Vinyl sales to hit $5.2B in 2024, highest since 1990: Vinyl sales expected to reach $5.2 Billion in 2024, nearly double the amount made in the past three years. The popularity of vinyl records is on the rise, and artists are predicted to make a whopping $5.2 billion from vinyl sales in 2024, nearly double the amount made in the past three years. This surge in vinyl sales is due to a number of factors, including a growing appreciation for the sound quality of vinyl and a desire to support artists directly. Streaming services have made music more accessible than ever before, but they also pay artists very little money. Many artists struggle to make a living from streaming alone, and vinyl sales provide a much-needed source of income. In addition, vinyl records are seen as a more tangible way to support artists, as fans can physically own the music they love. The predicted rise in vinyl sales is good news for both artists and music lovers. For artists, it means a more sustainable way to make a living from their music. For music lovers, it means having access to high-quality music that they can cherish for years to come.
Delhi, IN | New Delhi record store Digging In India opens: Specialising in old Indian music and rare groove, the store plans to host listening sessions and workshops. Indian music archivist Nishant Mittal, who DJs as Digging In India, has opened a record shop in New Delhi. Named after his alias, the one-room store opened its doors on February 18th and is primarily stocked with Mittal’s vast personal collection. It includes Indian music of various genres and languages, including Bollywood, Tamil film soundtracks, disco, ghazals, qawwali, Hindustani classical, Carnatic and Bengali folk. A section of Indian spoken word, comedy and film dialogues is specially curated for sample heads and beatmakers. Rare groove records from Japan, the Middle East, Africa and Singapore are also available, plus rock, disco and pop. The store eventually plans to host intimate listening sessions and workshops, as well as artist meet and greets. “We want to promote vinyl culture and make vinyl more accessible and less intimidating for newcomers…”
Cambridge, WI | Strictly Discs to hold off on Record Store Day in Cambridge: The Strictly Discs location at 101 W. Main Street Cambridge will hold off on participating in Record Store Day (RSD) this April 20, according to owner Rick Stoner. Stoner, who acquired the company last fall and has been mostly working out of the Madison Strictly Discs location, has been making steady progress at establishing the Cambridge location with a projected opening in June. That June date is still set as an anticipated opening, which will fall in the same month as Make Music Day on June 21, in which Cambridge will participate with cities around the world who fill the streets with music. …Historically, RSD sees record stores organizing special sales or other sales incentives. Vinyl aficionados often treat the day like a music-focused Black Friday event, lining up outside stores from the early hours of the morning until opening in order to secure high-value items.
Winsford, UK | Call for community to help save record store after owner involved in crash: Owners of a record store and café are calling on the Winsford community to help save the high street shop. The Electric Church on Over Square had announced it was intending to close for good earlier this month. However, following a flood of support the store, it has managed to turn the tables and is continuing to open for business. This comes despite owner Jimi Ray Coppack and his wife being involved in a crash on Friday night (February 16), after a fox ran out in front of their car, which has been written off. Jimi and his wife were left ‘bruised and a bit shaken up’ after the collision, but now he is calling on their customers to help them save The Electric Church. He said: “We need the local community that has supported us so far to continue doing so and I hope the support that has been directed our way is a reflection of people’s appreciation of The Electric Church and not just because people thought we would be closing.
Riga, LV | Where to buy vinyl records in Riga: The resurgence of analogue audio formats is as defining of the last decade as vintage clothing or even urban gardening experiencing a revival. But is it just a trend driven by a bunch of cool kids trying to keep up with the latest fads? Or are more and more people seeking something ‘real’ outside the digital matrix, so to speak? Be that as it may, with many artists still refusing to publish their material on the top streaming platforms like Spotify or Tidal, the only way to get your hands on their music will be to visit a vinyl shop and browse through the crates for a unique souvenir from Riga. And luckily for you – Riga has plenty of places to visit if you’re into the analogue formats; it seems like here it never went out of style in the first place.
Lenco Announces L-3810 Direct Drive Turntable For Vinyl Fans And DJs: When it comes to direct drive turntables for DJs, the Technics SL1200 has been ruling the roost for half a century. The SL1200 is a great turntable but they don’t come cheap. If you want a direct drive turntable but don’t want to splash out a lot of cash, the new Lenco L-3810 might be just what you’re looking for. Described as a state-of-the-art direct drive turntable, the L-3810 is a blend of nostalgic vinyl warmth and the convenience of modern technology. …With its classic design echoing some of that Technics cool, the Lenco L-3810 has an Audio Technica 3600 Cartridge which produces a warm and rich sound while pulling out plenty of detail from those vinyl grooves. Using carefully selected components, the L-3810 features a removable headshell, direct drive mechanism, start and stop control, pitch control, anti-skating mechanism, mechanical arm-lift, aluminum platter, removable dust cover, plus a felt slip-mat.
Vinyl Packaging Awards 2024 Open For Nominations: Making Vinyl, the conference dedicated to all things vinyl, is seeking submissions for the 2024 Making Vinyl Packaging Awards. Graphic Designers, Art Directors, Photographers, Illustrators, Printing Companies, and Record Labels are all invited to showcase their creativity and innovation in vinyl record packaging. Entries for the 2024 Making Vinyl Packaging Awards will be accepted in categories including Best Album Cover Design, Best Gatefold Design, Best Limited Edition Packaging, and more. “We are excited to once again shine a spotlight on the incredible talent and creativity within the vinyl record industry,” said Bryan Ekus, co-founder of Making Vinyl. “The Making Vinyl Packaging Awards provide a platform for designers and labels to showcase their innovative packaging designs and celebrate the art of vinyl record presentation.”
Lost in Translation Gets Deluxe Double LP Vinyl Release; Marie Antoinette Documentary in the Works: It’s a good time to be a Sofia Coppola fan. Alongside last fall’s release of one of her finest films, Priscilla, we got an expansive book detailing her career. Now we have two new updates related to other peaks of the director’s career. …For something that will arrive a bit sooner, a deluxe double vinyl LP of the Lost in Translation soundtrack will be arriving on Record Store Day, April 20 this year, limited to 5,000 copies. Including music by Kevin Shields, Air, Death in Vegas, My Bloody Valentine, Squarepusher, and The Jesus and Mary Chain, it also features a bonus LP curated by original supervisor Brian Reitzell featuring tracks from the movie that didn’t show up on the original release, including cuts by Peaches, The Chemical Brothers, some key karaoke songs.
In defence of owning albums: Ironically, I began writing this article while streaming boygenius’ the record on Spotify. In the run-up to the Grammys, I have taken to listening to a fair few of the nominated records. Streaming unfamiliar albums makes it easy for me to dip my toes into new genres and artists and allows me to find my favourite nominees this year. I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy streaming’s convenience, and how incredibly easy it is to listen to such a wide variety of music, anywhere and anytime. Spotify definitely has its place. Despite this, I have found that streaming music frames an album differently for me. I plug in my headphones, open the Spotify app on my phone, and often go about my day with music absent-mindedly blasting in my ears – just because it’s convenient and just because it’s there. However, when I take the time and the dedicated decision to sit down and put a CD in my player, the experience of listening to an artist’s work is so much more intense, intimate, and enriching.
