Physical music sales actually went up in 2021: In what is perhaps an unexpected twist for many in the music biz, sales of physical music were actually up, in what was otherwise a fairly challenging year for the industry. It may be hard for skeptics to believe, but physical albums were up a robust 37.5 percent compared to this time last year, from almost 28 million units to over 38 million units. Twice a year, the good folks at MRC Data, which owns Billboard Magazine, publish a report on how the record industry is doing. And it’s well-known by now that the music industry at large has been growing at double-digit rates for at least the past five years due to the rapid growth of streaming adoption. Today, I want to talk about what they are saying specifically about how physical media is doing and how albums are doing for the first six months of 2021. Why do I want to talk about physical and albums? Well, for one, I run a physical media manufacturing company, so it is a topic near and dear to my heart. But, more importantly, we know that for monetizing our music, physical media remains one of the best ways to go, in addition to concert tickets and merch sales. And for physical media to sell, you need to put out albums.
Boise, ID | Boise’s Record Exchange to transition to new owners after 44 years: The Record Exchange used to end its ads on the radio with a simple promise: The Record Exchange… As long as there’s music. For the last 43 years, the store stood at the corner of 11th St. and Idaho St. in Boise, owned by Michael Bunnell and later partner Jill Sevy. From the namesake records to tapes to compact discs – even an expansion for a time to West Boise and more… the Record Exchange has served the music needs of Boiseans. Maybe not for as long as music has been around… but long enough that anyone who purchased their favorite tune on physical media in Boise can remember at this point. Music is still going strong — and so is the Record Exchange. Now, with new owners. Starting Wednesday, Exchange employees Catherine Merrick, Glenn Newkirk, and Chad Dryden will take over the store – along with Dryden’s wife, Erica.
Mondo Celebrates 10 Years of Music With Ultra-Rare ‘Full Metal Jacket’ Vinyl Release: Mondo is known for producing the rare and the extraordinary. From T-shirts to limited-edition movie prints to remastered vinyl movie soundtracks, there is no facet of nostalgia or fandom this brand hasn’t investigated in the hopes of creating something truly unique. In fact, the ravenous demand for even more elaborate and secretive artistic collaborations inspired the several-day celebration MondoCon back in 2015. And Tuesday marks another Mondo milestone, Mondo Music and Death Waltz Recording Company are celebrating 10 years of creating music with a 10-week celebration that will include new music, book releases, retrospectives and other yet-to-be-announced surprises. The first surprise is this vinyl release from Stanley Kubrick’s war drama “Full Metal Jacket.” The packages design was created by artist Alan Hynes. Tracks includes iconic songs from Nancy Sinatra, The Trashmen and The Dixie Cups, along with the brooding score from Abigail Mead (Kubrick’s daughter Vivian), which was controversially barred from Academy Award nominations back in 1988.
Radiohead Reissuing ‘Kid A,’ ‘Amnesiac’ With Previously Unreleased Music: Radiohead have finally detailed their upcoming reissue focusing on the sessions that birthed the band’s dual masterpieces, 2000’s Kid A and 2001’s Amnesiac. Kid A Mnesia — which celebrates the 20th/21st anniversary of the two albums — arrives November 5th via XL Recording. Like the stocked OK Computer 20th anniversary reissue OKNOTOK, Kid A Mnesia includes the original two LPs — Kid A, Rolling Stone’s Number One album of the 2000s, and Amnesiac — as well as a third disc, dubbed Kid Amnesiae, that features outtakes, alternate versions and unreleased music from the albums’ fruitful studio sessions. Radiohead shared one of Kid Amnesiae’s more tantalizing selection Tuesday, the never-before-heard outtake “If You Say the Word,” previously known amongst fans as the fabled “C Minor Song” that guitarist Ed O’Brien wrote about in his Kid A-era online production journals…
10 Best Movies Like High Fidelity: From romantic comedies with flawed protagonists to movies jam-packed with music, these are 10 great movies to watch if you like High Fidelity. Adapted from Nick Hornby’s novel of the same name but translated from London to Chicago, High Fidelity features Jack Black’s breakout role and several other hilarious performances. The movie has a great soundtrack, tons of obscure music references, fourth-wall breaks, romantic moments, and scenes about friendship. Yet this 2000 Stephen Frears film isn’t the only movie to combine romance with great music. From the lovestruck teens in Empire Records to the cynical adults in This is 40, these films share High Fidelity’s expert blend of comedy and drama.
