Duluth, MN | Round Here Records sells vinyl in Duluth and online: …Vinyl has made a comeback in more recent years, with plenty of artists releasing new material on it, as well as online, and still on compact discs. Some say the sound is better on vinyl, that it can be more full sounding. Others, even some audiophiles that I know, claim it’s trash, but it’s okay to be wrong. I personally appreciate vinyl, though admittedly I’m between record players at the time. My last one wasn’t the best quality and I haven’t sprung for a decent player quite yet, as a place to put it and the speakers to back it up is something I need to make the space for. While I might not have the player currently, I still purchase actual vinyl albums to help further my collection with new music that is released and also classics. If you are in the market for music on vinyl, you might want to check out Round Here Records. Not only can you shop for vinyl with them online, they on the regular have pop-up shop days in the Twin Ports area. They also support local music, which makes them even better.
Lansing, MI | Lansing record store has increased sales amidst nationwide trend: Vinyl record sales are up in 2021 — and one Lansing record shop has been feeling the impact. In its 2021 half-year report, the Media Rating Council said vinyl record sales in the United States are up 108.2% from the half-year total in 2020. The Media Rating Council is a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing media analysis and data. In 2021, 19.2 million vinyl units were sold at the half-year mark, while at the same point in 2020, 9.2 million units were sold. Heather Frarey, who owns The Record Lounge in REO Town, said the overall trend in vinyl record sales is noticeable in her store. “We’re up, big time,” said Frary, who originally opened her story in East Lansing before moving to the REO Town Marketplace, 1027 S Washington Ave., in 2017. “I came back in June of last year after COVID because we were closed for four months. After that, that’s when things blew up a bit. …Fridays and Saturdays are hopping pretty good in here. We are busy all day.”
Loveland, CO | Sad music to the ears: Loveland’s only music store is closing up: Fans of vinyl and vintage audio equipment in the Loveland area are singing sad songs with the news that Downtown Sound is closing its doors. Sitting on the east side of 4th Street in Downtown Loveland, Downtown Sound had a perfect location for what they did. The location, off from the main hustle and bustle of downtown, was kind of an ‘odd’ spot; but then, ‘record stores’ are kind of odd themselves, these days. I’d heard that Downtown Sound is closing from friends, who have frequented the shop hundreds of times, so I reached out to the store via Facebook on Nov 1, 2021: “Hi Dave. Rogan decided not to continue DTS [Downtown Sound.] Since we still own the store we are deciding what to do now. Veronica and Ed Roth.” ‘Rogan’ refers to Rogan Magyar, who has owned Downtown Sound for over two years, after purchasing the existing business in 2019. He had been the owner of Kepstone Music, which was in the Orchard Shopping Center; he moved Kepstone into Downtown Sound, and started providing not just vinyl records, but also giving music lessons.
Wolverhampton, UK | End of an era as Wolverhampton record shop prepares to close after more than 50 years: The end of an era is coming for a city record store as it prepares to close its doors. Oldies Unlimited has been a popular haunt for record buyers in Wolverhampton since the 1960s, having been known as a popular spot for good quality records and having hosted signings with bands such as Magnum. However, it will close the doors of its Darlington Street shop permanently on November 30 and move online. Owner Simon Malpas said the decision to close had been a difficult one, but said a number of factors had made his mind up about closing the shop. He said: “I made the decision a few weeks ago and I’ve been a bit up and down with it, but I’ve found recent circumstances have made the decision easier to make for me. One has been the change of the roads to a one-way system, meaning less buses going past the shop, while Covid has really hit us after being closed for so long.”
Cleveland, OH | Cleveland shop continues the ‘Record Revolution’ After more than 50 years, the beat goes on for one northeast Ohio record store. Record Revolution in Cleveland Heights is now one of the longest operating independent record stores in the country. Their doors opened in 1967 and while the size of the store and the artists inside have changed, sharing the love for vintage vinyl has always been a constant. “I’m very proud to be able to continue the legacy of the store, that we’re still here,” said Rob Love, the owner. “That thousands of record stores over the years, especially in the late 90s and early 2000s, shut their doors and we were lucky enough to be able to weather that storm.” Record Revolution sells album reissues, new releases and trade-ins of all genres. The store has thousands of musical albums on its shelves. “I just loved watching the record go around and just listening to the music,” said Love, of his lifelong love of music.
Christchurch, NZ | Herb’s Mobile Record store hits the road: Former Christchurch record shop owner Benjamin James has hit the road to test his theory that going mobile is the new way to go. James is no beginner when it comes to records – he owned Evil Genius in Christchurch and DeathRay record stores, but this is his first time on the road. The new venture, ‘Herb’s Mobile Record store’, could be rolling up to a car park near you over summer. The bright blue converted van works like any other store, except it goes where social media demands. “I generally just pull up. If it’s not level, I level it because you get pretty seasick on there,” James said. “I buy and I sell for the store, I’ve been DJing for years under the name DJ Electica, and I’m just letting people on Facebook kinda control where I go.” For his first week of business Herb’s hit Parrotdog Brewery in Wellington’s Lyall Bay, as well as the Wellington suburbs of Newtown and Eastbourne.
Dover, NJ | Coffee Lounge and Vinyl Record Store Envisioned for Dover: Changes could be in store for a Morris County business that sells records out of an old warehouse along Route 15. Factory Records submitted an application to the Dover Board of Adjustment that calls for allowing around 1,634 square feet of their space at 158 West Clinton Street to be used as a coffee shop, lounge, and restaurant with some live entertainment, according to a public notice from the company’s legal counsel. Close to 3,370 square feet would be used to sell everything from vinyl records and DVDs to musical instruments, the notice says. In order to proceed with these plans, Factory Records is listed as seeking preliminary and final site plan approval with variances for use, parking signage, and restrooms.
Bath, UK | On board The Record Deck: The UK’s only floating record shop: The life aquatic? A floating record shop, called The Record Deck, has docked in Bath. Owner Luke Gifford launched The Record Deck in 2014, having become weary of his college librarian job, and the rapidly rising costs of London rent. The Record Deck travels across the UK selling records from canals and rivers — but only on “dry weekends”, of course. Seven years since first putting out, The Record Deck continues to sail around the UK selling — and buying — old records. While the shop stocks classics from the likes of ABBA, The Rolling Stones, and Simon & Garfunkel, Gifford also targets collectors with niche sub-genres including witch house and pirate metal — as he tells Long Live Vinyl. “I get most of my stock from the people I meet,” he says. “People like the idea of their records being redistributed around the country on a boat. They even say that; they’ll come to me because they want their records to end up in other places.”
Marshall, TX | Black Coffee Records hosts grand opening in Marshall: Black Coffee Records, the new record store located at 402 N Washington in downtown Marshall, hosted a grand opening with the Greater Marshall Chamber of Commerce on Friday. Over 40 community members, downtown business owners, city staff and council members all gathered at the record shop Friday to welcome owners Kip Hoops and Kevin Barnett. Guests even included two East Texas Baptist University students who skipped their 10 a.m. class to attend the grand opening. “We just have an amazing community support here,” Hoops said, “Ever since we showed up, I have been having to kick people out just so we can finish it.” Hoop’s wife Kim Hoops also opened a home décor store inside of the record shop called Marshall Knots and Fluid Arts, with a variety of homemade items available. Stacia Runnels, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the new business to downtown Marshall. “It is just so great to have you all down here in downtown Marshall,” Runnels said during the event. The store offers over 35,000 records and a wide range of music from oldies to the newest releases.
Cape Town, SA | The vinyl frontier: Records still big business in SA: It could be the crackling sound when the needle first gently kisses the record, or the silky soft sensation when your hands first touch the wax, DJs around are undecided about what they love most about spinning vinyl. Records first made an appearance in 1867 when a gentleman by the name of Emile Berliner patented the gramophone. It was to become the first vinyl record player. A lot has changed since then, with the advent of reel-to-reel machines, cassettes, CDs and USB memory sticks. Chuck music streaming into the mix, and DJs have it oh so easy these days. But vinyl have made a massive comeback. And here in Cape Town they are particularly sought-after. In fact, it is big business. Several marketplace sites and groups on social media exist for enthusiasts to buy, sell, swap, and even haggle for discounts on everything from 7 to 12-inch records, turntables and accessories.
Kalamazoo, MI | We’re Open: Satellite Records in Kalamazoo: In this digital age we can download or stream music with a simple click of a button on our devices. But for Satellite Records in Kalamazoo, they’re reminding us of simpler or nostalgic times with new records or hidden treasures found along the way. Satellite Records calls themselves Michigan’s record store for crate diggers. The term was coined many years ago when people would go searching for records. You certainly have lots to choose from in the store. Satellite Records has over 10,000 records, with about 25% of them being new. They buy, sell or trade used records from local people or go crate digging in hopes to find the next hidden musical gem. The store also says vinyl has sold out CD’s for the first time since the 1980s. They not only saw an uptick in interest over the pandemic, but also over the last couple of years. They survived the past 18 months largely on online sales, but now shoppers can come browse the vinyl in person more often.
