IE | Resurgence in vinyl sees revenues grow at Irish arm of Universal Music: Irish arm of the world’s largest record label welcomed continued growth in subscribers to legal streaming platforms and a continued resurgence in vinyl records. The Irish arm of the world’s largest record label has experienced a significant resurgence in the popularity of vinyl records, which it said was a key driver of revenue over the last 12 months. Recently-filed accounts from Universal Music Ireland Ltd show the company’s revenue rose marginally to €32.4m in the twelve months to December 2024, up from €31.7m in the previous year. …Speaking on its uptick in revenue, the company said it was underpinned by “continued positive growth in subscribers to legal music streaming services and also due to the significant resurgent growth in popularity of vinyl records.”
Newmarket, CA | Main Street store taps into returning passion for collecting vinyl records: ‘This would be a place where people can come and feel comfortable sitting down, talking music, listening to music, and not feel rushed out,’ says owner of Newmarket’s Wrong Way Records, set to open Nov. 15. There are still vinyls to unbox, stock to categorize and posters to put up at Ray Pelletier’s in-progress record shop on Main Street Newmarket. But sometimes, amid the chaos of boxes, crates and wires, the Newmarket resident stops in his tracks to hear the crackle and pop of an old record cut through. …After years of work for a local tech consulting group, the Montreal native decided it was time to pursue a passion he’s nurtured throughout his life and give back to the community he’s called home since 2008. To Pelletier, nothing matches the feeling of hearing a record that no one’s put on in decades reverberate in a room.
Peoria, IL | New record store combines vinyl with live music venue at Northwoods Mall: A new record store has opened at Northwoods Mall, combining vinyl sales with live music performances. Q-Tones Music opened on the lower level of Northwoods Mall. The store offers new and vintage vinyl records, turntables, speakers, and other audio accessories. The shop includes a listening station where customers can try albums before purchasing, and a Led Zeppelin-themed pinball machine. Owner Quentin Scherr designed part of the store as a small concert venue for local artists to perform weekly. “I’ve always been a fan of music and Peoria has always been known to be a very lively music scene, so I wanted to give a spot for generations to kind of come together and find their favorite music, and discover new local artists and give them a spot to perform,” Scherr said.
Bridport, UK | Clocktower Records to sell unique Ithaca record for charity: An ‘unbelievably rare’ vinyl record has made its way to a Bridport record store with hopes of raising £2,000 for charity. Clocktower Records is selling off a unique record from 70s psychedelic rock band Ithaca, the band’s 1972 LP A Game For All Who Knows—which was only pressed 99 times—making it somewhat of a ‘holy grail’ for record collectors. It follows on from the record’s discovery at a charity shop in east Devon. The fabled vinyl press was unearthed by volunteers at the Seaton and District Hospital League of Friends in August. After scanning through a box of records donated to them, one of the records stood out to Mark Ollier who was volunteering in the store. He said: “I came across this interesting record cover. I had no knowledge of the band—the folk/psychedelic early ’70s scene is not my speciality.”
Berkeley, CA | Amoeba Music celebrates Peanuts and Vince Guaraldi with Mendelson brothers: On Oct. 18, Berkeley’s Amoeba Music hosted a “Peanuts” listening party celebrating the 75th anniversary of the comic with special guests Jason and Sean Mendelson, the sons of “Peanuts” animation executive producer Lee Mendelson. This event came only a day after the release of The Peanuts Collection Vol. 1, an album including bonus tracks that were remastered and released by the Mendelson brothers. Amoeba joined more than 200 independent record stores hosting their own “Peanuts” listening parties nationwide from Oct. 17-19. The record store was one of the few select stores the Mendelson brothers—who are Bay Area natives—visited over the weekend. Originally created as a comic strip series by Charles M. Schulz in 1950 “Peanuts”—showcasing beloved characters such as Snoopy and Charlie Brown—later expanded to television and movie screens.
Pittsfield, MA | Book and Record Store Opens in Pittsfield: A new bookstore has filled a hole in the downtown area. Indie Readery and Records held its grand opening on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting at its location at 314 North St. Partners and now co-owners Emma and Laurie Lenski decided to open the bookstore after seeing a need for one in the area. It also offers records and gifts. “I mean, there was totally a void on North Street for a bookstore. Like, you know, there’s a lot in South County, some in North County, and then Barnes and Noble, which is almost impossible to get to. And so, yeah, we saw a need in the community. We were like, let’s do it, let’s open a bookstore,” Laurie said. The store also aims to serve as a community hub with inclusive and social justice books and gifts. “We have a social justice lens for the store and a lot of progressive gifts…”
Bellaire, TX | Turning tables: Vinyl Record Club celebrates officer’s birthday with a British theme. The Vinyl Record Club celebrated sophomore and treasurer Connie Krane’s birthday on Oct. 8 with a presentation about the British Invasion in music. “I felt very grateful,” Krane said. “So many people came to tell me happy birthday.” Krane chose the British theme to reflect her British heritage. She was born in Cambridge, England, and lived there until she was 5 years old. “England has had such a big influence in music,” Krane said. “It’s something that can really be celebrated.” The meeting consisted of a slideshow about the British Invasion, which explained in detail the extreme popularity of bands like the Beatles and also provided information about the “Battle of Britpop” between bands Oasis and Blur. Vice president and sophomore Violet Bradley is the club’s vice president, and she helped Krane choose the theme for the meeting.
Newcastle, AU | Hunter Record Fair returns to Newcastle for a massive day of crate digging: Vinyl lovers, mark your calendars, the Hunter Record Fair is back in Newcastle, bringing a treasure trove of musical nostalgia to Kotara High School. Running from 9am to 3pm, this much-loved community event promises thousands of vinyl records and CDs for collectors and music fans alike. With both new and second-hand items up for grabs, the Hunter Record Fair caters to every taste and budget. From bargain bins to premium collectibles, it’s the kind of event where a few hours flicking through crates can turn into a full-blown musical adventure. Some stallholders will offer EFTPOS, but seasoned vinyl shoppers know that cash is king when it comes to snagging those rare records. Beyond the music, the fair also gives back to the community. A portion of proceeds will support Kotara High School’s P&C Association, helping to fund student programs and initiatives. It’s a fitting way to celebrate music while making a difference locally.
Fargo, ND | Fargo Record Fair Gets Another Spin at Brewhalla: Music lovers and physical media collectors flocked to Brewhalla this weekend to get their hands on some antique vinyl. It was the Fargo Record Fair on October 25, and hundreds of people came through The Magic Factory looking for records and other music souvenirs. There were at least 30 separate vendors selling their items across 50 different tables. Event staff says there’s just something special about vinyl that still makes it a prized item for collectors after all these years. “It’s not just that you have a bigger piece of art to play with, but you physically have to put it down, set the needle down, listen, flip it over—so there’s a more interactive part of it,” said Dean Sime, record fair organizer.
Follow The Vinyl District on Facebook HERE, Instagram HERE, Threads HERE, Bluesky HERE, and X/Twitter HERE.
