obscure deep cuts, these five stores near campus offer something for every listener—from vinyl and CDs to cassette tapes, each with its own unique charm and selection.

ME | Record Store Day creator Chris Brown leaving Bull Moose music chain: Brown, who helped create Record Store Day and is known for his music business insights, has been with the company for 31 years. Chris Brown, a fixture in Maine’s music scene and a founder of the national Record Store Day, is leaving the Bull Moose chain this week. Brown, 56, said Tuesday he’s leaving the Maine music and bookstore chain to start his own music marketing firm, Chris Brown 33. His last day at Bull Moose will be Friday. Though his title was vice president of finance, Brown was well-known for his insights into the music business, particularly when it came to new local music. …Brown said he’ll continue to make videos highlighting new releases—and promoting Record Store Day—on his own website. He’ll also work with musicians and record labels around the country to help promote their music.

Summit, NJ | One of N.J.’s best record stores is closing after almost 70 years: The end is approaching for one of New Jersey’s enduring record shops. Scotti’s Record Shops of Summit announced via social media Friday that it will be closing soon as the owners are headed into retirement. The record store is expected to close in the next few weeks although an exact date has yet to be announced, a store employee told NJ Advance Media. “Thank You for the many decades of friendship and support, I will miss seeing all the regulars and meeting all the new customers,” the post, signed by Gary Scotti and the entire Scotti family, read. “Special thanks to Susan and Nick and all of the previous employees.” The Union County record store is holding a retirement sale of 20% off all merchandise leading up to the closing. “Stay well and safe, keep the music playing,” the farewell post concluded.

Houston, UK | The List Cafe, Venue, And Vinyl Collective Opens In New Houston Space This Weekend: What began as a cafe has evolved into a multi-concept collective opening this weekend in Houston’s Second Ward. After closing its boutique coffee and vinyl shop in Montrose this past September, The List is on to a new chapter. This weekend, the cafe, event space, and radio show moves into its new digs: a two-story, multi-concept collective in Houston’s Second Ward with a coffee house, barbershop, record store, and more—all under one roof. …Founded by Brijan Turner, its new home at 201 Roberts St. will comprise of a barbershop, coffee shop, and vintage retail space on the first floor; with a record shop as well as the city’s first black-owned film lab on the second story. …“Ultimately, people don’t come to The List just for one thing. Whether you’re here for music, exploring literature, to dance, and discover local artists, or to just relax in a vibrant space while connecting with people—we want to offer something for everyone.”

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West Allis, WI | ‘I don’t see it slowing down’: West Allis record store says vinyl sales are better than ever, for all ages. The 67th Grammy Awards aired on CBS Sunday night, Feb. 2, shining a light on music’s hottest stars, like Kendrick Lamar, Chappell Roan, and so many more. The longtime awards show is a reminder each year that music can be a time capsule. A record store in West Allis provides a space for you to step into the time capsule. “It’s a little bit of everything, right?” CBS 58 reporter, Jenna Wells, asked Scott Heifetz, the owner of Record Head. “It is,” he said. “It’s a lot of everything.” Walking into Record Head is nearly overwhelming. Rows of vinyl records, new and old, line the store from front to back. “We have all the types of music that people would want…”

UK | Sam Fender Named Record Store Day UK 2025 Ambassador, Announces Exclusive Vinyl Release: The Brit Award-winning artist will celebrate RSD 2025 with a special six-track vinyl EP, ‘Me And The Dog.’ Sam Fender has been named the official ambassador for Record Store Day UK 2025, joining the ranks of Taylor Swift, Kate Bush, and Elton John in supporting independent record stores. The annual event, celebrating vinyl culture and independent music shops, will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2025, with over 270 indie record stores across the UK participating. To mark the occasion, Fender will release an exclusive six-track vinyl EP, ‘Me And The Dog’, available only in physical stores on RSD 2025. The record will feature a mix of unreleased tracks, fan favorites, and songs never before pressed on vinyl.

Missoula, MT | Record stores keep Missoula grooving: In the era of music streaming, Missoulians continue to jam out to records. With the internet, virtually any song is just one tap away but, that has not paused Missoula’s thriving record scene. “This town is record rich for sure,” said Slant Street Records co-owner Collin Pruitt. “There’s a lot of people that are pretty passionate, not only about music but about physical media and records in particular.” In the age of streaming, Missoula’s music stores are still slinging plenty of records. Local sellers say listeners still connect with vinyl despite today’s virtual world. “We hear it from people all the time that walk in and say ‘oh my gosh, this place smells like records,’ and there’s some sort of attachment that records created that I don’t think a lot of the other formats did…”

Paris, FR | North of Paris, this futuristic record shop has 10,000 vinyl records in its bins. Yoyaku Record Shop is gradually becoming the reference for second-hand electronic music in Paris! Collectors and music lovers beware, today we’re heading for the 18th arrondissement to discover one of Paris’s coolest and most unusual shops. Considered one of the most cutting-edge record shops for electronic music, Yoyaku Record Shop is a work of art in itself. In these ultra-purely designed spaces, you’ll simply find a collection of over 10,000 second-hand records! Time to dig up some nuggets! Decidedly, after Dizonord and its success beyond the borders of France, the 18th district seems to be the undisputed and unavoidable den of good record shops in Paris. Yoyaku Record Shop is much more than just a record shop: it’s a veritable institution for electronic music fans.

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Summit, NJ | Final Spin: Scotti’s Record Shop Closing After Nearly 70 Years In Summit: Located at 351 Springfield Ave, Scotti’s has been a staple for music collectors since 1956, when Anthony Scotti established the Summit location. His son, Gary Scotti, later took over the business, continuing the family legacy. Known for its motto, “All Things Vinyl,” Scotti’s stocked everything from LPs, 45s, turntables, CDs, receivers, and speakers to rock T-shirts, books, posters, vintage memorabilia, and recycled vinyl crafts. On special occasions, customers could even enjoy live music performances inside the shop. On Friday, Jan. 31, Gary Scotti announced the closure in a heartfelt Facebook post: “Thank You for the many decades of Friendship and Support, I will miss seeing all the regulars and meeting all the new customers. Special thanks to Susan and Nick and all of the previous employees… Stay Well and Safe, keep the Music Playing.” The news left customers heartbroken.

Plano, TX | The Spin: Where Coffee And Vinyl Records Collide. A cozy blend of vinyl culture and caffeine vibes that feels like home. “We want people to feel like they’re coming into our home,” owner Chris Kraish tells me. It’s not your typical coffee and record store. The Spin, right on the Collin County border on Preston Road, catty-corner to the Shelton School, is a cozy, lived-in space where vinyl stacks and espresso shots have found a natural harmony. Kraish laughs. “It’s almost like the coffee and records just fell together here. We didn’t go in with a grand plan — it just grew organically.” Kraish’s father, Nassif Kraish, had sold his businesses, including a hookah lounge and an antique store. “I told my dad, ‘Don’t sell the records,’” he says, recalling their initial vision of setting up shop to unload their vast, valuable collection. “We’d talked about just renting a place and setting up like a pop-up — maybe throw in a drip coffee machine, sell a few $2 cups. No big deal.” But it quickly became more.

Malvern, UK | ‘Back street’ record shop named one of best in world: Chris Heard launched Carnival Records, selling new and used vinyl, in 2012—at a time when many record stores were closing as they struggled to compete against digital music and streaming services. But it was a gamble that paid off – with the shop having been named among the best in the world. The Financial Times listed the store in Malvern, Worcestershire, alongside counterparts in London, New York, Paris, Barcelona, Sydney, Copenhagen and Lisbon. Mr Heard put his success down to passion: “Records is our business, and it’s what we love.” The shop, found in an alleyway off Church Street, opposite Great Malvern Priory, sells a mix of new and second-hand records, as well as cassette tapes—which Mr Heard said “amazingly have become a thing again.” Mr Heard admitted it was a risky decision to launch a bricks-and-mortar store selling records in an age of online sales and digital entertainment. But he thinks his shop offers something people have missed.

UK | Go ‘Behind The Counter’ of UK’s best vinyl shops in new YouTube series celebrating Record Store Day 2025: The 18th edition of Record Store Day takes place on April 12. A select group of the UK’s vinyl shops are set to be profiled in a new YouTube series to celebrate Record Store Day 2025. Titled Behind The Counter, the 12-part series is premiering every Tuesday leading up to Record Store Day itself on April 12. Each episode will showcase the vibrant culture surrounding a different independent record shop. The series is made in partnership with the audio equipment brand Bowers & Wilkins, as well as Classic Album Sundays and Record Story Day UK itself. The first two episodes have already gone live, profiling London’s Dash The Henge and the Isle Of Man’s Sound Records. This is the sixth season of Behind The Counter, with the series having amassed over 2.5 million views to date in total.

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“It provides a break from digital life”: Vinyl is back and it’s all thanks to Gen Z. In a new survey 76% of Gen Z vinyl fans are buying at least once a month, with 80% now actually owning a turntable too… We’re certain that by now, the grim reality of making next to no money from your music has not only raised its head, but has probably eaten your lunch too. But there’s some unexpected good news ahead. Yes, Spotify pays pennies, and while gigging is still lucrative, the cost of getting any show on the road is now so prohibitively expensive for the majority of artists that they’re selling pictures of their bums instead. But put that camera down. All is not lost as there’s one aspect of music making that IS proving lucrative and we’ve got the ever-increasing number of Gen Z music fans to thank for it. You can thank the burgeoning trade in direct-to-fan sales of real, physical merch—with the increasingly popular (if perpetually inexplicable) desire to acquire vinyl-based recordings of their favourite artists leading the charge.

Halifax, NS | Vinyl record sales still climbing, says StatsCan: Vinyl fans say listening experience is more ‘ritualistic,’ ‘secure.’ Records and other physical media sales in Canada grew by 34 per cent from 2021 to 2023, according to data by Statistics Canada released last week. Tom Spence, owner of Renegade Records in Dartmouth, said he’s witnessed this trend in his shop. “We see entire families come,” he said. “As well as people who got rid of their collection in the ‘90s and now want to buy it back.” Vinyl sales made a comeback in 2021, when it became the largest sales category after streaming. In 2023, it was the only other growing category of music recordings, making up 13 per cent of all music sales in Canada. The cost of a new vinyl record ranges from $25 to $50. Used records can cost less, depending on their condition and whether they are collectors’ items.

UK | The Horrors announce UK record store tour in support of ‘Night Life’ album: The Horrors have announced a UK Record Store Tour for March, this follows the release of the anthemic new single ‘More Than Life,’ the fourth track to be taken from their forthcoming sixth studio album ‘Night Life’, out March 21st via Fiction Records. “‘More Than Life’ has a different type of intensity to our recent singles, it’s more driving and direct. It was written in the middle of Canary Wharf, which looks more like Blade Runner everyday. It’s such a strange place to do anything creative as the surroundings feel particularly stark.” explains the band. “We still needed a couple more songs for the album before going to LA to record at Yves’ studio, and we were in that insular part of the process where it feels like the outside world doesn’t exist. The song is basically about the question of what matters to you and by that point we were definitely clear on where we were heading.”

Cottonwood, AZ | Queen B Vinyl Café Kicks Off Concert Series: Queen B Vinyl Café, located in Old Town Cottonwood, kicks off an exciting February line-up with performances slated from Cavalera Third World Trilogy featuring Max and Igor Cavalera, Luicidal with Suicidal Tendencies alumni R.J. Herrara and Louiche Mayorga, and Los Angeles noise-punk act, CNTS. February also includes a free art exhibit by graphic illustrator and tattoo artist Erick Weir, as well as movie nights every Friday and Saturday that there isn’t a show. …Queen B Vinyl Café is an immersive destination blending music, wine, art, and food. As a record store, it features a curated selection of the latest releases across all genres, along with exclusive, limited-edition, and rare finds from Puscifer, A Perfect Circle, and TOOL.

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US | These five US record stores landed on an international list: Here’s where to find those LPs! You know you love vinyl—it sounds better than anything else, and it gives you the chance to examine large cover art and pore over info sheets inside. Before Spotify, this was how we hopefully found lyrics! And along with the beauty of LPs is the happy afternoon spent in a record store, moving through the albums in the bins. Flip, flip, flip. It’s not a lost art form, far from it. Recently, the Financial Times put together a list of the best record stores in the world, and we’re happy to tease out the five U.S. ones that landed on the list. Is it any surprise that four of them are in NYC and environs? Here we go!

Paris, FR | This major British daily cites four Parisian addresses in its list of the world’s best record shops. Find out which ones! The Financial Times has compiled the world’s best vinyl stores! Paris takes four (prestigious) places! The British media, the Financial Times, has just published its selection of the world’s best record shops. Alongside London, New York and Barcelona, Paris features four addresses in this international top! As a self-respecting digger, every one of your escapades is an excuse to scour the record bins of your holiday destination! Are you always on the lookout for the best places to find the best records, or for a record shop where you can discover the local scene and share your passion without looking at the clock? The renowned Financial Times and its editorial team have published their selection of the world’s most remarkable record shops! Some forty stores based in Stockholm, Sydney and London are listed, as are some in Paris. The capital even ranks four among the media’s favorite addresses.

Minneapolis, MN | Lucky Cat Records brings good fortune to iconic corner: When it comes to the evolution of Minnesota music, few intersections are as instrumental as 26th and Lyndale in south Minneapolis. …At Lucky Cat Records, vinyl heads can get their fix from the store’s new and vintage stacks of wax, but it is also a mini-museum for the local music scene. “With all the history here, it’s really big shoes to fill,” said owner Michele Swanson. Swanson opened the shop this past summer after learning the historic space was available, even though the retired Delta Airlines manager had never run a record store before. “It’s something I never planned on. There’s a pie in the sky sort of idea that came to fruition and it’s just been fantastic,” said Swanson.

Vancouver, CA | Riding the vinyl groove: 13 must-visit record stores in Metro Vancouver: Vancouver’s vinyl record stores are keeping physical music products viable in the digital streaming era. Here’s our list of must-visit stores. Worldwide, vinyl dominates today’s physical music purchases. Vinyl record sales rose in 2024, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with a reported 43.2 million EPs/LPs sold in the U.S. The increase continues a worldwide revival of the pre-digital technology that first surfaced after 2006, when the U.S. market reported an all-time low of less than a million units. It’s an upward trend that the Lower Mainland’s network of indie retailers play a key role in driving. At the aptly named Vinyl Records (44 Water St.) in Gastown, owner David Love Jones said there are obvious reasons why a technology from the analog 1940s keeps spinning along—and gaining new coverts while predicting CDs won’t ever make a similar return.

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