St. Paul, MN | Vintage technology: In the age of AI, analog is having a renaissance. Technology keeps promising to do more. A growing number of consumers want it to do less. Even as artificial intelligence becomes more powerful and pervasive, Google search data show a 5,000% increase year over year in queries for “analog hobbies”—like knitting, water coloring or playing an instrument—and an 850% increase in searches for “offline living” relative to other prompts on the search engine. St. Paul, Minnesota-based Present Company is one in a growing set of entrepreneurs that are turning that desire into businesses built around vintage—phone-free gatherings and face-to-face connection.
Chicago, IL | Beverly Phono Mart celebrates grand reopening at new permanent location: A car crashing into their record store on New Year’s Day was the last thing Mallory McClaire and Chantala Kommanivanh expected. But the husband-and-wife team was determined not to let the accident end a business they had worked hard to build in the Beverly neighborhood. Nearly a year later, the owners of Beverly Phono Mart celebrated a new beginning with the grand opening of their permanent location at 1802 W. 103rd St. …Both proud Beverly residents, the couple wanted to create more than a place to buy music. They envisioned a neighborhood shop where people could stop in, browse, talk about their favorite artists and spend time with others who shared their interests.
Darlington, UK | Darlington Blacketts record shop closing its doors: An independent record shop in Darlington has closed its doors for the final time, after 30 years in the town. Blacketts Records and Entertainment at 75 Skinnergate had its final day trading on Saturday (November 7). The family-run business broke the news in a Facebook post. In a statement, they said: “We regret to say we’re closing down. Our last opening day will be the 7th November. “To say thank you for the amazing support from everyone throughout the years we’re doing our biggest sale yet with six different sales throughout the week.” The independent retailer described itself as having the most extensive range of old and new music available. It bought and sold vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays, alongside game consoles and games.
UK | Britons drive sales of radios, cassettes and CDs to cut screen time—report: A report by electronics brands Pure and TEAC said consumers wanted to enjoy music ‘without constant notifications and endless scrolling.’ British households are driving the “analogue revival” with demand for radios, vinyl, cassettes and CDs in an effort to cut screen time, figures suggest. A report by electronics brands Pure and TEAC said consumers appeared to be shifting towards wanting to enjoy music “without constant notifications and endless scrolling.” Some 52% of Gen Z—or those currently aged 14 to 29 years old—have created dedicated listening spaces at home, while almost a quarter (23%) actively put their phone out of reach when listening to music, a survey found.
Paris, FR | RA’s Dig Deep charity record fair heads to Paris: Danilo Plessow, Zaltan, Soyoon and DJ Sundae are among the artists playing the free two-day event, which will raise funds for War Child and Droit27. The next Dig Deep charity record fair will take place at Paris A-Side on November 13th and 14th, as part of RA’s 25th-anniversary programming. More than 150 artists, labels and distributors have donated around 3,000 records to the fundraiser, with contributions from the likes of Antinote, Delsin, Hemlock Recordings, PAN, Planet Mu, Sound Metaphors, Tresor and Wisdom Teeth. All proceeds from vinyl sales will go to War Child and French grassroots organisation Droit27. Dig Deep fundraisers have raised more than £35,000 for War Child.
Glasgow, UK | Brooke Combe to meet fans at Glasgow record store event: Scottish singer Brooke Combe is set to meet fans in Glasgow during a special live performance at a city record store. The singer will appear at Assai Records Glasgow on Saturday, February 13, 2027, for an intimate performance and meet-and-greet. The event will begin at 12pm, with album and e-ticket bundles due to go on sale at 10am on Friday, November 6. Announcing the event on Instagram, Assai Records Glasgow said: “Brooke Combe will be joining us for a live performance and meet & greet on Saturday 13th February 2027 at 12pm!
Hove, UK | First Press Choice Cuts pop up Record Store at ONAIR with 1btn: Select Record Dealers join us at ONAIR for a small and mighty event the first in a new series, with some of Brighton’s best. The first in a new series in partnership with the 1btn crew, First Press Choice Cuts will be popping up with a select line up of Record Dealers sharing their top drawer records for one night only, set in one of Brighton’s best sounding bars. We’re proud to present crates from David Loja, Ricardo’s Flying Teapot, Balearic Mike and Hive Mind Records—soundtracked by rising 1btn star DJ Cal.
Las Vegas, NV | Las Vegas tattoo shop turns old records into art for homeless services: Studio 21 Tattoo is turning old vinyl records into art for a good cause next Saturday, hosting its annual Vino & Vinyl Art Show from 6 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 14. Every dollar raised through the night’s digital silent auction will go to HELP of Southern Nevada, a local nonprofit that connects Southern Nevadans with housing, training and other support services. The event invites artists from across the country to transform blank vinyl records into one-of-a-kind painted and designed pieces, which are then sold through an online auction with bidding starting at $50. Because all the bidding happens digitally, the outlet notes that collectors and art fans do not need to be in Las Vegas to take part—anyone can bid from wherever they are.
What was inside David Bowie’s record collection? Everyone, at some point, digs deep for inspiration. Even David Bowie. And when the Thin White Duke needed a musical boost, he turned to black vinyl. According to the recently published “Music Lover: The Inside Story of David Bowie’s Record Collection,” Bowie’s resources were deep and varied. Albums ran the gamut from soul king Bobby Womack to glam rockers Mott the Hoople and rapper Kendrick Lamar. Sometimes, Bowie’s earworms of the moment were off-the-wall. “There was a Polish folk ballet album [‘Helokanie’] that he basically rearranged and made up words to,” co-author Geoff MacCormack, a lifelong friend of Bowie, recalled to The Post.
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