London, UK | Record store, bottle shop and cafe to open in North London this week: Your neighbourhood hangout. North London’s Holloway Road is getting a new record store, bottle shop and “neighbourhood hangout” this week. One Eighty One is kicking off with a launch party on December 12th, offering a free “welcome drink” for earlier arrivals and a roster of DJs playing from 6:30pm until 11pm. This spot is set to, with any luck, become a bit of a hub for London’s music lovers. The concept is it’s part bar, part record shop, part cafe and part bottle shop. A bit of everything, with its complexion changing as the day turns into the night. …As One Eighty One turns into a bar at night-time, it will serve cocktails, wine and craft beer. And on the record front it promises “an incredible hand picked selection of great records of all genres both old and new.”
Melbourne, AU | Melbourne Named Vinyl Capital Of The World: The findings were delivered via part one of a new research piece, ‘For The Record.’ In exciting news for Victorian music lovers, Melbourne has been named the vinyl capital of the world. For The Record, a new research piece commissioned by the Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO) and delivered by Ethan Holben and Audience Strategies, placed the state’s vinyl ecosystem under the microscope. Melbourne’s 5.9 record stores per 100,000 residents exceeded Tokyo (2.3), London (4.9), and Berlin (2.9). In addition to that stat, Victoria’s store count grew 18% since 2023, while national vinyl sales increased 5.6% to $44.5 million. However, in an indictment of the cost of living and the upkeep required to keep a record store afloat, no surveyed store owners described their ventures as financially strong.
Lemont, IL | Shop Local At B-Side Records: Learn a little about your local record store as we visit B-Side Records in Lemont Downtown. Records in Lemont Downtown. Why are records making a comeback? How should you start your own collection? Find out why is it important to shop local in Lemont this holiday season. Chris Lanuti and Tess Abbasi can’t wait to unlock Lemont for you. Subscribe for free on your favorite podcast player and never miss an episode! Lemont Unlocked is a podcast produced by The Broadcast Basement with Lemont Downtown—the beloved southeastern Chicago suburb formed by immigrants over 150 years ago. Today, Lemont Downtown has become a hub for small businesses, shares a rich culture within an engaged community, and is full of history and charm.
Los Angeles, CA | Sick City Records tries to ‘keep the music alive’ as potential closure looms: Just a few storefronts away from the now-vacant Button Mash, Sick City Records is on the brink of sharing the same fate. For nearly 20 years, the record shop has offered Echo Park a rocker-themed hodgepodge of rare vinyl, vintage band tees and dapper haircuts from its singular barber shop chair. But as rent continues to increase and fewer people stop by to browse its sonic selection or get a trim, Sick City Records is struggling to keep its doors open. “We’ve worked so hard for this. We’ve been doing this for 20 years. We have to fight to keep this place open — it’s what we love to do,” said Jesse Lopez, the record store’s co-owner and resident barber. Lopez and his business partner, Brian Flores, attribute their financial difficulties to an overall rough year.
Bristol, UK | Case Study: Inside Black Acre Records. As part of UK Music’s This Is Music report into the economic health of the sector, Bristol-based independent record label Black Acre Records shared a unique case study illustrating the running of an indie record company. …This Is Music revealed that the UK music industry contributed a record £8 billion to the economy in 2024, with exports revenue hitting a new high of £4.8 billion. However, while the £8 billion contribution made last year marked a record high, the rate of growth was down by more than half on 2023, meaning urgent action needs to be taken to address this significant drop. You can read more about the report here. You can read the Black Acre Records case study in full, in their own words…
LaSalle, BC | Vintage & Vinyl, keeping LaSalle groovy for 15 years: Everyone remembers their first. For Scott Woodall, owner of Vintage & Vinyl Records on Front Road in LaSalle, it was Canadian rockers Rush’s first album Fly by Night, bought in 1982 while he was in eighth grade at Sandwich public school. His collection grew through high school, inspired by Windsor’s 89-X radio station, laying the foundation for a lifelong passion. Vintage & Vinyl—housed in a 100-year-old converted farmhouse—has served the community for 15 years. The shop boasts an estimated 35,000 records, and if a title isn’t found among them, Scott’s extensive network can help track it down. “Scott has a great memory for people, stock, and what customers want,” says Julie Sando, who helps out on Sundays. The shop’s name reflects its roots: “Vintage” for the collectibles Scott’s father contributed, and “Vinyl” for Scott’s records.
South Bend, IN | South Bend Record Show wraps up final show: The South Bend Record Show made its way back to the Gillespie Center on Sunday, Dec. 7., for their final show of 2025. The Record Show is held six times a year and always provides a great spot for music lovers to get their hands on some gear, like vinyl’s, cassettes, and CDs. Chase Carter, one of the vendors, stated, “When you go to a venue like this, all of us are music fans, number one, and that’s kind of our mission is to, you know, encourage people to listen to certain artists. Maybe somebody you don’t know, you know, so maybe you like somebody, and we can have somebody that’s similar to who you like, and you can discover new things that way.” The Record Show will return in February of 2026.
Villa Park, IL | Vinyl+ Market at Lunar Brewing: Vinyl + Beer + Shopping comes together at the Vinyl+ Market at Lunar Brewing on Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 1pm to 6pm. This market is all about the music lovers, collectors, and curious crate-diggers who want a place to explore records while enjoying great beer in a laid-back atmosphere. This December, the Streetz Artz Alliance is bringing a full lineup of dedicated vinyl vendors to Lunar Brewing, along with artists and makers offering jewelry, ornaments, plants, art, and comics. Whether you are hunting for rare pressings, fresh finds, or unique handmade gifts, this event brings it all under one roof. Lunar Brewing is a cozy neighborhood bar in Villa Park known for its welcoming vibe, Malort, its own house beers, a full bar, and an impressive selection of beer from around the world.
New York, NY | Penn Station Is Debuting Its First-Ever Holiday Market This Week—Four Days Of Vintage Finds, Vinyl, & Artisan Goods: Shop vintage clothes, vinyl, art, and gifts at Penn Station’s first-ever holiday market, running this week inside the main passenger concourse. New Yorkers don’t usually associate Penn Station with holiday magic–but that’s about to change in a big way. This December, the city’s busiest transit hub is transforming into a winter shopping destination as it debuts its first-ever Penn Station Holiday Market, bringing festive cheer, local vendors, and giftable finds right into Amtrak’s main passenger concourse. For four merry days only–from Wednesday, December 10 through Saturday, December 13–the station’s historic rotunda will glow with what organizers are calling a dose of “subterranean charm.”
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