Why vinyl records like Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ are protected from tariffs: …Vinyl records, CDs and cassettes were spared from the Trump administration’s late-August rollback of the “de minimis” exemption. The exemption, which had allowed packages valued at less than $800 to be imported without tariffs, was designed to simplify customs for low-cost imports and reduce fees for both consumers and small retailers. Trump’s rollback of the exemption allowed tariffs to take effect on such shipments—but not on physical music. A Cold War-era carveout known as the Berman Amendment to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act prevents presidents from regulating the flow of “informational materials,” a category that includes physical music, books and artwork. “If vinyl had gotten tariffed, you could have possibly seen the price of a record going up to $40 and $50,” Berklee College of Music professor Ralph Jaccodine told CNBC. “So, this is welcome news for people buying physical music.”
IE | Record stores see new Taylor Swift album as a ‘godsend.’ …The power of ‘Swiftonomics’—a term coined to reflect the massive fiscal boost the superstar’s concerts, marketing and sales give to local economies—is also giving a welcome boost to independent record store owners enjoying a revival of analogue and retro sales of vinyl and CDs, as well as merchandise. Brian Murray, co-owner of Elevation Music in Dublin’s George’s Street Arcade, said Swift has played a significant role in the revival of physical music sales. He told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘She’s played a part because she sells a lot of records. She brought out a lot of special editions of albums, which obviously helps sales.’ So far, her latest album has five vinyl variants, including the Portofino Orange Glitter pressing, the Summertime Spritz Pink Shimmer pressing and a number of limited-edition versions.
Macon, GA | Fresh Produce Records spins a bigger tune downtown: Vinyl, CD and cassette listeners who frequent downtown Macon’s Fresh Produce Records can now visit the music shop’s new storefront and browse an expanded selection of tunes. A fixture of downtown since it opened in 2013, the new storefront is located adjacent to the current shop on Cherry Street. The store was originally located on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard before it moved to Cherry in 2022. “We’ve grown consistently, and every time we run out of space, we just find a way to get more,” co-owner William Rutledge said. The new space includes records, Fresh Produce merchandise and a wall of beverage coolers. Rutledge said he plans to offer beer and wine in the future. The store’s expansion in August is just a stepping stone toward the curation of a much larger inventory, he said. “What we already have is impressive on an international level,” Rutledge said. “I’m trying to make it twice as big.”
St. Louis, MO | Tom ‘Papa’ Ray returns for new season of ‘Vintage Vinyl Roadshow.’ Tom “Papa” Ray has been in the music business for decades. Last year, the Vintage Vinyl founder took his love for vinyl records and put it on the small screen in a docuseries, “Papa Ray’s Vintage Vinyl Roadshow,” which airs on Nine PBS and other PBS member stations across the country. Season 2 of the program premieres at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Viewers can also stream it on pbs.org. The new season opens with a montage of record store patrons answering a simple question: “What was your first record?” Ray told St. Louis on the Air that the question takes people back to their earliest or most formative music experiences. “When you ask that question and you’re looking at the person, so very often you can see in their face the room of memory open,” he said.
Are Two Affordable Hi-Fi Brands Making the Ultimate Entry-Level Turntable System? The two hi-fi manufacturers want to give “listeners more ways to enjoy vinyl without compromise.” If you’re looking to build an entry-level turntable system, one of the best ways to do so is to get an integrated turntable (which has a built-in phono preamplifier) and a pair of powered speakers. It’s a simple setup and sounds way better than a true all-in-one turntable. In 2025, there are a lot of great integrated turntables (priced between $300 and $400) to choose from. The same is true with powered bookshelf speakers. However, pairing the two takes a little research and expertise, which can be time-consuming. Well, two well-known American audio companies are teaming up to make getting a great turntable-and-speaker combo even easier. That’s right, Audioengine and Crosley have announced a multi-year partnership that, according to the press release, promises to yield “co-developed hi-fi bundles and curated pairings” of Audioengine’s speakers and Crosley’s turntables.
Tiny Vinyl crams big sound and sustainability in a-4-inch collectible record: The vinyl revival has brought back the tactile joy of physical music, but it has also highlighted some persistent challenges around cost, storage, and environmental impact. Standard LPs can cost upward of $35, take up significant shelf space, and require substantial materials to produce, creating barriers for both casual fans and eco-conscious collectors. What makes Tiny Vinyl particularly compelling is how it addresses these issues while tapping into our natural love for miniature things. These 4-inch records offer a playful, sustainable alternative that makes vinyl collecting more accessible without sacrificing the authentic experience that makes records special in the first place. Each Tiny Vinyl holds one song per side, with up to 4 minutes of music that plays at 33 RPM on most manual turntables. You don’t need any special equipment, just make sure your tonearm can reach the center of the platter and disable auto-stop features.
This Affordable Turntable Can Breathe New Life Into Both Your Vinyl and CD Collections: Philips is returning to the hi-fi scene with the launch of two new products: a turntable and a pair of wireless active speakers. Both promise to be relatively affordable. The turntable, in particular, is quite interesting because it’s probably unlike any turntable you’ve seen before. Why? It plays physical media formats other than just vinyl. That’s right, the Philips Fidelio FT1 is more than just a turntable — it’s a CD player, too. Located on its front panel is a front-loading tray for your CDs. This way, you can use the same system to play both vinyl records and CDs (not at the same time, of course), allowing the Fidelio FT1 to cater to fans of both physical media formats. It’s probably not a turntable for purists of either format, but it’s still pretty cool.
Floetry’s ‘Floetic’ Gets Vinyl Reissue: The album, featuring hits like ‘Say Yes’ and ‘Getting Late,’ will officially be available on November 14. Floetic, the 2002 debut album from R&B duo Floetry, is getting reissued on vinyl. It marks the first time this album has ever been available on vinyl. Floetic will be available in two different formats: a standard black 2LP and a 2LP issued on dark rose vinyl, available via Interscope Records. Both options will be available officially on November 14, and are available for pre-order now. Containing the group’s biggest hit, “Say Yes,” Floetic was a hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom. “Floetic” and “Getting Late” were also hits. Also notable on the album is the demo of “Butterflies,” which was written for Michael Jackson and appears on his 2001 album Invincible. Floetic was nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Best Contemporary R&B Album, and individual nominations for the songs “Floetic” and “Say Yes.”
San Antonio, TX | Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Birthplace is Revitalized: San Antonio’s Gunter Hotel may be home to the most important hotel room in music history—and now that room is back. San Antonio, TX (September 24, 2025)—In 1936, during Thanksgiving week, a 25-year-old Delta blues musician from Mississippi recorded the first of three sessions in room 414 at the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio—recordings that would shape the future of rock ‘n’ roll. Nearly 90 years later, the hotel has reopened following a $57-million renovation that includes the addition of a recording studio and a 900-plus vinyl album library. Reimagined by firm DLR Group, according to an announcement from the hotel, the Gunter’s interiors celebrate the building’s Beaux-Arts roots while layering in bold, contemporary elements. Guest rooms feature updated layouts with modern bathrooms, mid-century-inspired fixtures and more. As a tribute to blues legend Robert Johnson, each room includes a record player and a copy of his first album, with a curated vinyl library available in the lobby. A Vinyl Ambassador is available for personal recommendations.
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