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

Chattanooga, TN | Spin your Sundays away with Yellow Racket Records’ new hours: Starting on September 1, local vinyl record store and venue Yellow Racket Records will be open on Sundays between 12:00pm and 4:00pm. “Many of you have expressed a desire to while away your Sunday afternoons flipping through records, and we finally seem to be at a point where we can accommodate,” said a post from the shop’s Facebook page. The change in hours is not yet permanent, so the store is asking for all vinyl fans and audiophiles to come visit throughout September and share whether the extra hours benefit them. There are a few concerts coming up in the next few months.

Chicago, IL | Bridgeport Records Brings House Music Vinyl Shop To The South Side: Owned by a house music DJ and longtime political operative, Bridgeport Records opened on the 45th anniversary of the infamous Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park. A new vinyl shop in Bridgeport is carving out space for house music and other genres of dance music, with a pioneering house DJ at the helm. Bridgeport Records opened in July at 3336 S. Halsted St., establishing a record store and community for house fans in the city that birthed the genre of electronic music. The business was founded by Vick Lavender, a longtime house DJ, producer and record label owner, and Jerry Morrison, a former labor leader who was “one of the most powerful political operatives in Illinois,” Politico wrote upon his retirement from his previous career in 2023. Both owners grew up in the same Chicago house music scenes and decided to work together a year ago to get a record shop up and running, playing the records that stuck with them.

Hanover, PA | Hanover vinyl record store to close its doors at the end of September: After five years of operation, a downtown Hanover record store is closing its doors. Vinyl Visions, 10 York St., announced that the store will be closing at the end of September. The store, which sold vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, rock and roll posters and other items, first opened at the location in April of 2019 by Perry Musselman. In 2023, the store was sold by Musselman to Nicholas Malinowski, the most recent owner. “I wanted to thank all the wonderful customers I have met over the past year and a half who have shared their love of music with me,” Malinowski said in the post. “We would entertain selling the business outright if there is an interested buyer who could keep the business open,” a second post read. A closing sale will begin at the store on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, including 50% off used vinyl, equipment and art, $10 off all new vinyl, used CDs all for $2, and back stock vinyl for $1, the post announcing the closure said.

Pharr, TX | Pharr Out Records Spins South Texas Tunes: Vinyl shops in the RGV specialize in vintage Mexican American finds. Vinyl collectors accustomed to dusty, sweaty crate digging are in for a surprise at Pharr Out Records. A cheery interior mural featuring citrus trees, monarch butterflies, and a music-loving giant named Melódico greets visitors and hints at a different experience. Opened last year in Pharr’s historic downtown, in the Rio Grande Valley, Pharr Out is already a destination for a variety of genres and eras. The owners—married couples Isaac and Jade Herrera and Zach and Rebecca Myers—provide an interactive record store experience. They’re as happy to engage aficionados in esoteric conversations about underrated musicians and regional labels as they are introducing neophytes to the influential regional Mexican American music they specialize in. “Folks who are just starting out—or if you’re a collector who’s not extremely savvy in Tejano music—they really benefit from having somebody who can tell them, ‘If you like this band, you’ll like this,’” says David Flores, a customer from Raymondville, 45 minutes away.

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San Marcos, TX | Sundance Record Lagoon changes name and ownership: Well-known San Marcos vinyl shop Sundance Record Lagoon has a new owner and with it, a new name. Kevin Kotara took over ownership of the business in early August. Sundance Record Lagoon is now Sundance Records. Looking back: The vinyl shop’s original owner Bobby Barnard, who died in 2020, first opened the store in 1977 as Sundance Records & Tapes and sold records, tapes, CDs, posters and more. After several relocations around downtown San Marcos, the store closed in 2012. A former employee of Barnard’s, Tomas Escalante, reopened the store with help from Barnard’s wife, Nancy Barnard, in 2021. Kotara, who worked at the original Sundance in the nineties, has now taken over the business.

Washington, DC | Indie Record Store Profile: Home Rule Records in Washington, DC: As part of a series on independent record stores, Billboard looks at one of D.C.’s only Black-owned shops, where vice president Kamala Harris has been known to visit. WWhen Home Rule Records owner Charvis Campbell got a cold call from the Office of the Vice President of the United States on May 3, 2023, he felt the way most people would have when confronted by the same scenario: perplexed. “It felt like an interview, like a background check,” Campbell tells Billboard. “When we were done, I was like, ‘Wait, this is kind of weird.’” But the calls continued. Next, VP Kamala Harris’ representative asked if anyone from the Uptown Washington, D.C., record store would be in the shop that day and mentioned that someone from the office might stop by. Then, Campbell got another call from a different representative who strongly suggested he stick around. The next thing he knew, the Secret Service came to inspect the 2,700 sq. ft. independent record store—and then the vice president followed.

Puget Sound, WA | Spin zone: Stop by these record shops near the 1 Line: Just like the never-ending list of Washingtonian music talent, we’re keeping it going with part two of a few of our favorite record stores near 1 line stations. Sit back, relax, turn on some tunes (if multitasking’s your thing), and enjoy the next installment of Spin Zone. Westlake: Holy Cow Records. Holy cow, a record store in Pike Place Market?! That’s right, this aptly named used record store features some classic and rare vinyl’s in one of Seattle’s most iconic locations. Walk 0.2 miles away from Westlake station and take the plunge into this rabbit hole of a collection. Sub Pop Records on 7th: Sub Pop and grunge, like a cup of coffee and Seattle. This iconic record label known for signing bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney most definitely features their albums and a selection of other records at their store on 7th. 0.4 miles from the station, check out Sub Pop and maybe even bring home a slice of music history…

Sugar House, UT | Raunch Records Sugar House: A Destination for Vinyl Enthusiasts: Raunch Records, in Sugar House, is home to vintage vinyl records, skateboards, magazines, books, shirts, and anything else related to punk rock, free thought, and Salt Lake City’s subculture. Brad Collins moved into a small storefront on this community’s main street in late 2009 to relaunch Raunch Records, just as the attractive area began its transition into a densely populated downtown. His hole-in-the-wall shop at 1119 East 2100 South also feels densely populated—packed with vintage vinyl records, skateboards, stickers, magazines, books, shirts and anything else related to punk rock, free thought, and Salt Lake City’s subculture. Now in his mid-60s, Collins has been key to that subculture for more than four decades. But the longtime musician and former radio host of “Behind the Zion Curtain” said he pursued his passions out of sheer interest rather than rebellion against Utah’s dominant culture. “Really, I’m not that combative,” Collins said.

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Chapel Hill, NC | Schoolkids Records, a College Town Mainstay for Decades, to Shutter Chapel Hill Location: As rent ticks up, chains expand, and the college students come and go, Franklin Street has seen local businesses struggle to stay open. On Monday, Schoolkids Records owner Stephen Judge announced that the Chapel Hill location of the independent store will permanently close at the end of the year. “Owning a store, much less one with the history and reputation of Schoolkids and operating on Franklin St has been the thrill of my lifetime. I will miss it terribly. It is like a death in the family,” Judge wrote in a GoFundMe message to supporters. …The flagship Schoolkids Records store in Raleigh, near N.C. State, isn’t going anywhere, Judge stresses, and with more time, now, he hopes to make it even stronger. Cinched in a Franklin Street band of homegrown businesses like Mediterranean Deli and Local 506, the Chapel Hill location has been iconic in its own right.

UK | Rough Trade eyes further expansion amid resurgence of physical sales: Rough Trade is “assessing opportunities” for new stores, MD Lawrence Montgomery has told Music Week. The indie retailer has been expanding as the vinyl market grows in the UK. “We are selling more than double the number of records and CDs so far in 2024 than we did five years ago,” said Montgomery. “As long as labels and artists continue to value the role independent record shops like ourselves offer, we believe this growth can continue.” Rough Trade Liverpool (pictured) opened in April 2024, joining stores in London’s Soho (2022), Bristol (2017) and Nottingham (2014), as well as the longstanding East and West London sites, the US New York City record store and a branch in Berlin. With overall physical sales now on an upward trend amid signs of a turnaround for CD, it makes sense for Rough Trade to seek new outlets.

Everett, WA | ‘Shout It Out Loud’: Apollo Exos Records. The new Everett business Apollo Exos Records seemingly appeared in downtown overnight. But to Puget Sound local Sotirios Rebelos and his team, Apollo has been years in the making. Rebelos, has a long history with the Puget Sound, jumping between Everett and Seattle for most of his life. He spent his teenage years in Seattle during the metal, rock, and grunge music scene when Nirvana was still playing in bars, he said. Rebelos ended up running a successful business in Seattle, pioneering car services for those needing a late-night ride on Capitol Hill and Ballard between 2006-2016. When he tired of the nightlife, he decided to move on. When figuring out where to relocate after his time in Seattle, Rebelos thought about his friends in Everett. “I was thinking back and man I have a lot of friends that I’ve known for decades that I met when I lived in Everett or are from Everett,” Rebelos said.

Asheville, NC | Harvest Records owners celebrate spinning tunes for 20 years in West Asheville: In 2004, a couple of college friends decided to take business ownership for a spin. Mark Capon and Matt Schnable opened a record store to create a community gathering spot around music that would sell music and host the occasional concert. Twenty years later, Harvest Records, at 415 Haywood Road, has surpassed their imaginations, and the impact on West Asheville and the city is resounding. “The goals that we set in the beginning I feel like we did that and still are. The vision has kind of remained the same,” Capon said. Capon and Schnable have witnessed the landscape shifts of West Asheville and have navigated the downturns and upticks in the music industry and technology. The business pressed on during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has aided in reviving and reinforcing the music culture and uniting friends and strangers over the common bond of music.

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Ashland, OR | ‘It’s all about the people’: Ashland’s newest record store works to create a welcoming vibe: Longtime record store owner Robbie Petterson only signed a two-year lease for his newest store, Shattered Music, in downtown Ashland. He says he’s not in it for the long haul or to make money — he’s in it to sell music and talk about music. Shattered Music, already a quarter of the way through its lease, is well-stocked with an eclectic variety of records (and CDs and cassettes) and seeing great business, according to Petterson. “I didn’t want to be here longer,” Petterson said. “I just wanted to have a great time here and enjoy the community, bring something good.” Working side-by-side with Beau Dillard, the two aim to create a welcoming environment in their store at 64 N. Pioneer St., between Three Penny Mercantile on the corner of Main Street and Taqueria Picaro at mid-block. “First impressions are huge,” Dillard said.

Grand Rapids, MI | Rock Royalty Roots: Metallica bassist’s nephew opens Grand Rapids record store: Vinyl records are making a comeback. According to the Recording Industry of America, more than 43 million LPs were sold last year. The newest record store in Grand Rapids is hoping to capitalize on the trend. “I opened a couple of Saturdays ago. I’ve always loved records for a long time,” said store owner Ben Newsted. Boomtown Records just opened, and the record store has more than 2500 LPs. Newsted said, “Everybody seems to think I have a pretty good selection.” Despite the technology being from another time, people are still drawn to the format. “People still just like the physical touch of the record. It’s nice and big. The album art is cool, sounds warmer than digital,” said Newsted. Located on Plainfield Avenue, customers are glad to have a record store in the Creston Neighborhood.

Detroit, MI | Record store Somewhere In Detroit now open to public without appointment: Starting from this weekend, the shop will be open every Saturday from 3 PM through 7 PM. Techno lovers can now visit Somewhere In Detroit without an appointment for the first time. Submerge Distribution announced the news on Instagram yesterday, August 13th, confirming that the store will be open every Saturday from 3 PM through 7 PM, beginning this weekend, August 17th. Located at 3000 East Grand Boulevard, Somewhere In Detroit is dedicated to the rich legacy of electronic music in the Motor City. The shop, a concept initially developed by Mike and Bridgette Banks, features labels such as Underground Resistance, Limited Network and Yaxteq. Revisit Roland’s Somewhere In Detroit mini-documentary, and browse Instagram for more information.

Seattle, WA | Chinatown Records: A Music and Memory Project Comes to Seattle: DJ Rochelle “YiuYiu 瑶瑶” Kwan collects much more than vinyl, connecting and preserving Asian American stories through music. A hub for community and truly one of its kind, Chinatown Records is a music and memory project started by cultural organizer, oral historian, and DJ Rochelle “YiuYiu 瑶瑶” Kwan. From Chinatown block parties to listening sessions to collecting family histories, the project has steadily grown and taken on greater cultural significance since its origin in New York City and is going on its first tour — Seattle being its fifth stop. Though some might cast Kwan as just a DJ spinning vinyl of Chinese music, Chinatown Records is more than just a music gig. It’s a tale of preservation, connection, and a way for everyone to unearth the storytellers within themselves. “I’d like to think of Chinatown Records as having quite a few different origin stories,” Kwan says.

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Vinyl Records Business Report 2024: Revival of Retro and Vintage Culture Propels Growth: The global market for Vinyl Records is estimated at US$1.5 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$2.4 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2023 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions. The growth in the vinyl records market is driven by several factors. The increasing demand for physical media in a predominantly digital age reflects a broader trend towards nostalgia and the desire for authentic, tangible experiences. Vinyl’s resurgence is also fueled by the support of independent and mainstream artists who appreciate the format’s artistic and aesthetic value, often releasing special editions and exclusive content on vinyl.

Hudson Valley, NY | A guide to the best record stores in the Hudson Valley: Checking out record stores in Kingston a couple of weeks ago, “Ghost Town” by The Specials came on. I had to smile. It wasn’t so long ago the song could’ve been written about Kingston, but here it was a 93 degree Thursday and the town was humming. Another irony: wasn’t there a corresponding time when record stores and vinyl itself were presumed dead? Every record store I went into was packed. How did this happen? Kingston’s current record store renaissance has been in development for quite some time. John Blue has been selling vinyl (along with sharp hats) at Blue Byrd uptown since 1992. Not too long after that, Ed Butler began selling vinyl out of Wright Gallery on North Front Street (some may recall the yellow “We Buy Records” sign mirroring the “We Buy Guns” sign at Sam’s Swap Shop next door.) About that same time, indie music producer Doug Wygal was in Brooklyn dreaming about moving upstate and opening a record store. When the opportunity arose to buy Ed Butler’s shop, Wygal jumped at the chance.

Fort Lauderdale, FL | End of an Era: Radio-Active Records Announces Closure: Fort Lauderdale’s Radio-Active Records announced it will close its doors and transition to an online store. One of the longest-standing record stores in South Florida has decided to shut its doors. Fort Lauderdale’s Radio-Active Records, a mainstay of the region’s vinyl scene, announced on Sunday that it will close its doors and transition to an online store. According to a post on the shop’s Instagram page, owner Sean Kayes has decided to retire after nearly 30 years in business. “Sean and the staff at Radio-Active offer sincere thanks and much gratitude to the thousands of loyal customers who supported the shop through all its many phases and stages,” the post reads. “It has been an amazing 29-year trip. Again, we wish to offer thanks and gratitude to all who helped make Radio-Active one of the best record shops in South Florida. Your support has been amazing and is appreciated more than you might ever know.”

Evanston, IL | Eclectic new record shop to open next month: Owner Greg Allen hopes to make Animal Records a space ‘for all types of music listeners.’ A spunky new record shop is set to open in Evanston by late September. Animal Records will bring a variety of genres and artists and sport a unique “circus”-like theme. Located at 624 Grove St., the former location of the Music by Alex studio, the store will be selling records and even buying collections from customers, owner Greg Allen said. A longtime Evanston resident, Allen, 55, said he has been an avid record collector since he was around 13 years old. He bought his first record at 5, developing a fascination and love for them. Opening a record store has been his dream for more than 30 years. “Then I bought more records and then I just kept buying records,” Allen said. “I’ve got tens of thousands of records. I’m not even sure that we’re going to be able to fit them all in the store, but hopefully we can fit most of them.”

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Edinburgh, UK | Edinburgh vinyl shop to host in-store live music event to celebrate one-year anniversary: A popular Edinburgh record store, specialising in extremely rare records from around the world will host a live music event in their shop this weekend to celebrate their first year of business. Umbrella Vinyl in Brunsfield opened its doors on August 5 last year, and owners – Josh, Laura and Nick, say the in-store party is a way to thank their loyal customers and welcome the local community. Customers and music aficionados are invited to come to the store between 12pm and 5pm on Sunday where they can enjoy drinks and great music and book a 20-minute slot on the house decks to play their favourite records. Laura Thomson, co-founder of Umbrella Vinyl said: “I can’t believe it’s been a year since we opened, it’s been an amazing journey and really exciting for us. We’ve got a lot of beautiful regulars who come in and we’ve managed to create a little community both locally and online and we’re so humbled by the welcome we’ve had here.

Los Angeles, CA | Amoeba Records: A Pop-Culture Lover’s Paradise: The Beginner’s Introduction to Amoeba Music: Since 1990, Amoeba Music has been the place to go for lovers of pop culture media. Buying, trading, and selling all sorts of knick-knacks and media across vastly varying platforms, Amoeba describes themselves on their website as “a meeting place for California’s most colorful community of progressive and creative minds.” Amoeba Music was originally a response to the endless lines of corporate chains that began to devour the sales market and devastating independent stores in the 80s and 90s– they “arose out of that community of music lovers that wanted a better place for music than a corporate chain store.” Today, with that mission as a foundation, they have evolved into a cultural landmark for the residents of Los Angeles and all visitors of the city of stars. Located at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Argyle Avenue, Amoeba Music’s grand sign glows in red and yellow and invites anyone with a passion to come inside.

Orlando, FL | Orlando’s East-West Records to close after 50 years, drawing crowds for final days: East-West Records in Orlando is closing its doors after more than 50 years, drawing a packed house of loyal customers. “My customers and me, we’re all close; we know each other real well,” said Emma Serros, the current owner of East-West Records. “Buying records since the ’80s,” said Gary Menichiello, a long-time customer. The store’s closing sale, featuring deep discounts, is not the main reason many people are visiting. “Miss it a lot; it’s been around for more than 50 years, so it’s sad to see it go,” Menichiello added. “The fact that things were 50 percent off didn’t really entice me, just wanted to come in and say thank you, and if there’s something to pick up, I’ll grab it,” said Kyle Tague, another customer.

Toronto, CA | One of Toronto’s favourite record shops didn’t disappear, it just relocated: Tiny Record Shop has been a staple in the city for music lovers to buy their favourite vinyl for many years but after their brick and mortar shut down some people thought it closed for good. Thankfully, it didn’t. In the words of the shop’s owners, they didn’t close down, they just got so (physically) tiny you can’t even find them anymore! On July 6th 2023, Tiny Record Shop took to Instagram to announce the end of their physical store. Thanking their community, customers, and friends they assured that this was not the end. Tiny Record Shop was one of only a few business ventures that Maude Fallon-Davense and Trevor Larocque have been a part of. Starting out in the back gift store Token at 804 Queen St. East standing at 77 square feet, Tiny Record Shop came about due to Larocque’s extensive record collection needing a bit of a clean out and a kind offer from a friend for some empty space.

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Portland, OR | Vinyl Shopping in Portland: Spend the day exploring the stacks at these local record stores. Every day is Record Store Day in Portland, where indie bands rule the airwaves and mom-and-pop music vinyl shops still line neighborhood streets. From vintage wax to locally pressed vinyl to new European imports, those rare releases you’ve been searching for are surely waiting at one of these rockin’ local record stores. And you might even catch a touring band live in-store for an intimate show. Crossroads Music: Crossroads Music works like a melodic consignment shop, divvying up the catalog of more than 35 individual record collectors. The deep well of musical tastes results in an impressive selection of quality vinyl inside this Southeast Foster gem.

New York, NY | Muzik City: I’ve visited thousands of NYC’s small, indy shops. Here are some niche standouts. For the past two years, I’ve been on a mission to catalog every small business retail shop in New York City. By my estimate, there are at least 17,000 brick-and-mortar independent retail shops in the city. To study the city’s small business scene, I’ve walked or biked each borough, cataloging shops as I go and following leads to any particularly interesting ones. Last summer, to better know Staten Island, I rented an Airbnb and drove around the borough until I’d been just about everywhere… Hard-to-find reggae records: The legacy of Clement “Sir Coxsone” Dodd, reggae icon and founder of Studio One Records, lives on Cypress Hills. Jamaican-born Dodd’s label was widely regarded as the “Motown of Jamaica,” and in the 1980s he moved his studio from Jamaica to Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, where he ran a recording studio and record store. His grandson Ian has recently reopened the record store, with plans to revive the label.

Cavan, IE | Gone Quiet: ‘Massive part of my childhood’ cry gutted customers as popular Irish store confirms closure after 36 years in business. The Saw Doctors have played in the store. Fans of a popular Irish record store have been left gutted after the business confirmed that they will close 36 years after their opening their doors for the first time. Multisound in Cavan is located on the town’s Main Street and supplied all things musical, from CDs and tickets to guitar strings and live performances. Taking to social media this week, the store owners confirmed that after nearly four decades in business they would be shutting up shop from next month. Penning a message to customers owner Noel said that working in the music store had “never really been a job” but more a source of entertainment. He also shared a long list of people he wanted to thank in the announcement. Taking to Facebook he wrote: “Hello all, just to let you know that Multisound will cease trading at the end of September…”

US election 2024: Kamala Harris knows her jazz—why this could count with voters. Since Kamala Harris became the presumptive Democratic Party nominee to go head-to-head with Donald Trump in November’s presidential election, interest in the US vice-president has skyrocketed. Where’s she from, what’s her background, what sort of food does she eat, what are her tastes in books, films and music? So it’s no surprise that a video showing Harris emerging from a record store in Washington DC has recently gained massive traction on social media. The footage, taken in May 2023, shows her engaging with journalists while displaying and talking about the records she had purchased. This video clip was notably shared and reposted among the European jazz community—not people you’d necessarily think would be hugely interested in the musical tastes of US presidential candidates. Harris’s purchases included three classic jazz albums by notable African American artists: Charlie Mingus’s 1972 album Let My Children Hear Music, Roy Ayers’ 1976 Everybody Loves the Sunshine, and the 1959 collaboration of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong on Porgy and Bess.

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Vinyl Records Business Report 2023-2030: Market to Grow by $900 Million—Growth of Collectible and Limited Edition Vinyl Releases Spurs Dynamics. The global market for Vinyl Records is estimated at US$1.5 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$2.4 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2023 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions. The growth in the vinyl records market is driven by several factors. The increasing demand for physical media in a predominantly digital age reflects a broader trend towards nostalgia and the desire for authentic, tangible experiences.

Burien, WA | Burien’s Time Tunnel Records celebrates 10 years with a groovy makeover: If you’re familiar with the Burien area, you’ve likely seen Time Tunnel Records, a colorfully painted record shop offering a variety of unique finds for music lovers. This year marks the 10th anniversary since owner Matthew Alston opened the mom-and-pop shop. His vision for Time Tunnel was to create a space that reminded him of the retro record shops he frequented in his youth, “I grew up in the 70s, and so that was the idea,” he said. “For the name, I thought that it would be nice to have something that gives you imagery of a tunnel. I believe music has an effect like a time warp. You can hear a song and it totally takes you back to a certain memory or moment of time that you have tied to that particular song.” With the name set and his vision in motion, Alston had a new mission: to give the exterior a fresh makeover.

Edinburgh, UK | Edinburgh record shop wins competition for Olympic window display: More than 30 shops and businesses decorated their windows and frontages to help mark the centenary of the Edinburgh Olympic hero’s gold medal triumph in the 400 metres at the 1924 Paris games. A total of 760 people voted to choose the best display. Mark and Lottie Thorne took first place with their five giant Olympic rings designed to look like records and featuring five Scottish Olympic gold medallists. “It was a lovely surprise,” said Mark. “It’s all down to my wife. We designed it together but she was the one who painted it and stuck it up. It fell down a few times but we persevered just like a proper athlete should. “Rather than focus on Britain, we wanted to focus on Scotland so I had a good look into some Scottish-specific gold medal winners. And I chose five—one for each ring—that I thought would represent Scotland well.”

Cambridge, MA | Do a little digging into Big Dig Records’ stacks, and ponder the lack of live rock ‘n’ roll albums: …The house specialty is “rare and out of print titles,” which is what you call used records when you want to make the point that you’ve got an archivist’s sensibility and a commitment to quality. I bought a short stack of LPs at an affordable $5 to $10 a pop – Mott the Hoople’s “The Hoople,” O.C. Smith’s “Dreams Come True” and a signed edition of “Love Changes” and Walter Carlos’ “Switched-On Bach II” (one wasn’t enough!) – and took a close look at the condition of each. Not mint by a mile, though all except one will play without any noticeable crackle. Great value for the money. Be forewarned that you will pay for heavy hitter classics, such as a $40 copy of Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” or a $50 copy of Sonic Youth’s “Goo.” It wasn’t always clear what was driving up the price of these records. But if you had to guess, it was probably the edition.

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Orlando, FL | East West Records hosting massive closing sale: After more than 50 years in business, East West Records (Facebook) is calling it quits. The beloved record shop sold to a long-time customer, Robert Serros, Jr., in 2018, but according to a recent post on social media, it’s time to shut down. The store will host a 50% off sale on everything inside from 10 a.m. Friday, August 9 through Sunday, August 11. That includes records, CDs, DVDs, cassettes, posters, and merchandise. East West Records is located at 4895 South Orange Avenue.

San Antonio, TX | Crescent Moon Music & Collectibles sells all things vinyl, collectibles and antiques: As a teenager, owner Martha Nagel dreamed of owning her own record store one day. She also had a job at a record store in the 80s. As she got older, Nagel said going to estate sales with her mom became a fun hobby. Before opening Crescent Moon in 2021, Nagel and her mom would sell their estate sale finds at vendor malls. Since opening her store, she enjoys sharing her passion with her daughter Marissa, who manages the store. “I really wanted Marissa to experience being able to work in a record store because I had so much fun. It was just the best time of my life,” Nagel said. “My mom and I would go into estate sales and get vintage items and sell them, so I always loved that part too.”

Savannah, GA | Record store owner prepares for Tropical Storm Debbie: Businesses on the islands prepared for any impacts from Tropical Storm Debby. One record store on Wilmington island said it was mostly concerned due to some of the priceless records they carry. Thankfully, Coastal Empire records’ owner said the store hasn’t been too impacted by Debby yet. Preparation for the storm took them hours yesterday, but that prep work started over the weekend with grabbing sandbags. The owner said he spent hours yesterday getting all records off the floor, and out of any potential harms way. “It’s a big price tag on some of these items, it’s a small business, this is our business we’ve worked hard to build so we don’t want anything to happen to it,” said store owner, Ken Jordan.

The Music Collector’s Guide: record collecting documentaries: The world of music collecting and the stories that dive deep into histories and experiences of the collector’s world, are far and widely documented on the world wide web. As music collectors, whether on a casual level or on a level of dedication and lifestyle, we tend to, not only gravitate to, but even befriend on intimate levels, those of like-mindedness. We faithfully peruse the music publications of our choices, we linger in fellowship with others (employees and patrons alike) at our favorite local records stores, and we spend time entertaining ourselves in communion with those who contribute and create content on music collecting forums and throughout the plethora of channels within the illustrious YouTube Vinyl Community.

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Limerick, IE | New record store, Downbeat Records, opens in Limerick: “We want to provide that space to the local music community.” A new record store has opened in Limerick city, Ireland. Downbeat Records, a dance-focused record shop, opened over the weekend on Wickham Way in the middle of the city. Founded by former Idle Hands employee Frankie O’Mahoney, the shop will offer an eclectic mix of dance music vinyl, featuring an in-store listening deck to help customers in their digging. “We hope to welcome anyone with an interest in records and music to stop by and hang out, chat music, buy music and meet other people interested in a wide variety of sounds,” O’Mahoney said in an interview with Hot Press. “We want to provide that space to the local music community.”

Syracuse, NY | Vinyl revival hits Syracuse record stores: ‘It’s kind of a status symbol now’ Around 6 p.m. on a Wednesday in downtown Syracuse, 14-year-old Marshall Bindel searched through vinyls and CDs at The Sound Garden. Fluorescent bulbs lit the aisles. Posters of Charli XCX’s new “Brat” album, Frank Ocean’s “Blonde” and Lana Del Rey’s “Born to Die” lined the walls. Bindel began listening to records two years ago. His collection includes 15 vinyls. “I don’t like streaming services because you have to pay so much for everything, and you never own anything and there’s still ads,” said Bindel. “You just pay once for this, $7.99, and it’s like you’re going to have it forever.”

Cambridge, MA | 41 Years & Going Strong: Planet Records In Cambridge, MA Keeps On Spinning: Everyone is aware of the vinyl boom that has been happening over the past few years. Legions of music nerds are lining up to get their hands on a Frank Zappa original pressing or a rare variant of their favorite hip-hop release. For the good people over at Planet Records in Cambridge, MA, near Harward Square, the excitement and fandom of the recent boom never left. Since 1983, the shop has been adapting to the ever-changing vinyl world and climbing over steep hills to provide its community with the best selection it can curate. Their shelves are expansive and never empty, lining them with albums of all eras and genres. A music nerd never leaves Planet Records unsatisfied, and with over 40 years of experience, their mission has never wavered.

Brisbane, AU | Suitcase Records Open Voting For 2024 ‘Suitcase Showcase’ Compilation: The fan-voted collection of songs by independent artists will benefit Support Act, as well as the artists themselves. Suitcase Records – a family-run vinyl pressing plant in Brisbane (Meanjin) – have announced the second edition of its annual Suitcase Showcase project, highlighting independent artists in the Australian music scene (and for a good cause, to boot). At the heart of the initiative is a compilation album comprised of ten songs from up-and-coming Aussie artists – they all submitted their tracks directly to Suitcase, and now fans get to vote for the songs that make it onto the final lacquers. After it’s released, all proceeds earned from sales of the record are split between the ten winning artists and Australia’s premiere music industry charity, Support Act. Also, every fan that votes for their favourite artist’s song is entered into a competition to win a stacked prize pack from Suitcase.

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Sheffield, UK | 17 great pictures show loved Sheffield record stores from 60s to present: Sheffield has just seen the opening of a new record shop – but once the city was packed with popular stores selling vinyl. July saw the opening of Grub Records on Queens Road. But how many of Sheffield’s huge record stores from past decades do you recall? Back in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and even the 2000s, the city was full of them, in the city centre and out in the suburbs. We have put together a picture gallery of some of the most fondly remembered – and are pleased to say that some of these great shops are still running today, including one in the same unit as it was in the 70s. Many of these were the places to go to buy records over the decades, whether that be The Beatles in the 60s, Abba in the 70s, Wham! in the 80s, or Oasis and Blur in the 90s. We have found pictures of as many of the city’s iconic shops as we could.

UK | Rough Trade bins Flip vinyl selling service after just two days: It was only launched on Friday last week, but Rough Trade has already suspended its new vinyl selling service. The scheme, a partnership with Flip Vinyl, reputedly the “fastest growing second hand vinyl buyers in Germany”, essentially replicated the service offered by second-hand record shops up and down the country. But even on the first day it appeared that Rough Trade had got this badly wrong, as social media reported stories of derisory amounts being offered for genuinely valuable records. One punter wrote on Twitter/X: “Absolutely disgraceful prices and you should be ashamed to have partnered with them. Just put my 10 most valuable records in there worth over 4k (median) and it’s not even offering me £100 for the lot. Grim profiteering.”

Ogden, UT | Local shop brings classic record back to life: Lavender Vinyl. This local shop is bring back the classic vinyl. FOX13’s Morgan Saxton recently toured Historic 25th Street in Ogden, UT with a stop inside a new record shop selling old vinyl’s. Lavender Vinyl (est. 2016) is located in an intimate store on the west end of Historic 25th. It’s all about bringing the independent record store experience back to the neighbor, according to store owners Blake Lundell and Kye Hallows. “We are passionate about music of all kinds and feel that it should be shared and experienced as part of the local culture,” the owners wrote. Shop in-store or online.

Designed for Success: Learning at 33 1/3 revolutions per minute: Local authors examine America through mid-century instructional vinyl records. Learning Morse code. Finding an effective yoga routine. Getting better at photography. Figuring out a game plan for getting into college. Mastering a foreign language. These days, no matter what you want to learn, help is only a Google search away. From blog posts to podcasts to YouTube instructional videos to cheap online masterclasses, it’s easier than ever to access knowledge and follow a path toward enlightenment and self-improvement, right from the comfort of your own home. Once upon a time, though, before the internet existed, you might have tried a different tactic for learning at home: You might have dropped the needle on a vinyl record. Among music fans, the vinyl format has seen a remarkable resurgence in recent years, with Americans buying nearly 50 million vinyl records in 2023 alone.

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Owasso, OK | Couple to open vinyl record, vintage goods store in Owasso: ‘A dream of ours for a long time.’ Local music lovers looking to discover new tunes are in luck. They can soon visit Ben and Rose Sloma’s record store, Screaming Earth Records & Vintage Goods, set to open in Owasso later this month. The Collinsville couple is currently renovating the space that formerly housed BlueGrace Logistics in Cornerstone Shopping Center off of 86th Street to accommodate the new storefront. “Opening a record store has been a dream of ours for a long time,” said Ben, an avid collector of vinyl over the last 10 years.

Petaluma, CA | Trivia night at Paradise Found: Downtown Petaluma’s Paradise Found records has started a monthly music-themed trivia night. Are you proud of your music knowledge and enjoy an opportunity to show off how much you know? Well, downtown Petaluma’s Paradise Found records has started a monthly trivia night and would love to give you a chance to test your know-how against other music nerds right there in the store. Taking place on the second Thursday of the every month, Paradise Found’s Trivia Night offers swag bag prizes (T-shirts, gift cards, stickers and key chains) for its winners, plus free snacks and 10% off record store purchases following the event, which lasts from 6-7:30 p.m. Bring your own chairs and beverages, and get ready to dig deep into the music centers of your brain.

Vinyl records’ role in shaping American ideologies explored: Janet Borgerson and Jonathan Schroeder have recently released a book, which is the final installment in a trilogy devoted to the history of vinyl records. This publication focuses on their role in shaping ideologies of success and the American Dream, using personal development and immersive experiences as a lens. In their profound exploration of the vinyl records era, the authors have recognized themes that include idealized depictions of home, family, romance, and even the assertions of Cold War victories in everyday life and outer space scenarios. These themes are portrayed not only in the music itself but are diligently woven into the album cover art as well. One fascinating observation in their research was the correlation between the color scheme on album covers and the melancholic or uplifting mood expressed in the album. Darker hues were associated with melancholic content, while brighter tones reflected a more joyful mood.

One of the Best Affordable Turntables Gets Its First Real Upgrade in Years: The Audio-Technica AT-LP70X is an upgraded version of one of our favorite entry-level turntables. Audio-Technica’s turntables are pretty unmistakable. They have a modern industrial design — typically in silver and black — that seems to pay homage to the Technics’s iconic SL-1200. Honestly, they just look cool. For the last several years, the company’s AT-LP60X — released in early 2019 — has been one of our favorite entry-level turntables. It looked sleek, was extremely affordable (under $150) and was surprisingly upgradable. Now, Audio-Technica has released a new version, the AT-LP70X, that improves on its predecessor in a few key ways. The Audio-Technica AT-LP70X shares a lot in common with the AT-LP60X. … The phono preamp is switchable, meaning you can turn it off and use an external preamp instead. This is neat for those who may want to upgrade the AT-LP70X sometime in the future.

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Limerick City, IE | New dance-focused record shop opening in Limerick City: Downbeat Records, which opens on August 3rd, will stock dance music records of all varieties. Ireland’s Limerick City is getting a new, dance-focused record shop this Saturday (8/3). Downbeat Records, which opens its Wickham Way store front on August 3rd, is a new endeavor from former Idle Hands employee Frankie O’Mahoney. In addition to stocking a diverse range of genres, the store will feature a dedicated listening deck for customer use. “We hope to welcome anyone with an interest in records and music to stop by and hang out, chat music, buy music and meet other people interested in a wide variety of sounds,” Mahoney told Hot Press earlier this month. “We want to provide that space to the local music community.”

Minneapolis, MN | Hymie’s Records, a famed spot for vinyl in Minneapolis, is for sale: The owners are pledging to sell it only to someone who wants to keep the music spinning there. One of the Twin Cities’ best-loved record stores is for sale, but the owners are pledging to sell it only to someone who wants to keep the music spinning there. Dave and Laura Hoenack, who bought Hymie’s Records in Minneapolis nine years ago, want to spend more time with their two kids. So they are fielding offers to sell their vinyl specialty store, located on a revived stretch of East Lake Street in south Minneapolis. They are not interested in just liquidating their stock of vinyl records, however. “I want to still be able to go to a neighborhood record store in my own neighborhood,” Dave Hoenack said. In 2010, the Hoenacks moved the shop five blocks east, from its crumbling original location to the current site at 3820 E. Lake St.

Grand Haven, MI | Grand Haven record store packed as people support cancer patients: A fundraiser on Thursday night was held in memory of Angie Stone, who co-owned Off The Record with her husband Benji. Angie recently passed away of cancer. A record store called “Off The Record” was packed on Thursday night with people enjoying music. The man at the center of it all was owner Benji Stone who sang and played guitar for dozens in attendance. We first introduced you to Benji and his wife Angie back in February when the couple bought the record store. Since then, Angie has passed away after a battle with stage four breast cancer. Thursday night’s event was for Angie, and it benefitted “Bucs Pride.” The organization works with Grand Haven High School, hosting Bucs Pride games for every sport at the school. They sell “Bucs Pride” shirts every year and that helps them make a great deal of their money.

The Stories Behind Six Iconic Album Cover Shots Taken in America—and Where to Recreate Them: These picture-perfect album covers have turned unassuming street corners, empty beach stretches and looming buildings into musical monuments. In the early days of vinyl records, album covers were nothing more than a safety feature, blank paper jackets meant to protect the fragile content inside. That is, until, designer Alex Steinweiss at Columbia Records decided to photograph the Imperial Theater in New York City to fill the blank canvas encompassing the 1940 album Smash Hits by Rodgers & Hart—and permanently altered the face of music consumption. Since then, countless cover shots—the visual identities of formative albums—have been photographed across the United States. The country’s dynamic cityscapes and diverse terrain adorn records and the galleries of music populating streaming platforms. Whether decorated with a photo of a bustling subway stop or a striking Andy Warhol painting, album cover designs can constitute masterpieces in their own right, amplifying the artistry of the music they envelop.

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Pharr, TX | Made in the 956: Pharr Out Records, where past meets present: There’s a shop in Pharr where the past meets the present in perfect harmony. In a world dominated by digital music, there’s a place in Pharr where vinyl reigns supreme. “Something that we like to specialize in is Tejano music. I would say it competes with 80s rock and pop as being our bestsellers,” Pharr Out Records owner Isaac Herrera said. Pharr Out Records opened its doors in 2023. It began as a venture between four friends who share a passion for music. “Me, my husband Isaac, Zach and Rebecca, we all love music, different genres completely, but it kind of started off as collecting and one day there was this super cool collection available on Craigslist, and we were all like yeah why don’t we buy that and see what we can do with,” owner Jade Herrera said. Before opening shop, the four friends spent several years taking their collection on the road, selling records at pop-up events across the Rio Grande Valley and Texas. “In those years, in doing our pop-ups, we were essentially testing the waters. Is there an audience for records?” owner Zachary Myers said.

How TikTok Is Turning Record Stores Into Tourist Destinations: Mom ‘n’ pop shops are going viral and drawing visitors from around the globe. Ask anyone from Austin, Nashville, or even Cleveland, and they’ll tell you that music is a great reason to travel. It’s pretty common these days to plan a trip around catching a concert (just ask everyone who went to Europe around the Eras Tour dates), and it’s not even that outlandish to plan a trip around checking out venues or a hall of fame, but record stores have always seemed sort of ancillary to the tourism experience. Record-loving visitors to Los Angeles should definitely spend an afternoon at Amoeba Music, and if you’re in Seattle, it’s practically de rigueur to check out either Sub Pop’s 7th Avenue store or the label’s spot at the airport, but almost no one is planning a trip to those cities just for those stores. But that’s not true for spots like Macon, Georgia’s Vertigo Vinyl, Dover, New Jersey’s Factory Records, and Easton, Pennsylvania’s Spin Me Round Records, all of which have started to draw travelers to their relatively out-of-the-way locations purely because of how popular they’ve become on social media.

New Ulm, MN | Record store faces closure: Construction blocks traffic. Vintage & Vinyl, a record store that takes you through time, is struggling with business after construction on Center and German Street blocked traffic and parking to its location. “I cannot get people in it’s becoming a problem for me to get my regulars in or anyone else who just wants to be in here in general, I can’t. There’s nowhere to park, it’s kind of a mess” Vintage and Vinyl Owner Danielle Sowers said. …“We’ve turned had to turn away so much business not by choice just because of the confusion and lack of access. So people are calling like, ‘oh, with all the trucks on there it doesn’t look open we’ll stop back next week,’” James Sowers said. The Sowers said they attempted to work with the city of New Ulm over a month ago to work out a plan for the construction. “We were all under the impression that yes, there would be access to our store. And that’s not the case for whatever reason,” James Sowers said.

Cloverdale, BC | Cloverdale’s Elevated Music turns 4; record shop to hold big sale: Elevated Music Recordings to release first single. It’s been four years since Bill and Jenn Haggerty opened Elevated Music in Cloverdale. Over the years, the Haggertys have enjoyed much success. The store was able to find its feet as it opened at the height of COVID, Bill won a Clovie Award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021, they moved locations in 2023, and now Bill is releasing a single in 2024. He said he is nothing but thankful as he and Jenn reflect on the past few years ahead of Elevated’s four-year anniversary. “We are blown away at the entire journey,” Bill told the Cloverdale Reporter. “It has been an absolute dream come true to be doing anything music related and making a living. It’s just a real joy and a labour of true love that we do not take for granted.” Many businesses were smacked pretty hard over the past few years with COVID-related problems, rampant inflation, and skyrocketing rents. Yet Elevated has managed to navigate some of these once-in-a-lifetime problems. Just being himself has helped to create loyal customers that respect Elevated and come back to support them.

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Detroit, MI | Detroit bar and record shop named one of the best in the country: A Detroit bar that got its start in an abandoned house on the city’s east side before moving downtown is one of the best in the country, according to USA Today. Food writers for the outlet from around the country picked their favorite spots for a drink and entertainment, including Paramita Sound. The live music bar opened in 2014 in a West Village house. After three years, the bar moved to its current spot on Broadway, just a couple blocks away from Grand Circus Park. The Black-owned business regularly features a record store, local and national DJs, and artists spanning genres. “From a quaint space in downtown Detroit, Paramita Sound is a place that shines not solely for its bar program or its selection of wines, but for its ability to bring communities together,” Detroit Free Press restaurant critic Lyndsay C. Green wrote of Paramita.

Cheshire, UK | Three independent Mid Cheshire businesses you voted top of the shops: The Vinyl Cafe. Independent traders are at the heart of Mid Cheshire’s local communities and with the ongoing cost of living crisis they’re struggling. It’s not easy running your own business, juggling increasing overheads, big company competition and a move away from town and city centre high streets and local communities to online shopping. As part of our Best of 2024 competition, earlier this month we wanted to show Mid Cheshire’s small business owners some love and celebrate the best the town has to offer. “…The Vinyl Café is a record store as well as a café. It’s a unique space much like a community for music and coffee lovers. It has brought people together over the past two years who have become friends who now meet at The Vinyl Café. There are many Vinyl Cafés around the UK who offer the same but we are the only one in this area.”

Essex, UK | Stone Rock Records sets up permanent shop in Earls Colne: A record enthusiast has opened his own shop fewer than 12 months after he started selling his wares at pop-up events. Stone Rock Records was started in late 2023 by Jonathan Stoneman, 22, who began opening pop-up shops after beginning his record collection. This week, Jonathan is officially opening Stone Rock Records’ permanent residence in Earls Colne Recreation Club. He said: “The very first pop-up was in December 2023 at Two Brews in Colchester. “It was very positive. That was the start of it being something that needed to be done every week.” “I had to keep the fire stoked after that,” he added. Since then, Stone Rock Records has regularly appeared across Essex in Braintree, Southend, and Chelmsford, building a community of music enthusiasts with each appearance. Jonathan continued: “I’ve been building it up slowly, and it’s very fun. “I can’t do it on my own because it’s so difficult, so I’ve had lots of support, especially from my dad.”

VA | Visit 7 rockin’ Virginia record and music stores: Virginia is for music lovers—and the commonwealth’s craving for vinyl is apparent in the many record stores throughout the state. From the capital city to the shore, here are some of Virginia’s best record and music stores. Deep Groove (Richmond) Deep Groove has served the Richmond area for 15 years, and it remains a go-to for new and used vinyl. This small store packs a big punch with its wide selection of records. If you are looking to make some cash for records you don’t use anymore, they’ll buy it; so be sure to stop by and check out their new releases. Wax Moon (Richmond) Visiting Wax Moon Records is an experience in itself. Wax Moon buys, sells, and trades records and DVDs, so if you’re looking for an old movie you watched as a child, chances are they have it. While Wax Moon’s records and videos are the store’s main draw, many stay for the arcade games in the back of the shop.

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