CA | The successes and setbacks of the Canadian retail magnate who built his career on broken businesses: …Putman first attracted national attention in 2017 when he converted dozens of shuttered HMV Canada locations into Sunrise Records stores. HMV had launched in the country 31 years earlier, when Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” and Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” were topping the charts. At its peak, the chain was the country’s largest music retailer. But by the time that the “Despacito” remix from Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber landed on the hit list, the business had collapsed as customers started moving away from buying CDs and into streaming tunes on Spotify, Google Play, Apple Music and the like. HMV had been losing $100,000 a day. And, yet, in all of the carnage, Putman saw opportunity.
Edinburgh, UK | Edinburgh record shop moving to Waverley Market after 40 years: A record shop in Edinburgh is moving to new digs at Waverley Market following a £100,000 investment. Avalanche Records has sold vinyl albums, CDs, T-shirts and other music memorabilia in the city since November 1983. Now, the shop is upgrading its physical footprint following record-breaking sales in 2025, buoyed by high profile gigs across Edinburgh, including Chappell Roan, AC/DC and Oasis. Kevin Buckle, the owner of Avalanche Records, said: “This move marks a huge moment for us and Waverley Market, as we move into the biggest space the centre has available. Our continued growth shows there is still very much a love for physical music, as music lovers look to find new talent as well as listen to their favourite stars.”
Cornbow, UK | Record shop’s opening ‘incredibly successful’ in Cornbow: A record shop is delighted after its opening in Halesowen was “incredibly successful” and “beyond expectations.” Independent retailer Revolution Records opened its store in the Cornbow Shopping Centre on Saturday November 8. It has hailed the opening a huge success and has high hopes for the future. Jasdeep Pala, of Revolution Records said: “The opening went way beyond expectations, it was incredibly successful. “We expect this initial hype to quickly die down, but we’re sure that this business can flourish here. “The community is showing lots of excitement and support. It was hectic on the opening day, but all the stress of the quick move felt worth it.”
Charlottesville, VA | The Music Beat: In a digital world, this Hoo is loyal to vinyl. When it comes to setting records, Omonye Isi prefers classic vinyl. Isi first joined the University of Virginia’s staff as a clinical research coordinator in the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center in 2023. A year later, when she was admitted to a master’s degree program in public health, she stopped commuting from Richmond and moved to Charlottesville. Aside from being a big music lover, Isi is pursuing a master’s in public health and working at the UVA Cancer Center. She brought with her a collection of nearly 150 records that she holds dear. “…First of all, the sound is very different. There’s a grittiness to it. I also feel like, in this digital era, there’s still value in holding something tangible and going through the physical motion of placing and playing the record. It makes me feel more connected to the sound, if that makes sense, because these are going to move with me forever.”
Milton, DE | Beer and vinyl enthusiasts flock to Dogfish’s Analog A-Birthday: Dogfish Head in Milton is in the midst of celebrating its 30th year in business, meaning this year’s version of one of the company’s signature events was renamed Analog A-Birthday. Held at the company’s Milton brewery Nov. 8, the event typically named Analog A-Go-Go featured specialty made Dogfish beers and cocktails, vinyl record vendors, live music, food trucks and local artisans.
Maplewood, NJ | Vinyl is only part of the draw for fans at Maplewood Record Fair: The Woodland was recently packed with music enthusiasts for the Maplewood Record Fair, which offered all kinds of music related merchandise, including records, CDs, comic books, books, clothing, shoes, buttons and toys. Hosted by Charles Maggio and Jennifer Klein, the event happens twice a year. This was their 12th show, and it was bittersweet for Klein, as the senior volunteers were heading off to college. “We’re looking for the next generation of volunteers,” said Klein. Tim Lastfogel was one of the vendors. He has an Instagram page called Psychedelic Safari. He has all genres of music. “Punk, gothic, underground, weird stuff,” he said. Lastfogel has been doing record shows on occasion, on and off, for the past 35 years.
Stockport, UK | Stockport Vinyl Record Fair: This event is a must for all vinyl lovers, featuring traders selling vinyl records, CDs, books, and more. There is catering on site and the bar is also open. Entry is £1 per person, or £5 from 9am. The event runs from 10am-4pm on Sunday 23 November. The organisers gave the following description: “We’re rammed full with vinyl records, CDs, and associated memorabilia, with some new traders alongside our regulars. “You can park at the rear of the venue for £1 in the car park off Brentnall Street. “Oh, and there’s two convenient cash machines close by, at the petrol station and Co-op.”
Rhino Gives ‘The Very Best of Deee-Lite’ the Vinyl Treatment for the First Time for Record Store Day Black Friday: Originally released on CD in 1991, The Very Best of Deee-Lite arrives on vinyl for the first time, giving a focused recap of a group that treated dance music as a place to experiment. Issued as a Black Friday 2025 Record Store Day exclusive, the Rhino release compiles twenty tracks from their 1990–1994 run on two LPs pressed on purple and orange splatter vinyl. For a band that always leaned toward bold presentation, the wonderfully bright vinyl makes sense, but what stands out most here is how consistently they pushed their sound forward through the years.
Poughkeepsie, NY | Vinyl Variants Raise Questions about the Art of Music: On Oct. 3, Taylor Swift released her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” produced with longtime collaborators Max Martin and Shellback. The 12-track record explores the highs and lows of fame, love after heartbreak and show business, marking Swift’s first reunion with Martin since her 2017 album “Reputation.” Since her appearance and announcement on the football podcast “New Heights” hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce, anticipation towards the album was high. Now, “The Life of a Showgirl” is available in different vinyl variants, deluxe packages, exclusive bonus tracks and special artwork, offering listeners a range of new and collectible formats. Releasing several variants allows for Swift to not only boost sales but also help maintain the album’s position on the charts. Allowing listeners to access special demo recordings of songs, acoustic versions and a whole new photoshoot keeps fans engaged in a new presentation of the album.
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