Catonsville, MD | Streaming has everything. So why has vinyl grown 19 years in a row? Music City Maryland weighs in as vinyl sales top $1 billion. Whether it’s vinyl or instruments, on Frederick Road in Catonsville, a music shop is never more than a stone’s throw away. In Music City Maryland, Gary Gebler started Trax on Wax about 17 years ago, catching the wave as vinyl made a comeback. “Every year has gotten progressively better,” Gebler told WMAR-2 News. The Recording Industry Association of America says vinyl has grown 19 years in a row, with shops sharing in $1 billion worth of vinyl sales in 2025. “I think it’s great. Obviously, I’m in this business, but it’s great that people are taking the time and energy to get in their car, go to the store, and buy records.”
Indiana, PA | Spinning into campus life: Backstreet Records brings vinyl to Indiana. The sound of vinyl crackling, rows of records stacked wall to wall and album covers telling stories of their own are now part of the scene just steps from IUP. Located at 1176 Grant Street at Campus Edge, Backstreet Records officially opened on Feb. 14, introducing a new space for IUP students and Indiana’s community to explore music in a more hands-on way. For many students, the store offers more than just music. The store offers a unique and immersive way to appreciate the art form. “I think it’s important to collect physical media,” said Collin McCorkle (sophomore, communications media). …“I’m a physical media purist,” added Fox Empson (senior, communications media).
Hattiesburg, MS | New businesses fuel momentum in downtown Hattiesburg revitalization: Wax Fantastic Records. Growth in downtown Hattiesburg is becoming more visible, with new businesses opening and longtime developers continuing to invest in the area’s future. Many who live and work downtown say the shift is noticeable. …Wax Fantastic Records owner Shaw Ingram said choosing a location came down to confidence in the area’s direction. “The decision to open a business came first, I would say,” Ingram said. “And then I knew if I was going to do that, then there was no place I wanted to do it besides downtown Hattiesburg. It is a bet, definitely, but it was one I felt pretty secure in.” Wax Fantastic Records is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Cardiff, UK | Lily Allen makes surprise visit to record shop in local market: Singer Lily Allen has been spotted browsing records in Cardiff Market after performing in the city. The star played the New Theatre on Wednesday night before visiting a local record store the following day. James Willicombe, 26, from Cardiff, who works at Kelly’s records said: “I was behind the counter and I was like, ‘That’s Lily Allen!” She was seen looking through records with her daughter, including albums by Oasis, Wet Leg and The Smiths. Willicombe said he recognised her straight away as she came into the store with her family and team. “She was browsing the records with her daughter and picked up a few,” which included albums from Oasis, The Smiths and Wet Leg.
St. Petersburg, FL | Foreigner’s Lou Gramm will sign albums at a St. Petersburg record store: The singer will also perform with Foreigner at the Baycare Sound in April. Lou Gramm, co-founder and original singer of Foreigner, will reunite with his band at the BayCare Sound in Clearwater on April 18. But before his performance, he’ll celebrate Record Store Day in St. Petersburg. Gramm will visit the Factory St. Pete (2606 Fairfield Ave S.) for an album signing at 2 p.m. hosted by Daddy Kool Records. According to social media posts from the store, priority will be given to the first fans to line up at 8 a.m. and buy a Record Store Day-exclusive Foreigner album: “Foreigner 4 Live Tour 1981-82,” a double LP recorded in California, England and Germany.
IN | The needle is dropping on a new vinyl era in India: From listening bars in Mumbai to a collector’s house in Kochi, the groove shift is real. DJs spin physical. People want music they can hold. The question is whether this era stays inclusive or becomes an exclusive track for the elite. One evening at the Mumbai vinyl bar Idoru, collector Mayukh Guha carefully placed a rare copy of Obsession ’77 on the turntable. The record belonged to Atomic Forest, the band that made India’s first psychedelic rock album and jammed with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin in 1972 at a club in Bombay called Slip Disc. Joining him that night in the discussion was Sidharth Bhatia, author and expert on obscure Indian bands. He is one of the founding editors of The Wire and author of India Psychedelic, a book that chronicles the story of the rock music scene in India during the 1960s and ’70s. “I have over 5000 records,” Guha says.
New Orleans, LA | NOLA Amistad Research Center invites you to its vinyl listening party fundraiser: The Amistad Research Center has found a unique and fun way to fund its honorable mission of preserving history. On March 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30, there is a vinyl album listening party at Rosy’s Jazz Hall. The fundraiser is the second annual one of its kind to fund the largest independent repository of Black history. Many historical organizations and museums across the country are recovering from a loss of federal funds. The organization’s Executive Director, Kathy Hambrick, says, “The funds from this particular fundraiser and others are coming for our 60th anniversary year, 2026. We need help with sustainability. Last year, due to the executive orders that came down from Washington, D.C., we lost 40% of our income. I was faced with laying off seven of my staff.”
Labyrinth Soundtrack Receives 40th Anniversary Reissue: Available in a special Crystal Edition out on April 17th and a standard pressing shipping now. A limited edition vinyl reissue of the official Labyrinth soundtrack to commemorate the beloved Jim Henson film’s 40th anniversary has been announced. After years of being out of print, the vinyl comes in a special Crystal Edition, releasing on April 17th, and a standard pressing is shipping now. Digitally remastered, the reissue features Trevor Jones’ score split into six tracks alongside Bowie’s original songs “Underground,” “Magic Dance,” “Chilly Down,” “As the World Falls Down,” and “Within You.” Directed by Jim Henson himself, Labyrinth stars Jennifer Connelly as 16-year-old Sarah Williams, who must solve a magical maze to rescue her baby stepbrother from The Goblin King, played by Bowie in his most memorable role.
They had it covered: Your Further Review guy became interested in graphic design in the 1970s noticing the interesting things happening on rock and roll album covers—and with the inserts, posters, vinyl sleeves and souvenir booklets that were sometimes included. I never made it into record album design. I became sidetracked into newspapers instead. But there were two guys who designed covers—covers for albums you might remember or perhaps you even owned. They were both brilliant. But these two designers became famous for other things entirely. Perhaps you’ve heard of them…
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