UK | ‘There’s nothing like a well-stocked music store’: Telegraph readers on HMV and the future of music: HMV became the latest victim of the ailing UK high street as, after poor sales in the run up to Christmas, the 97-year-old retailer collapsed into administration for the second time in six years. Paul McGowan, the chairman of HMV and its owner Hilco, said the further fall in DVD and CD sales as well as the “tsunami of challenges” facing the high street had made it impossible to continue. Many music fans shared their sadness at the news, as well as their fond memories browsing the store’s aisles. Editor of music magazine XLR8R, William Ralston, was among them. Writing in the Telegraph, Mr. Ralston said that for him, and many others, HMV was a gateway to musical exploration and serendipity. He suggested that the closing of physical record stores, and with it the eclecticism and staff expertise that they offer, would strengthen the hold that streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music have on our musical tastes.
Mesa, AZ | Uncle Aldo’s Attic Banking On Vinyl Records’ Comeback: Desi Scarpone is the ultimate record collector. With more than 50,000 records in his home, Scarpone understands the joy of vinyl. “There’s a tactile sense to having something tangible in your hand,” Scarpone said. “If it’s on the computer, you can’t hold it or see it as well. On a CD, it’s all tiny.” Scarpone is banking on the vinyl revival with the opening of his Northeast Mesa store Uncle Aldo’s Attic at McKellips and Recker roads. There, he focuses on vintage vinyl from the 1950s to the 1980s. He also has a hearty collection of eight-track cartridges, cassette tapes, Star Wars action figures, vintage videogames and vinyl accessories. Inside his showcase, he has a VHS of Let It Be, and bumper stickers from the Detroit radio station WRIF. Scarpone buys music as well. “Everyone loves it here,” he said. “I just need more people to find out about it.”
Phoenix, AZ | Revolver Records Bites the Bullet in Downtown Phoenix: Another Roosevelt Row small business has fallen: Revolver Records will be closing next month. The record shop, which is located at 918 North Second Street, announced its departure in this week’s issue of Phoenix New Times and on Facebook. The store’s final day of operation will be the next First Friday on February 1. In a Facebook post, owner TJ Jordan wrote “We have enjoyed being a part of all our customers’ musical lives for the past decade, hopefully fulfilling our original goal of spreading our love of music through what we believe is the best medium available …VINYL!” It’s not all bad news, however. Currently, the shop is holding a clearance sale: Everything is 25 percent off, and discounts will rise until the last day of operation, culminating in a party on First Friday.
Phoenix, AZ | Revolver Records closes downtown Phoenix store after 11 years: Revolver Records has announced that it’s closing its doors after 11 years of serving downtown Phoenix, preparing to “ride off into the proverbial record store sunset,” as owner TJ Jordan put it in a Facebook post that broke the news to customers. Jordan went on to write, “We have enjoyed being a part of all of our customers’ musical lives for the past decade, hopefully fulfilling our original goal of spreading our love of music thru what we believe is the best medium available…VINYL!” …”There’s only 24 hours in the day,” he says. “And you only get so many years of life. And a few years ago, I started looking at how I was spending my time and what we were doing for the community and such, and I wanted to have a more holistic arts experience, with coffee, books and film, but also records. Because those are the things I love.”
How To Run Your Own Record Label: Rhythm Section’s Bradley Zero is here to help… It’s a pretty good time to be a record label. Last year, it was reported that UK recorded music revenues had risen 10.6% – the biggest leap since 1995. This wasn’t just led by pop blockbusters; the growth was boosted by breakthroughs from artists like Stormzy, Dua Lipa and Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, and there was a 45% leap in streaming subscriptions on top of the continuing vinyl revival. As it’s looking like less of a pipedream and more a legit career move, where do you start in setting up your very own record label? Bradley Zero – DJ, radio host and former Boiler Room programmer, as part of its original team – runs his own labels: the award-winning, global phenomenon that is Rhythm Section International, founded in 2014 off the back of the dances he’s held in Peckham since 2009, as well as the more club-led sub-label International Black founded in 2017.
Crosley unveils miniature 3-inch turntable: Size DOES matter. Crosley is releasing a miniature turntable this Record Store Day, reports Digital Trends. The tiny turntable, which is called an 8-ban record player and plays 3-inch vinyl – is a cult device in Japan, and can hold up to four minutes of audio. Sharing the news at CES 2019, the company also announced it is partnering with Japanese vinyl manufacturing plant Toyokasei – who will be producing teensy records for the device. Retailing for $70, Crosley’s micro-deck is powered by USB or battery, with an Audio-Technica cartridge, pitch control and dust cover. Crosley’s record player follows a slew of noteworthy turntable announcements during this year’s CES – including Technics unveiling a new SL-1200 MK7, and Audio-Technica announcing seven new models are on the way.
U.S. Vinyl Album Sales Grew 15% in 2018, Led by the Beatles, Pink Floyd, David Bowie & Panic! at the Disco: Vinyl album sales continue to be a bright spot among an otherwise bleak album sales picture. 16.8 million vinyl albums were sold in 2018, according to Nielsen Music (up 14.6 percent) — marking the 13th consecutive year of growth for the format. 16.8 million is also a new yearly high for vinyl album sales since Nielsen Music began tracking sales in 1991. Comparatively, overall album sales (vinyl LP, CD, digital, cassette, etc.) in 2018 fell 17.7 percent to 141 million. Vinyl LP sales accounted for 11.9 percent of all album sales in 2018 (16.8 million of 141 million). In 2017, the format comprised 6.5 percent of album sales…Perhaps not surprisingly, vinyl LPs were 19.1 percent of all physical album sales (CDs, LPs, cassettes, etc.) in 2018. That’s a new Nielsen-era record share for the once-dormant format, up from 14 percent in 2017.
