Record sales: vinyl hits 25-year high, LP sales up by 53% on 2015 after deaths of many music greats throughout the year and a trend for returning to ‘tangible music’: Sales of vinyl in 2016 reached a 25-year high as consumers young and old have once again embraced physical formats of music. More than 3.2m LPs were sold last year, a rise of 53% on last year and the highest number since 1991 when Simply Red’s Stars was the bestselling album. This was also the first year that spending on vinyl outstripped that spent on digital downloads. The deaths of some music world giants was a key driver in vinyl sales, as people invested in records as a mementos. After David Bowie’s death he became the bestselling vinyl artist of 2016, with five albums posthumously featuring in the top 30.
Berlin’s much-loved Record Loft set to close: Berlin record shop The Record Loft looks set to close after news emerged that its “lease has been terminated.” Posting on Facebook, owner Christian Pannenborg wrote: “Its [sic] a tough thing for me to write and I am crying as I write this but the landlord has cancelled our lease for the Record Loft and it doesnt [sic] look like he can change his mind.”
Vinyl hunters: A new record store is coming to south Minneapolis: Solid State is a new record store opening up this week in south Minneapolis. Co-owners Phil and Hannah Borreson told GoMN it is much more than just another shop for vinyl. In addition to selling vinyl records, cassettes, DVDs, video games and equipment, Solid State will sell original handbags, jewelry, and home goods by Hannah. Other local artists with wares in the shop include Nicole Pfeifer (handmade pendants) and Cassandra Leroy (music-inspired paintings).
Macomb’s last record store prepares to close: After weathering controversy and major changes to the music industry, Macomb’s last record store, Rock n Records, is saying its farewells. “We’re the last one,” owner Catherine Gall said of the other music stores which have closed in recent years. She listed two of them off: Capitol Records, The Phoenix. Bad Kitty Music also closed in 2014. Sweeping changes to the music industry in the form of digital music downloads, downturns in the greater and local economy, and increasing personal commitments have all taken their toll, she said.
Pure nostalgia: Valley resident opens ‘Tactile Records’ in antique mall: As the old saying goes, never judge a book by its cover — but when it comes to buying vinyl records, that rule might not apply, according to Cache Valley resident Dayne Teigeler. “You might buy a record strictly on the fact that the artwork is really cool and find something you really like,” Teigeler said, adding, “I’ve bought books based on covers, and sometimes I’ve been pleasantly surprised.” Teigeler hopes to get people to “thumb through” records, admire the artwork and buy some vinyl through his new venture — Tactile Records…
Belfast record shop Head faces closure after move to new store falls through: Belfast music store Head is to close in February after a deal to move to new, larger premises collapsed at the last minute. The chain arrived in Belfast six years ago and has been based at CastleCourt for three years. Bosses had planned to relocate to a two-storey outlet on Royal Avenue three times bigger than the existing branch. But without premises the business will be forced to close in February, despite strong sales.
New Bedford is home to new record shop: Tucked in a 300-square foot storefront in the revitalizing downtown of the Whaling City, Purchase Street Records seems to be the nostalgic throwback that people who love music have been looking for. Roger Chouinard opened the store less than two weeks ago. “I have grandmothers that come in here,” he said. “I have Soul stuff, I have Punk Rock kids that come in here. I’m also making sure I have stuff for everybody.” Roger’s was bitten by the Rock and Roll bug as a kid. He played drums, taking after his uncle, who was in Billy Squier’s band.
Stoke Newington record store Lucky Seven set to close: The most distinctive shop in Stoke Newington Church Street has become the latest to face closure over soaring rents. Record store Lucky Seven stands out like a sore thumb among the coffee shops and restaurants in the trendy shopping street. It has a bright red, yellow and blue shop front and once that’s drawn you in there’s a ramshackle charm that could keep you crate-digging for hours. But like many of his neighbours owner Jason Gore is struggling to survive and, with a heavy heart, he put the shop up for sale late this year, ahead of another expected rent hike.
The Griot, a vinyl-centric bar in Midtown, officially opens today: Only in Detroit (or maybe Japan) could a vinyl-oriented jazz bar actually be a wholly awesome thing, and not some hipster nonsense. The Griot Music Lounge officially opens today at 4 p.m. Looks like their liquor license came though. It’s located at 66 E. Forest, Detroit — around the corner from the N’Namdi, just a block or so away from MOCAD. John Taylor, the man behind the venture, is a behind-the-scenes kind of guy who’s had a lot to do with many of your favorite records in the last decade-plus in Detroit. If you regularly visit local record stores, you’ve undoubtedly seen him carrying a large stack of records with him up to the register.
The age of vinyl dies in Superior: It’s entirely possible the alleged resurgence of vinyl has been overstated. Perfect Duluth Day reported today that The Vinyl Cave in Superior, Wis., is closing at the end of the year. “It costs me money to be part of this now,” owner Tom Johnson, who opened the store after retiring from the railroad a few years ago, tells PDD. “Let’s face it, we’re selling old records to people in Duluth and Superior. It’s not like we’re in New York or L.A. or Chicago or even Minneapolis where there’s a lot of people and a lot of money. There’s just not enough people here to keep it going anymore.”
Morecambe shop proves vinyl is back and better than ever: The news that UK vinyl sales beat those from digital downloads for one week in November was met with sheer delight by record shop boss Paula Baker. Paula and her husband Mark opened their shop Vintage Vinyl in the West End two years ago. And the vinyl comeback has validated them taking the plunge, she says, because it shows people are starting to reject the “isolated experience” of downloading music. “When I take a vinyl record out of the sleeve and place it on the record player I’m connecting with it,” she says.
Deep Search Records Sinks In Five Points: Deep Search Records is closing its doors after four years of catering to the eclectic tastes of the area’s music aficionados…“I’m really sad to see it go. But, you know, it had a good run. I think it’s really hard in this area to have a business. Rent is just always going up,” she said. “So, I think we did really good for the time that we had and I’m hoping someone new will come in and like start a new record store similar to this in the coming years.”
