UK | As overall vinyl market growth bounces back, Rough Trade forecasts ‘busiest ever quarter’ in Q4: Vinyl growth has returned after the Q2 wobble. According to data from the BPI, the overall vinyl market was up 10.7% year-on-year in Q3 at 1,498,693 units. Meanwhile, for the year to date, vinyl sales are up 7.4% at 4,733,937. It means that a total well above seven million units is in sight for 2025. Big sellers from UK acts on vinyl in 2025 include Sam Fender’s People Watching, Wet Leg’s Moisturizer, Pulp’s More and Wolf Alice’s The Clearing. The positive Q3 result follows a dip in the second quarter when vinyl sales declined by 2.8% year-on-year despite Record Store Day falling within that three-month period. …For Rough Trade, vinyl sales have been consistently strong—ahead of the market—with the independent chain also reporting its best ever overall Q3 result.
Dungannon, UK | Vinyl boom is ‘lifeline’ says music shop owner: A music shop owner has said the surge in people buying physical-format music like vinyl has a been “lifeline.” Raymond Stewart, of Stewart’s Music Shop in Dungannon in County Tyrone, said they had “thrown out our LP stands” only to have to search for them again, when demand started to rocket. Twenty years ago, telling someone you had just bought a vinyl record might have prompted a raised eyebrow, and a decade later, the same might have been the case for a CD. But a revival of physical-format music has seen sales reach their highest levels in 30 years. In 2024 the number of independents hit a 10-year high in the UK, at the same time that the total number of shops selling music—such as record stores chains and supermarkets—fell. This has contributed to a renaissance for another part of the music business which was on the decline just a few years ago—independent record shops.
Indianapolis, IN | Indy CD & Vinyl to host re-opening, showcase new expansion into former Landsharks location: An independent record store in Broad Ripple will officially begin a new chapter in its 20+ year history starting in mid-October following a violent incident that occurred in a nearby bar in March 2024. According to a news release, Indy CD & Vinyl will host a grand re-opening weekend on Oct. 18-19 at its location on Broad Ripple Avenue. The re-opening will also include the unveiling of “The 808,” an all-ages community stage and event stage located next door at 808 Broad Ripple Ave. This free event will consist of live music, DJs, store specials and tours of the new “The 808” space, the release said. “This is more than a re-opening—it’s a rebirth,” the release said. “Join Indy CD & Vinyl and the Broad Ripple community in celebrating a new era for music, youth programming and local engagement.”
Rochester, NY | Record Archive: Two Rochester businesses added to NY’s Historic Registry. Lipman’s Kosher Market in Brighton and Record Archive in Rochester have been named to the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry. …Record Archive began in 1975, when Richard Storms began selling records from a booth at flea markets. Soon after he began leasing space inside Village Green bookstore at 766 Monroe Ave before opening his own store at 1388 Mt. Hope Ave. in 1980. …Record Archive was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in April. “We started Sunday, Sept. 16, 1975, with four tables of records and a sign,” Richard Storms said. “This store is kind of a dream. I’m a believer that a business’s name should be its mission statement and Record Archive is our mission statement and it was from the very beginning.”
Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota fans get first access to new All-American Rejects album: Record stores have become a popular destination for both music fans and the artists who make it, as vinyl continues to thrive as a collector’s dream and a refreshing alternative to streaming. One Minnesota record store is about to host a rare moment for fans. The All-American Rejects are making a special appearance in Minneapolis ahead of their opening act slot for the Jonas Brothers’ JONAS20 Greetings From Your Hometown Tour at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul this Friday. Before they hit the stage, the All-American Rejects will stop by the legendary Electric Fetus record store in Minneapolis on October 10 at 1 p.m. Only 150 fans will be allowed in, and entry requires a pre-order of the band’s new album, Sandbox. Fans are limited to two copies of the album, which won’t officially release until next year.
Nashville, TN | An orange door in Nashville is sending Taylor Swift fans shimmying to this record store: A mysterious orange door that appeared in Berlin has now popped up in Nashville and it’s connecting Swifties across the globe to unlock a video hidden behind. The rollout started Saturday morning. Taylor Swift’s team collaborated with Google. Users who searched her name saw a burning heart emoji appear with the clue: “12 cities. 12 doors. 1 video to unlock.” By clicking the emoji, the Google search results shattered like pieces of a mirror and a shimmery “N” floated down from the top of the screen. With each subsequent click, orange and mint green letters fell into 12 places. Fans were left to unscramble the letters into 12 cities: Berlin, Barcelona, Paris, Milan, London, Melbourne, Santa Monica, New York, Nashville, Chicago, Beverly Grove and Las Vegas. That’s when the first orange door appeared in Berlin.
North Lawndale, IL | North Lawndale’s Only Record Store Blends Global Music Deep Cuts With American Classics: Discos Calidad has roughly 10,000 records for sale and has become a premier destination for Latin music. Looking through the shelves of Discos Calidad in North Lawndale, one can find rare Latin albums such as “Como Amigos” by Alin Y Su Grupo Markahuasi, Los Angeles Azules’ “Los Principes de Mexico” and even “Eartha Kitt Goes Latin.” Some new albums, like “El Preferido” by Sunny & The Sunliners, just made it to streaming platforms last year. Others, like “Aires del Mar” by Orquesta Marina de Guerra Dominicana, aren’t available on streaming platforms at all. North Lawndale’s only record store, Discos Calidad has not only become a premier destination for Latin music records—it has also become a West Side community hub. Discos Calidad—Spanish for quality records—opened two years ago at 1877 S. Kedzie Ave.
UK | Fatboy Slim’s legendary record box to be sold as artwork: A new artwork has captured the essence of decades spent on dancefloors worldwide. Titled Norman’s Record Box, the piece is a collaboration between photographic artist Mark Vessey and legendary DJ and producer Fatboy Slim, real name Norman Cook. It features an intimate portrait of Cook’s well-travelled vinyl record box, now reimagined as a striking visual artwork. Cook said: “The significance of what Mark does with objects like this is he makes the significance of seemingly everyday objects by photographing them so beautifully and elevating them and putting them on a pedestal and in a frame. “He sort of says, this is more than just a bunch of old magazines. This is history here. This is more than just somebody’s old records. This is history and their culture and their art. He recognises beauty in the flawed nature of our old possessions.”
Led Zeppelin’s ‘Trampled Underfoot’ Single Makes Comeback for Record Store Day on Black Friday: A classic returns this Black Friday for Record Store Day (RSD), an event that celebrates independent record stores and music. Led Zeppelin’s 1975 promo single, “Trampled Underfoot,” will hit record… A classic returns this Black Friday for Record Store Day (RSD), an event that celebrates independent record stores and music. Led Zeppelin’s 1975 promo single, “Trampled Underfoot,” will hit record stores on November 28. Only 6,100 copies will reach stores worldwide. A replica of the 1975 UK Promo single is also available. This special 7-inch vinyl pairs the title track with “Black Country Woman” on its B-side. The RSD UK website stated, “Both tracks use the Physical Graffiti 2015 remastered album audio, which was produced by Jimmy Page for the original album reissue 10 years ago. Lacquers were cut at Metropolis Studios in London.” The release news had a bumpy start…
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