Long Beach, CA | ‘It’s worth it all, baby!’: Cardi B’s meet-and-greet defies Long Beach heat. It was a particularly busy Thursday morning for the Bixby Knolls neighborhood of Long Beach. The area, which is home to an array of independently owned businesses and small restaurants, both of which boast unique facades from storefront to storefront, saw hundreds of eager fans start lining up outside its doors as early as 8 a.m. Many crowded around one store in particular: Fingerprints Music, which only recently began to call Bixby Knolls its home—in April—after a roughly 15-year residency in downtown Long Beach. As crowd control barricades began springing up and artist security personnel lingered outside the famed vinyl record shop, passersby and neighbors alike began to ponder what could be going on. It was simple: Cardi B.
Around 500 Target stores will open at midnight on October 3, 2025, for the release of Taylor Swift’s new album: Here’s your guide to finding which Target stores near you will be open at midnight for the release of Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ on October 3, 2025. Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl, her much-anticipated 12th studio album, will be released on Friday, October 3, 2025. Swift is offering many different options for fans to buy her album, including a Target-exclusive vinyl and three Target-exclusive CDs. In a move that’s creating further excitement, Target announced that participating stores across the United States will stay open past its regular closing hours for the midnight release on October 3. The easiest way to see whether your local Target will be open for the midnight release of Taylor Swift’s latest album is to check out The Life of a Showgirl Midnight Release Store Locator on Target’s official website.
Dundas, ON | ‘You only live once’: Revolution Records keeps the story spinning in Dundas: In an ever-growing digital age, when physical sales appeared to be trailing, COVID-19 and the years after the pandemic were a boon for Scott Bell. As row upon row of records surround Scott Bell in Revolution Records, he ponders the second time he takes the leap. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Revolution Records, Bell has opened a second record store, this time in Dundas. “You only live once, let’s give this a shot,” said Bell. YOLO, that’s the motto and this isn’t the first time Bell has invoked it in his life, just the latest since running his own store. “I was kind of getting a little bored,” said Bell. “I would come in for a couple hours, my employees and I would go over things, and I would grab my backpack, walk to Metro and grab a couple groceries—I just need another challenge in my life.”
Joliet, IL | Audiophil’s Records: Must-visit boutiques along Joliet’s Route 66. Fan-favorite shopping spots worth a slight detour. Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift, or just to stretch your legs while traveling along Route 66, be sure to plan a visit to Joliet’s exciting and eclectic selection of mom and pop shops! All located just a few miles off The Mother Road, you’ll be sure to find some unique items to commemorate your trip along The First Hundred Miles. …Located in downtown Joliet, near the Rialto Square Theatre, you’ll find an independent record store, built on a family’s passion for music. At Audiophil’s you’ll be greeted by friendly and knowledgeable clerks who can help you find the vinyl you’ve been hunting for, or even help you discover a few new favorite records. Flip through boxes of diligently organized LPs, 45s and cassettes and sample your purchases at the in-shop stereo before settling on your purchases.
Southampton, UK | Indie band The Subways set to play at Vinilo record store: A high-energy indie rock band will play in Southampton on their upcoming UK record store tour. The Subways will perform at Vinilo on October 25 as part of a tour supporting their new compilation album When I’m With You, which releases October 17. Billy Lunn, guitarist and vocalist, said: “The power of music: whilst away on tour and still grieving the sudden passing of a best friend, my then-love dumped me via text message. “‘I Need to Feel You Closer’ is one of those songs, and it allowed me to get a sense of the loss and yearning I was experiencing. “I hope it offers solace to others who feel similar.” The compilation features classics such as Oh Yeah and Rock & Roll Queen alongside newer tracks like You Kill My Cool.
Waikato, NZ | A life with a vinyl soundtrack: Kerry Kostanich, 1951-2025. In his last weeks Kerry Kostanich could be seen on occasion down Racquet Lane, off Hamilton’s Barton St, at the vintage shop Fossick. He was a loyal and consistent patron of the business since it had first opened in August, 2023, paying particular attention to its large vinyl collection. Kerry knew vinyl. He was a pioneer of second hand record selling in Hamilton, operating on Victoria St in the 1980s and 1990s. He did as much as anyone in the city to educate others on the nuances of popular—and not so popular—music, particularly university students curious for a different, earthier, impassioned form of schooling. Kerry could be relied upon for knowledge and definite opinions. He was much more than a conventional retailer. He believed in what he was doing and his enthusiasm for his wares was highly infectious.
Dallas/Ft.Worth, TX | Vinyl Record Show of Dallas/Ft.Worth: Saturday, October 18th. Find the Music You Love and the Memories It Holds at the Vinyl Record Show of Dallas/Ft. Worth! Step into a world of nostalgia and discovery at the Grapevine Convention Center, where vinyl enthusiasts gather to celebrate the timeless charm of analog sound. With over 50 vendors from Texas and surrounding states, you’ll find an incredible selection spread across 100 tables. What Awaits You: Vinyl LP Records: Tens of thousands, from budget-friendly $1.00 LPs to rare collectibles worth hundreds of dollars. There’s something for every music lover. More Treasures: Dig through a variety of music memorabilia, 45’s, CDs, T-shirts, posters, cassettes, and even a few 78’s. Exciting Door Prizes: Every attendee has a chance to win a free record, a cool T-shirt, or even tickets to future shows!
Winnipeg, CA | Ape for tapes: Analogue audio format the latest to undergo a digital-age revival. Swifties are going to want to familiarize themselves with a rewind button. Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, comes out on Oct. 3. In addition to vinyl and compact disc versions, the American singer’s 12th studio release will also be available as an audio cassette, a once-popular music format that largely fell out of favour, but has lately been enjoying a bit of a rebirth. Introduced in 1963, two-sided cassette tapes reached their zenith in the mid-1980s, when they began outselling their vinyl counterparts. In 1990, close to 500 million pre-recorded music cassettes were sold in North America alone. Compact discs and later, MP3 players, sounded their death knell. By 2010, annual sales had dwindled to 30,000. Just when it seemed as if consumers would be hitting “eject” permanently, cassette tapes started to stage a comeback.
IN | On the record: India’s growing love for vinyl cafes and bars. The trend of listening to music on vinyl paired with cocktails, coffee, and conversations is taking over metro cities. Picture this: Sipping coffee as a vinyl plays tunes softly on a record player in the corner. This nostalgic image has captured the fancy of Gen Z across the country, with over 1 million posts tagged #vinylbars on Instagram alone. New vinyl bars are opening in metro cities pan-India, but that’s not the only pull. The high-quality music, often playing on large-scale sound systems from vinyl records in the background, is being paired with specially crafted drinks. This concept dates back to the 1950s, when the Japanese came up with post-World War II jazz kissa. To meet the post-war interest in music and experiences, such spaces cropped up everywhere. Now, similar cafes are bringing the nostalgia for vinyl back to India while embracing the slow life and authentic tunes over computerised, tech-driven sounds.
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