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

Edinburgh, UK | Iconic Edinburgh record store ‘Elvis Shakespeare’ for sale after nearly 20 years: One of Edinburgh’s best-loved independent shops has gone up for sale – after nearly 20 years of trading in the city. Elvis Shakespeare, on Leith Walk, shared the surprise news on social media on Tuesday (December 3). The legendary store, which sells rare vinyl, CDs and books, is available for £270,000. In a post on Facebook, owner David Griffin wrote: “Business now for sale for £270,000. Freehold Business plus website. Profitable, 20000 items. Any enquiries please contact David via email or pop into the shop.” Elvis Shakespeare has been open since May 2005. The shop regularly features on lists of the Capital’s best-loved businesses.

Pittsburgh, PA | Inside George’s Song Shop, America’s oldest record store: John George says he has more than a million vinyl records in stock at his record store in downtown Johnstown. But his business, George’s Song Shop, may be best known for a different kind of record. The shop is believed to hold the record as the oldest record store in America. George’s Song Shop was founded in 1932 by John George’s father, Eugene George, and his uncle, Bernie George. John’s Uncle Bernie sold his share of the business to John’s father in 1941. John George, now 82, became the owner of the business at age 19, after his father’s death. While the store has relocated five times, the business has survived The Great Depression, two floods, a fire and the former popularity of compact disks. “If we don’t have it, nobody does,” John George said as a 1950s song by The Cadillacs played from behind the front counter.

CT | FYE to close at least three of its Connecticut stores, staff say. Music, movies, and pop-culture collectibles retailer FYE is getting ready to reduce the number of stores it has in Connecticut, according to staff who spoke this week with Hearst Connecticut Media. Mall-based stores in Waterbury, Danbury and Meriden will be closing after the start of the new year, employees in those stores told Hearst Connecticut Media. The employees, who spoke on the condition that their names not be used out of fear that the company would discipline them, said they haven’t yet been told the exact closing date. Officials at the Brass Mill Center mall in Waterbury, Danbury Fair Mall and Meriden Mall have not responded to requests for comment on when the FYE store closings will take place in those locations.

Rancho Mirage, CA | Vintage Vinyl Records Await at Victoria’s Attic Antiques in Rancho Mirage: From Beatles originals to Streisand classics, this hidden gem in Rancho Mirage is a vinyl lover’s paradise. I spent my teenage days in the 1970s scouring Tower Records, Musicland, The Wherehouse, and an Orange County store named Licorice Pizza for records. In the ‘80s, vinyl was replaced by the compact disc, and finally, iTunes relegated the record store to a thing of the past. Well, no more — vinyl is back — and so is my fascination for that 12-inch black disc with all its clicks and scratches. Looking to rebuild my collection, I stumbled on Victoria’s Attic Antique Mall, an antique store in Rancho Mirage with everything you could ever want to find. But for me, it’s the roughly 12-by-12-foot area in the middle of the store filled with bins of records organized from A to Z with special sections for jazz, classical, and show tunes. There’s even a special bin for Streisand and Manilow.

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New York, NY | Vinyl records have taken over—and growing more popular than streaming: Retro-obsessed Gen Zers have revived a relic of the last century: vinyl records. The antiquated albums have boomed in popularity in recent years as the young generation flocks to buy vinyls from fan-favorite artists such as Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Billie Artist hawk records of their latest hits. Former Spotify economist Will Page predicts that record labels will gross $1 billion by the end of the year in vinyl sales alone. Globally, the old-school vessel for music is expected to overtake CDs, he wrote in a recent report. In fact, the economist reported that vinyl outpaced streaming, with records growing 15.4% and streaming only 10.4%. “Like the boy who cried wolf, we’ve been told again and again that the resurgence in vinyl is a blip, not a trend,” Page wrote in a column for Billboard earlier this year. “Yet for 18 straight years, it has continued to surpass expectations.”

Amersham, UK | Amersham’s Record Shop owner on supporting local businesses: The owner of an independent record store in Amersham has reiterated the importance of using local businesses as we get closer to Christmas. Graeme Campbell, 67, has been the proprietor of The Record Shop in the town since its formation in 2005, and during his near two-decade stint in running the shop, he has moved on three occasions, battled a recession and a global pandemic. With many independents closing up and down the land, the Hill Avenue store remains standing and whilst he admitted that ‘every day is a challenge’, it is one that he ‘loves’, as he has no plans of retiring. Mr Campbell, who has been in the record-selling business for nearly 50 years, told the Free Press: “When I started in 2005, I think, from memory, we were in a recession, and I thought we were at the bottom of that recession. Normally when that happens, you move up quite rapidly to a boom-or-bust sort of thing, but we have coasted along the bottom of this ‘recession’ and it did at a point look precarious, but I never wanted to throw the towel in.”

London, UK | Yorkshire record shop Recycle Vinyl opens East London branch: The Dalston shop recently hosted a launch party with Jerome Hill. A new record shop has opened in East London. Located on Birkbeck Mews in Dalston, Recycle Vinyl is the second branch of the Yorkshire shop of the same name. The space, which opens on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, stocks thousands of new-and-second-hand records, and also has a bar licence. A launch party with Jerome Hill took place last month. “In some respects, if you can make a record shop work in the sleepy, deprived small town of Elland in West Yorkshire then you can make it work anywhere,” the team shared. “We’re not trying to be cool or follow any of the latest trends, we just want to create an environment where people can dig and not be judged or pushed into buying things. We’re more like the B&M of the dance world, you always end up buying more than you than you went in for.”

Huntsville, AL | What’s Spinning?: With House of Sound. Joseph Scott is the owner of House of Sound, a vintage home audio, neon, vinyl records, CD’s, cassettes, vintage t-shirts and more store. Born and raised in North Alabama, Scott has traveled all around the country with his parents. “I’ve loved music as long as I can remember, from listening to my parents’ 50’s and 60’s albums (Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Beatles) to my dad’s love of country music (Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and Marty Robbins). …Four years ago, Joseph got back into home audio and 2-channel listening again and decided to start building up a collection of CDs and even albums again. He drove over to his parents’ house and dug out his old Eagles, Def Leppard, Van Halen, Madonna, and ZZ-Top albums. He quickly started buying up receivers, speakers, and all the gear he had back in the day to start listening to his tunes as if it was for the 1st time.

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UK | As Rough Trade reveals albums of 2024, MD says record shops are crucial part of ‘delicate ecosystem.’ Rough Trade has revealed its Albums Of The Year list for 2024 as the retailer reports strong sales growth. The list landed last week and was topped by the posthumous album by Sophie, as well as featuring releases by English Teacher, The Last Dinner Party, Laura Marling and Charli XCX. In case you missed it, the full Top 20 albums are below. Sales of physical music in the UK are up roughly 10% year-on-year with Rough Trade ahead of the market, according to the retailer. Music Week has reported on the prospect of the first overall units increase annually in physical music in two decades. …Their stores have also seen an increase in footfall of 15% from last year. For September, Rough Trade reported sales growth of 37% year-on-year. “Physical sales are in a strong position with vinyl continuing to drive growth and CD having found its place in the market after years of decline,” said Rough Trade MD Lawrence Montgomery.

Huntsville, AL | Audiophiles: You need to check out these 3 exceptional local record stores: Are you a fellow vinyl connoisseur and music aficionado? Then you should check out some of Huntsville’s best local record stores! As Christmas approaches, browsing record stores is also a great way to find presents for your favorite collectors or, for college students like myself, unwind while studying for finals. These 3 record stores each have unique inventories and aesthetics that make them all worth checking out for any Huntsville vinyl-lover. Black Rose Records: Black Rose Records begins our list by not only possessing what is, in my opinion, perhaps the best new arrivals section in Huntsville, but also showcasing some more niche offerings for the most specific tastes. Additionally, the store itself has the hole-in-the-wall aesthetic that makes the act of shopping for vinyl itself the romanticized experience it’s meant to be…

Elizabethtown, PA | Business Review: Etown Record Lounge. Music is an important part of many people’s everyday lives, and in recent years it has become increasingly popular to collect physical copies of albums in the form of vinyl records and CDs. If you’re a fan of retro music, Etown Record Lounge might be a one-stop shop for all of your listening needs. Located at 9 S. Market Street in downtown Elizabethtown, next to Frugal Finds. The store is within a reasonable walking distance or very quick drive. …Etown Record Lounge’s selection really shines regarding its collection of vinyls, as suggested by its name. There are albums ranging from classic rock to modern musicals, including a few collectors’ editions on display towards the front of the store.

Dundee, UK | Do you remember these Dundee record shops? Some still prefer the ritual of buying music and browsing a record shop. Which ones do you miss most? Record shops were an essential part of growing up in Dundee. Names like Bruce’s, Cathie McCabe’s, Chalmers and Joy, Forbes, Larg’s and Rockpile may be gone but won’t be forgotten. Places where we got our chart singles and albums before streaming came along. Groucho’s was Dundee’s most famous record shop. HMV, Our Price and Virgin Records were high street competitors. John Menzies sold cassette tapes and vinyl singles and albums in the Murraygate. Maybe you bought your music at Dens Road Market or the Keiller Centre? Not all of them have survived the test of time. How many of these do you remember?

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Music Industry Revenues Hit $45.5 Billion, Surpassing Cinema: Global music industry revenues reached $45.5 billion in 2023, surpassing cinema’s pre-pandemic peak of $41.9 billion in 2019. This growth is driven by streaming platforms and the resurgence of vinyl records, according to a report based on data from industry trade bodies. Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music contributed significantly to this growth. Revenues from record labels and artists rose 12% to $28.5 billion, while music publishers and songwriters accounted for about a third of the total revenue. Physical music sales, especially vinyl records, grew faster than streaming revenues. Vinyl sales rose by 15.4%, with U.S. vinyl sales expected to hit $1 billion by the end of 2024, potentially surpassing CD sales.

Los Angeles, CA | 10 Must-Visit Record Stores In Los Angeles For Music Lovers: From iconic vinyls that are almost historical pieces to the latest releases from both alternative and mainstream artists, these record stores have everything a music enthusiast needs. When streaming services first emerged, many predicted the complete extinction of physical music formats. However, several years later, in the 21st century, vinyls, CDs, and cassettes are making a comeback as music stars release unique pieces worthy of any collection. Whether you’re a fan of music, pop culture, movie soundtracks, or just enjoy some retail therapy with a side of melodies, let’s explore the best record stores in Los Angeles.

Chattanooga, TN | Chattanooga record shop faces back-to-back burglaries, lost $1,200 in merchandise: Owners of the local record shop ‘For the Record’ in Chattanooga’s Northgate Mall are urging people to come forward with information about suspects after facing back-to-back burglaries earlier this week. Camera footage at the store shows a man walking into the store on Monday with a woman following close behind. The two browsed through records for a few minutes until the man picked up a stack of records, hid them in his coat, and walked out. The woman followed behind him a few moments later. …Co-owner Mike Bell says one of the store employees, after having witnessed the burglary, ran outside to stop them. “My employee chased them out in a parking lot, and they left in a blue truck, and they were gone,” he says.

New York, NY | The Lo-Down Culture Cast—Gary Guarinello of Catalyst Records: Host Traven Rice spoke with Gary Guarinello, founder of Catalyst Records in Essex Market, for this episode of The Lo-Down Culture Cast. Gary is a drummer and a music lover who is also a former butcher. He was working at The Market Line Food Hall at Ends Meat when he pitched the idea for a record store, which he opened in 2022. When the food hall shut down in the lower level of Essex Market, he moved Catalyst Records upstairs, across from Top Hops Beer Shop, and began hosting live music events, podcasts, and other local art openings and book signings. You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts and you can watch it on our YouTube Channel here. And please subscribe and “like” The Lo-Down Culture Cast, if you are so inclined.

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Bloomington, IN | Unbound – Vinyl revival: Why vinyl records are here to stay. In this episode of Unbound, we dive into the world of vinyl records and explore the surprising resurgence of physical media in an increasingly digital world. Vinyl has made a comeback in a big way, with sales reaching levels not seen since the 1980s, and we’re here to unpack why this analog format continues to captivate new generations of music lovers. We talk to collectors, industry insiders, and local record stores about what makes vinyl so special—its warm sound, the tangible connection to music, and the ritual of flipping through records. …In this episode, we discuss how vinyl has evolved, the rise of niche collectors, and why owning a physical copy of music is more meaningful than ever. Whether you’re a lifelong vinyl enthusiast or a curious newcomer, you’ll come away with a renewed appreciation for the art of vinyl records.

Dallas, TX | Dallas record store chain Josey Records spins new location in Garland: Dallas music maker Josey Records has extended its reach east: The record store chain, whose empire includes one of the largest single independent record stores in the U.S., has opened a location in Garland, at 1005 Northwest Hwy., at the intersection of Centerville Road, where it’s selling its trademark assortment of vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, turntables, music posters, new releases, and music accessories. This is the sixth location and the third in the Dallas area, joining the original in Farmers Branch which owners Waric Cameron and Luke Sardello opened in November 2014. They’ve since opened locations in Plano, Tulsa, Kansas City, and Vidalia, Missouri. The original location is a giant place with 16,000 square feet devoted to vinyl, 45s, CDs, and turntables.

Bristol, UK | Beloved record store reopens after two-year closure: A beloved record store that specialises in local music has reopened, two years after shutting its doors. Chris Farrell who runs Idle Hands in Bristol, announced in 2022 that his shop on City Road would have to close due to pressures around Covid, Brexit and the cost of living crisis. After operating out of a storage unit since the closure, Mr Farrell has now opened in a new location on Lower Park Row, near the Christmas Steps. He said he feels “really lucky” and is “very grateful” to see that people were excited for its reopening. “I had a couple of false starts and properties that fell through, it was never my intention to close for two years, but that’s what happened,” he said. “A month ago I was offered this new location, I feel quite lucky, it’s a nice way to round off 2024.”

Cincinnati, OH | Alien Records becomes Cincinnati’s latest music destination: The new Over-the-Rhine record shop intends to be a music enthusiast’s pastime paradise. Timothy Henninger’s predilection with records began as a child when he bought Michael Jackson’s Thriller LP from a Thriftway in Western Hills. By high school, art and record stores were his sanctuaries. With enthusiasm, he recollects how the record players at his Catholic school had a quarter taped to the tone arm for weight, and how when he taught art, he used the same model in his classroom and at the gym. (Believe it or not, the self-proclaimed gym rat toted a portable record player and LPs to workouts instead of a Spotify playlist.) Earlier this month, Henninger bid farewell to coworkers at Hard Rock Casino to open a record store. After a successful soft launch on November 8, he and his partner, Aaron, officially opened Alien Records at 1207 Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine.

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The Growth of Vinyl and the Impact of Independent Record Stores on Vinyl Sales: While many in our industry focus on streaming consumption and the billions of streams that occur weekly, there is another consumption format that has shown growth year after year for the last 18 years straight: vinyl album sales. In fact, vinyl album sales growth began long before streaming even emerged as a way to consume music. Since 2016, vinyl album sales have increased from 13.1 million to 49.6 million in 2023, a growth of nearly 300% over the last eight years. The total number of vinyl albums purchased since 2016 is 224.9 million. So which strata had the biggest impact over that time span, accounting for 45% of all vinyl sales and equaling more than 100 million sales total? That would be independent record stores.

FL | Record Store Day Black Friday: Where to go in SWFL. Record Store Day Black Friday is approaching quickly, and if you’re not looking for a new TV or a video game console, go to your local record store, as they will have exclusive deals to expand your record collection. The last Record Store Day was held on April 20 and as tradition follows, the next is on Black Friday. Southwest Florida record stores will be partaking. Stellar Records in Fort Myers has ordered exclusive titles and prepared countless quality used records, CDs and cassettes for sale. In addition to the Black Friday Record Store Day titles, they are offering 20% off used records, a limited-edition Stellar Records patch, gift card specials and a mystery prize pack raffle worth over $150. Stellar’s last Record Store Day had a large turnout. People gathered early in the morning and waited outside to get their favorite records.

Toronto, CA | Rhythm is Toronto’s newest venue, record shop and studio. The women-owned and operated space officially opened its doors earlier this month. Toronto has a new venue. Rhythm, located in the city’s downtown core, consists of two recording studios, a performance space and a retail shop featuring records plus electronic music merchandise. It also has an outdoor area for street fairs and other events. Rhythm currently posesses a limited-edition Xone92 mixer, allegedly the only one in Toronto, and is working on building a custom sound system. Owned and operated by women, Rhythm launched on November 4th and plans to host two parties per week in addition to educational programmes such as workshops on the music business, gear demos and networking mixers. The team said it can also offer A&R and strategy advice to budding artists as part of its focus on community building.

Buffalo, NY | Mack Luchey’s Spirit Still Lives on at Doris Records: The Buffalo fixture is more than a record store, it’s a family legacy. In contrast to the lake effect clouds darkening the Buffalo skies in the middle of the day, I recognized the radiant turquoise and yellow paint of my destination immediately. The record store stood out next to the rest of the empty, Rust Belt street called Mach Luchey Way, named after the old owner of the record store actually. Outside it was dark, windy, and by the time I left the store, snowing. But inside Doris Records, it is warm and cheerful. Behind layers of clothes, underwear, CDs, records, and other odd items and products for sale, Sean Carter oversees the store from behind the counter. 52-year-old Carter—whose nickname is Big Pete—is in charge of the store. But he’s not the owner, he insists. Carter claims that his late father, Mack Luchey, is still the owner to him and that his spirit still lives inside the store.

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Bristol, UK | Bristol’s Idle Hands record shop reopens this week: Bristol’s Idle Hands record shop is reopening this week after a two-year closure. The beloved Bristol record institution, first opened in 2011, will welcome crate diggers to its new “centrally located” space tomorrow, Wednesday 20th November, owner Chris Farrell shared on Instagram. “Although it was never my intention to be closed for two years, after some false starts and dead ends, Idle Hands is finally re-opening this Wednesday”, he wrote. Farrell will reveal the exact address and opening hours that morning, too. Farrell told Resident Advisor the relaunched shop will stock “a carefully curated selection of new and second-hand records”. “I’m eager to hear from customers about what they’re looking for and will shape the stock accordingly” he said. “A record shop is always a work in progress… DJ Skillis (who will be working alongside me) and I look forward to welcoming customers old and new.”

San Antonio, TX | ‘Tejano and Proud’ at Janie’s Record Shop: Little Henry Lee occupies the back-corner makeshift stage of Janie’s Record Shop. Humming fills the sound waves as Lee tests his equipment. Intrigued by Lee’s sound tests, patrons halt their surveying of the store’s vinyl and grab a seat to listen to his yearnful love ballads. He belts tunes of his own and others while offering tidbits of Hispanic music history. Bystanders become absorbed by the euphonious vocals and keyboard playing. The mail carrier walks in to drop off a package and stays to dance for a bit before he is handed a Coke and continues on with his day. “Record what you feel, and you win,” Lee remarked. “Know what you’re trying to say and who you’re saying it to.” The statement applies to his music and Janie’s business. Although the shop’s primary focus is to sell physical media, the creation of a collective remains at the heart of the store’s mission. With this goal in mind, the business has been thriving for nearly 30 years.

Nashville, TN | Daydream Records Sets Up Shop: Talking with Daniel Halal about his recently opened used-only retail spot in the Shoppes on Fatherland. Music City’s record retail landscape welcomed a newcomer with the Nov. 1 arrival of Daydream Records. A 200-square-foot space in the Shoppes on Fatherland near Five Points, Daydream is packed thoughtfully with some 3,000 carefully chosen LPs, 7-inches and cassettes spanning punk, jazz, metal, psych and more. …You’ll also meet proprietor Daniel Halal. The 39-year-old has worked in the record-store biz in his home state of Florida since 2003, while also logging time as tour manager for Miami doom-grunge legends Torche. …With Record Store Day Black Friday right around the corner, I recently spoke with Halal about the record store scene and where Daydream fits in.

Columbus, MS | Community Profile: Rockin’ Records owner opens shop due to son’s interest in vinyl: In some respects, Larry Pierson would be an unlikely record store owner. Born in 1970, Pierson’s interest in popular music in general, and heavy metal in particular, didn’t emerge until he was about 12 years old, which roughly coincided with the transition of recorded music from vinyl records and eight-track tapes to cassettes. Before that change, record stores in Columbus were plentiful – Newsoms (later Camelot) in Leigh Mall, Elysian Fields, Fraction, Caldwell Furniture Record Rack and Bryan’s Records and Pets. The record store wasn’t merely a place to buy the latest album, it was a gathering place for teens and young adults in the 1960s and 1970s. Record stores were part of the culture. As the change in formats took hold, one by one, the record stores began to close.

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Grand Rapids, MI | The Best Spots To Go Vinyl Record Shopping In Grand Rapids: My record player and I have a wonderful relationship. My ex got me it for Christmas one year and it continues to be the most important item in my house. I would not say my record collection is even slightly something to brag about, but I love listening to music on vinyl. It feels far more personal to me than just streaming something on Spotify. Thankfully, there are plenty of spots around Grand Rapids to shop for records. Vintage shops, record shops, antique shops, and more are on every corner. So, whether you’ve been a fan of vinyl since before they were cool or recently started, here are some of the best spots to purchase them.

Bristol, UK | Bristol record store Idle Hands to reopen two years after being shuttered: The shop is set to reopen this Wednesday with a launch party at The Red Church. Beloved Bristol record store Idle Hands is set to reopen this week more than two years after it was shuttered due to financial strain. The shop and record label announced its reopening earlier today on Instagram, explaining that Idle Hands will relocate to a new space in central Bristol after spending 11 years on City Road. “We are back,” said owner Chris Farrell. …Idle Hands will reopen on Wednesday, November 20, followed by a launch party at The Red Church on Friday, November 29, featuring Marion Hawkes from Sound Advice in Belfast and Chris Farrell himself B2B with Milly On Air. “Although it was never my intention to be closed for two years, after some false starts and dead ends, Idle Hands is finally re-opening this Wednesday.”

Miami, FL | This Miami Record Shop & Other Florida Stores Are Hosting ‘Wicked’ Listening Parties This Weekend: To celebrate the new “Wicked” soundtrack and all the songs we know and love getting a fresh spin, these local record stores are hosting listening parties with exclusive freebies and prizes! The time has finally come! We’re officially days away from “Wicked” hitting the big screen, which stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba. And with the film premiering soon (Nov. 22), the official soundtrack is sure to hit the shelves. In celebration of its release, select record stores across the country are holding in-store listening parties. The official Record Store Day US released a list of participating stores in nearly 40 states — including Florida! While fans can expect to listen to the album in its entirety, they can also get their hands on freebies like an exclusive poster or enter a giveaway to win a special beanie.

Burlington, CT | Monkees tribute band founder opens the Nevermind Shop in CT, with vinyl from Abba to ZZ Top: Big-voiced and shaggy-haired, Mick Lawless seems to never stop moving, smiling and laughing—and most of all—talking about his music career and how it brought him to open The Nevermind Shop, which has relocated to Burlington. Specializing in vinyl records from the post-British Invasion-era, Nevermind originally opened in Hudson, Mass., in 2000. Lawless moved it to Upton, Mass., in 2008. In October, he moved it again, to Burlington Commons on the Spielman Highway, where Lawless intends to stay. “I moved out here because I had some different opportunities,” he said in the back office and workshop of his new 1,500-square-foot location. “Amazing what love can do. I found a girl, a nice girl. We’ve been together a couple years now, and we came out here.”

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London, UK | New record shop Perfect Lives opens in South London: The New Cross shop will focus “on the cult, occult and the strange,” according to owners Bruno and Daniel. A new record shop has opened in South London. Located in New Cross, Perfect Lives will focus “on the cult, occult and the strange,” according to owners Bruno and Daniel, who host an NTS show of the same name. “We wouldn’t say we have a genre in particular, but we have a lot of private press, underground and hard to find records,” they told Resident Advisor. “The same goes for books and paper generally. If a record or book makes you say ‘why does this exist?’ or ‘why would someone release this?’ then it’s in the racks or on the shelves.” The space, which opened on November 1st, was formerly an antique shop and pop-up gallery. As well as records, it also stocks books and ephemera, and the owners hope to host concerts there soon.

Carlsbad, CA | Discover Classic Vinyl at Love Bus Records: Record shops are an important part of every community. Music-lovers can find their favorite songs, bond over music with others and discover new artists. Love Bus Records is a place where music connoisseurs can do all of that. “I was in corporate America,” said Mike McDonald, owner of Love Bus Records, “and I got to a certain point that it wasn’t fulfilling, and I thought, ‘life is short, do something that you care about.’” McDonald opened Love Bus Records in 2020 as a small shop specializing in vinyl, which has only grown larger since then. Before he started selling records, McDonald built a small community library in front of his house. “I had thousands of books that I was not going to read again. So I built this little library out here,” McDonald said. According to McDonald, when the city saw it, they built nine other libraries like his.

Portland, OR | 2nd Avenue Records forced to leave building after 42 years, another blow to downtown Portland, city’s music history. If you stepped into 2nd Avenue Records on Thursday, you might have thought it was still peak Portland, that golden period, a decade in the past now, when 20-somethings from around the country were pouring into the city and the New York Times regularly raved about its cool factor. Posters for oddball and classic bands littered the walls over rows and rows of bins holding vinyl records. …The shop has been in the historic Governor Building in downtown Portland for 42 years and has diligently maintained its aura as a place to discover new music and what’s going on in the culture, despite the music industry’s wholesale move online in recent decades. But a shock decision by the store’s landlord to empty the building has left the shop – and the other businesses in the building – scrambling to figure out their next moves.

Salt Lake City, UT | The Best Record Shops in SLC for Music Enthusiasts: Each shop holds their own stories and memories for you to enjoy. So, as Penny Lane said in “Almost Famous,” “If you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends.” Looking for a record to add to your collection? Or a unique album that no one’s heard of? Well, Salt Lake City has quite a few record shops for all the music enthusiasts out there. Here are a few of the best record shops around town. Diabolical Records: When they opened their doors 11 years ago, they didn’t do any advertising. Instead, they held concerts for small bands inside the shop to get people to come together and enjoy something they’d never heard before. Although they had to stop the concerts because of the COVID-19 pandemic, that has remained the heart of the store. “Our passion and the reason we have the store is so that we can bring in small artists and to introduce people to new and interesting music,” said founder Adam Tye…

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Houston, TX | Is physical media in both a state of decline and renaissance at the same time? We discuss which physical media is still hanging on in a digital world, and why, with a Houston record store owner and an area DJ. Physical media used to reign supreme. Before today’s digital landscape, if we wanted to listen to music or watch movies on our own time, it meant collecting records, cassettes, CDs, VHS or DVDs. These days, you don’t need any of them – streaming services and digital downloads have pretty much replaced them all. The days of perusing sprawling sections of department stores dedicated to physical media are long gone. Even Target and Best Buy say they won’t carry DVDs or Blu-rays in their stores anymore. And yet: Vintage vinyl record stores have hung on. Some simply prefer the sound quality of vinyl.

Lansing, MI | Flat, Black and Circular changes ownership: Longtime manager takes the reins of beloved record shop. It’s been a banner year for Flat, Black and Circular. Not only has the downtown East Lansing record shop continued its streak of winning Best Record/CD Store in City Pulse’s Top of the Town contest, but it also saw an ownership change. After decades of working at FBC, longtime manager Jon Howard bought out owner and co-founder Dave Bernath. Bernath opened the store in 1977 alongside Dick Rosemont, who moved to New Mexico in 2010. Howard’s purchase became official on Oct. 1, 48 years after the store opened in the Campus Town Mall. At 58, Howard has been married for 28 years and has a 22-year-old daughter. Now he can add business owner to his list of responsibilities. The punk and underground music aficionado chatted with City Pulse about his new venture.

Portland, OR | Longtime Portland record store asked to vacate downtown location after 40 years: Tenants inside the Governor building in downtown Portland were asked to vacate citing a change in the property managers “retail portfolio.” A longtime Portland record store is being forced to vacate its downtown storefront after over 40 years. But it’s not just them being kicked out. A few months ago, tenants inside the Governor building on Southwest 2nd Avenue were notified they were being forced to vacate. “After 42 years of conducting business at The Governor Building, 2nd Avenue Records has been notified that we must vacate the building,” the record store said in a Facebook post Tuesday. The record store has been a staple at the Governor building and in downtown Portland. Many commented on 2nd Avenue Record’s Facebook post with support and suggestions on where the record store could move to next.

Bethlehem, PA | CD Center keeps physical media spinning: A young woman enters the Compact Disc Center on a slow, sunny afternoon. She ignores the wooden boxes filled with a mix of plastic-wrapped records and more tattered old ones. Instead, she turns to the hundreds of CDs displayed along one wall and in racks on the floor. As she goes about her search, the speakers above play a blues song by local musician “Chicago” Carl Snyder from what Mary Radakovits, one of the store’s owners, describes as a “great CD.” Despite the amount of music packed into the store, it isn’t cluttered. The CDs are alphabetized and organized by genre. If the customer was looking for it, she could easily find a pop, rap or folk album. Even polka. But the young woman’s hunt is for something specific, something she can’t seem to find. She approaches Radakovits at the register and inquires about a Moss Icon CD. “We can have it next week,” Radakovits tells the young woman, placing an order.

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JP | Vinyl Records Shopping in Japan 2024: Hakata, Kichijoji, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara: After my first Japan record shopping experience in 2023, I was more prepared for my Japan trip in 2024, though I wondered if I was going to get any more records because I don’t have a long want list. Ever since my last trip, I found an online site, Record City, that offers so much convenience because their website offers access to hundreds of thousands of their catalog, which beats going to a physical record store and dig. The only drawback is that I was unable to see and feel the real record nor to test whether they sound good. But for over a year of shopping, they have largely not disappointed me. The shipping price is also reasonable and their packaging is first-rate. As it turns out, I have had the best gains at the most unexpected places.

Bowling Green, KY | Mellow Matt’s Music & More: How local businesses prepare for homecoming crowds. “Mellow” Matt Pfefferkorn, owner of the record shop on 1200 Smallhouse Road, said it will be “fully staffed” homecoming weekend. “You would think stuff like Western football games or homecoming would detour people from getting out and about,” Pfefferkorn said. That’s hardly the truth, according to Pfefferkorn. “Those have actually been some of our bigger days because there’s more people in town, people that used to live here and go to Western,” Pfefferkorn said. Mellow Matt’s specializes in vinyl records despite offering a plethora of physical media such as CDs, stereo equipment, cassettes and DVDs. Mellow Matt’s has established ties to the WKU community throughout its 11 years of business aside from just selling to students and alumni.

IE | Jerry Fish announces November record store album launch gigs in Dublin, Kilkenny and Cork: The gigs come in support of Fish’s Daniel Johnston cover album Dreaming of Daniel out November 15. Irish indie icon Jerry Fish has announced a series of five free record store album launch gigs in Dublin, Kilkenny and Cork throughout November. It comes in support of Fish’s upcoming Daniel Johnston cover album Dreaming of Daniel, out November 15. It will kick off in Dublin’s Golden Discs Central Plaza on November 15 and wrap up on November 21 at Spindizzy, with stops in Cork and Kilkenny along the way. It follows the release of the single ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievances’ last week, a cover of the Johnston song in collaboration with singer MayKay (Fight Like Apes). Speaking of the release, Fish says: “This is my first vinyl record in thirty-four years and my first LP in fifteen years. A labour of love, five years in the making. I am very proud of it.”

Brisbane, AU | Beloved West End Record Store Jet Black Cat Music Is Closing Its Bricks-and-Mortar Shop After 13 Years: The Vulture Street shop will shut on Saturday, December 28, 2024 — but its online store will remain open. In a year that’s already seen The Zoo say goodbye (ahead of its space reopening as the new Crowbar), another go-to for Brisbane’s music fans is also bidding farewell. A West End favourite for over a decade, record store Jet Black Cat Music is shutting up shop before 2024 is out. More than just a place to buy tunes, the Vulture Street venue has also hosted gigs and parties — and held its own music festival over at The Tivoli. Your last day to head by: Saturday, December 28, 2024, which gives you somewhere to splash your Christmas cash to send off this inner-city haunt. While its physical digs are closing, Jet Black Cat Music will live on, however, thankfully keeping its website up and running.

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London, UK | hmv embarks on a new chapter as it expands into books: Retailer to open over 2,500 sq. foot literary space at 363 Oxford Street flagship store playing host to over 4,000 titles with literary events to follow in dedicated performance area. hmv is to embark on a new chapter as it expands into the sale of books this November. The move marks the retailer’s first major foray into literature as a standalone offering within its retail space. hmv is devoting an entire floor of its flagship store to its newest venture. The hmv 363 Bookshop will open on 18 November ahead of the busy festive period, featuring a live events stage among a curated range of hidden gems to excite and delight book enthusiasts. The floor is accessed via a staircase from the 1st floor, leading to a treasure trove of current and classic works across music, film, and popular culture.

Riverside, CA | Happy Birthday, Penrose Record Room! Your favorite local record shop just hit a big milestone. One whole year is no small feat when it comes to running a small business. For shops that specialize in niche hobbies of the past, like music-collecting, existing successfully in the ever-changing economy and whimsies of the public deserves more than a pat on the back. To celebrate that, the Penrose Record Room in Downtown Riverside hosted two full days of anniversary festivities right in the heart of the subterranean shop, turning the relatively smaller store into a huge space of music, smiles, friends and community. Over the two-day weekend celebration, Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, the Penrose Record Room featured a full house of record aficionados, slick-dressed disc jockeys, Penrose Records label musicians and their hoards of fans packed into the basement of the Life Arts Building.

Burlington, CT | New CT business is ‘groovy’ in more ways than one. And you might just get what you need. What would you call a store that carries vintage blacklight posters, items such as a Michael Jackson doll, an Alf doll, old metal lunch boxes, rare Beatles posters and over 20,000 vinyl records featuring recording artists from Elvis to Nirvana to Taylor Swift? Owner Mick Lawless thought about naming his store, “Flashbacks,” but that sounded too limiting — like something out of the “hippie era.” he said. “There no flashback when you’re dealing with Taylor Swift,” Lawless said recently. “It didn’t describe the store.” “Nevermind this,” he said he thought, while contemplating the name. And so was born, “The Nevermind Shop.” The store filled with memorabilia, collectibles and so many records of all genres, opened recently in Burlington.

UK | ERA honoured for longstanding success of Record Store Day UK: Digital entertainment and retail association ERA has been honoured for its work organising Record Store Day. CEO Kim Bayley was presented with the top award for Best Longstanding Event at the Association Excellence Awards, recognising the work of UK trade associations. She also collected a bronze award for ERA’s Entertainment Champion Awards in the category Best New Event. ERA has masterminded the organisation and logistics of Record Store Day UK for the past 15 years. RSD has become one of the biggest revenue-generating days for indie record shops (worth around £10 million), and it helped to bring about the vinyl revival and increase in independent record stores in the UK. The judges said: “This is a great entry for a great event which stands out because it is unique in that it is not based in one place—it is based in hundreds of places around the UK with superb results.”

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Seattle, WA | Sub Pop Records Announces a Major Campaign with Barnes & Noble: Sub Pop Records, in conjunction with AMPED Distribution, a division of Alliance Entertainment (Nasdaq: AENT), announces a major campaign with Barnes & Noble that began October 2, 2024, and is running through January 5, 2025. The campaign features six Sub Pop limited edition color variant vinyl LPs that are sold exclusively at Barnes & Noble stores. Exclusive titles include Suki Waterhouse Memoir Of A Sparklemuffin (Blood Moon Red Vinyl), Father John Misty Greatish Hits: I Followed My Dreams and My Dreams Said to Crawl (Glacial Blue Vinyl), Beach House Depression Cherry (Clear w/Silver Metallic & White Vinyl), Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes (Jade Blue Vinyl), Soundgarden Screaming Life (Silver Metallic Vinyl), and Orville Peck Pony (Clear w/Black & Red Hi-Melt Vinyl). Crissi Bariatti, Senior Merchandise Manager, Music & Video at Barnes & Noble, commented, “As a longtime fan of Sub Pop Records and their artist roster, I am beyond excited to launch this collaboration.”

Denver, CO | Wax Trax is slowly expanding throughout the metro, one pop-up record shop at a time: The legendary Capitol Hill store’s latest experiment will test whether Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace could make for a good long-term home. Nearly half a century and one pandemic later, Wax Trax Records is continuing its slow expansion from its longtime Capitol Hill brick storefront (638 E. 13th Ave.) across the metro. Its next stop: Stanley Marketplace in Aurora — maybe for a few months, and maybe for good. Owner Pete Stidman is hearing that nationwide record stores are struggling. But that’s not the case for Wax Trax. The business just keeps growing and experimenting with new ways to keep a legacy physical medium alive in an age where music is all but free online. Stidman took over the shop from his father, founder Dave Stidman, to rescue it from COVID-19 woes. Dave retired during the pandemic. In reality, he’s still at the shop most days. “If I didn’t take over in the pandemic, it would have been over,” Pete said. “Since then, I’ve been trying to make the place more sustainable for the long term.”

Rock Island, IL | Talk sports, listen to great tunes at Big Strick’s in Rock Island: A Rock Island store that sells vinyl records and trading cards opened after being in the works for five years. Big Strick’s, 2608 21st Ave., is a store for music enthusiasts and card collectors. Our Quad Cities News photojournalist Gabe Zwierzynsky spoke with the owner, who has combined his love of sports with his friend’s love of music. Marion Strickler said the building was sitting empty for about six years. “It was ready to implode on itself. So we cut a deal with (the owner) about five years ago, and then from that point, I was motivated to move a lot of inventory that I had collected for many, many years,” he said. He says he got “middle-aged crazy” when he was 50 and got back to enjoying sports cards and collectibles. “One thing I say about albums, why I love listening to vinyl, is that it’s intentional listening,” said Alan Sivell.

Sacramento, CA | Filled with Locally Owned Shops and Stops, R Street Corridor Offers Special Deals & Experiences on Black Friday & Small Business Saturday. Filled with locally owned businesses, boutiques bars, eateries, restaurants, artists, creatives, and more, the thriving R Street Corridor offers a wonderful opportunity to “Shop R Street” and support local on Black Friday (November 29), Small Business Saturday (November 30), and all season long. To kick off the holiday shopping season early, festive snowflake street lighting will light up R Street during evening hours throughout the holiday season starting in mid-November. Shoppers, strollers, and diners will enjoy a festive and fun ambiance along the popular and walkable R Street corridor (7th through 18th streets). The lighting was made possible with assistance from CADA (Capitol Area Development Authority). In addition to eye-catching snowflake lighting, R Street Corridor merchants are providing seasonal offerings on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday that include the following…

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Portland, OR | Portland Record Stores: Spend the day exploring the stacks at these local record stores. Every day is Record Store Day in Portland, where vintage audio hi-fi systems and turntables are commonplace and vinyl record shops line neighborhood streets. Whether it’s gift-giving season or time to build out your collection, you’ll find everything from rare imports to the latest pop sensation at one of these local record stores. Music Millennium: Portland’s oldest music store, Music Millennium, opened in 1969 with a mission to stock the kind of underground tunes absent from the racks of mainstream department stores of the era. To the delight of audiophiles, not much has changed. Multiple rooms stash untold tuneful treasures, from bargain bins of used CDs and vinyl to collector rarities (a first pressing of Led Zeppelin I sold here for $1,000). Looking for live music? Touring bands often drop by the shop for free shows…

Yorkshire, UK | Where to buy records in Yorkshire? Here are the best places to shop independent and enjoy music: With a debate in the US about whether there has been a decline in vinyl record sales, we take a look closer to home where the Office for National Statistics reports a “resurgence in popularity” in vinyl records despite the domination of streaming platforms. While some stores have closed in recent times, we take a look at some of the vinyl record stores which are still booming in Yorkshire. Wah Wah Records, Wakefield: Alan Nutton, the owner of Wah Wah Records said he saw a resurgence of vinyl sales following lockdown. Alan, who relocated from Brook St to a bigger store on Cross St in Wakefield city centre in 2022, said: “Record sales have been the same in the last few years after a spike but they’ve not dropped. We’ve got a lot of regular customers who love vinyl…”

Studio City, CA | Licorice Pizza serves nostalgia in Studio City: If you grew up in Southern California in the 1970s and 1980s, there’s a good chance you spent time at a record store called Licorice Pizza. At its peak, the chain had 34 locations, until it was sold in the 1980s. But now, Licorice Pizza is being revived by music producer Kerry Brown. Brown said he sees vinyl records as “historical document[s].” He grew up going to a Licorice Pizza location in Orange County. “I don’t even know why those few years when I was hanging out at Licorice Pizza are some of the most vivid upfront memories still to this day. There are tones and textures of who I am today, and my DNA comes out of that store at 20 in Orange,” he shared. Brown found success in the 1990s as part of the Smashing Pumpkins. Since that time, streaming and digital albums have largely replaced physical media. Music journalist Lyndsey Parker talked about a recent rise in popularity of vinyls.

UK | The record stores that shaped Black music in Britain: A new documentary and podcast series reveals how independent record stores championing Black music became cultural hubs from the 1950s onward. A Midlands-based creative arts collective has launched an ambitious project highlighting the profound cultural impact of independent record stores that championed Black music across the UK from the 1950s to today. Leicester’s 2Funky Arts has released The Record Store & Black Music, A UK History – a documentary and podcast series that unearths personal stories and hidden histories that reflect the role of these record stores as cultural havens and powerful sites of community resilience. Through a mix of oral histories, film, audio, and photographic archives, the series offers a deep dive into how these stores fostered new music movements and subcultures, while also shaping society’s relationship with Black music.

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Denver, CO | Five Vinyl-Listening Spots in Denver to Meet Music Lovers: Meet fellow music lovers at these Denver spots, where you can hear vinyl spun live. For music fanatics and art nerds, physical media is still alive and well, especially vinyl. And several of Denver’s music-forward restaurants and cafes have embraced the fanfare by curating their offerings around listening to vinyl live. ESP HiFi, 1020 Santa Fe Drive: ESP (which stands for “extra sensory perception”) is an intimate listening bar with a wine list almost as extensive as its vinyl collection. With remarkable attention to detail, this space provides an immersive listening experience under gentle lighting and scented by calming incense. Each record played is displayed on the bar in front of the dual turntables that allow smooth transitions between each record. With no shaken drinks on the menu to avoid casual noise, ESP is easily one of Denver’s most-curated sound spaces to date…

Evanston, IL | A college student’s guide to Evanston’s second-hand shops: Gen Z is rapidly contributing to the U.S. recommerce market by shopping for trendy and affordable items at second-hand stores. Evanston has much to offer for students and residents looking for thrifted goods. The rise of thrifting and recommerce is nothing new. The first thrift store opened under The Salvation Army in 1897 and the recommerce industry has only grown since, including in Evanston. For all the vintage junkies seeking everything from used books and records, to quirky trinkets and consignment steals, The Daily visited some of the best second-hand spots in Evanston. Animal Records: The vibrancy of Animal Records can be spotted even from outside the shop. Selling both new and used vinyl records, its pink and yellow walls are almost completely covered in records by various artists, both new and old…

Portland, OR | Why Portland is the Best Place for Vinyl Pressing: Local Options and Unique Benefits: Portland, Oregon, has long been a haven for creativity and music culture. Known for its strong indie spirit and DIY ethos, the city has a deep appreciation for vinyl records, making it a top choice for vinyl pressing portland. This unique environment offers artists and record labels numerous advantages, from local production options to a supportive community and eco-friendly practices. In this article, we’ll dive deep into why Portland is the best place for vinyl pressing and the benefits you can expect when choosing this location for your vinyl needs.

Bordentown Township, NJ | Bordentown Township Vinyl Record Pressing Plant Lauded by City Green Team for Sustainability Efforts: The Bordentown City Green Team recently toured a unique local business to highlight the company’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. Green Team members toured Independent Record Pressing (IRP), a vinyl record pressing plant located on Bordentown-Hedding Road in Bordentown Township, on October 21 to highlight the company’s Climate Neutral certification, a globally recognized standard for carbon accountability. IRP even has an Environmental Sustainability Committee, made up of General Manager Sal Roccanova, Accountant Kim Gosselin, Human Resources Manager Lynsey O’Brien and Operations Manager Chris Long. IRP was founded in 2015 with a vision to support and press records for independent labels.

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