In rotation: 4/15/25

Hattiesburg, MS | ‘Record Store Day’ focuses on independent music stores: Family-owned music stores across the U.S. were celebrated Saturday as part of Record Store Day. It’s a semi-annual event focused on independent music stores, like T-Bones Records & Cafe in Hattiesburg. “It’s so fun seeing all the people online with their lists, prepared, excited, ready for music, ready for the experience of being in a record store, which is something that I am pleased to say, seems to be crossing generations,” said Mik Davis, T Bones Records & Cafe record store manager. Saturday, the record store had several new vinyl releases, live music and other activities to celebrate Record Store Day. Among the customers buying vinyl records was Laila Rollin, who was visiting from California. “I just like the old-fashioned nature of it,” Rollin said. “There’s just something about the sound of one that’s coming out of that record player.”

Louisville, KY | Record Store Day was celebrated nationally and in Louisville Saturday. Record Store Day sings to music lovers with coveted special releases and discounts for vinyl albums. Several stores around Louisville participated including Better Days Records on Barret Avenue and Guestroom Records on Frankfort Avenue. Some fans lined up for hours, while some braved the outdoor elements overnight for their chance to get rare and coveted albums. There were music giveaways and discounts on records. “It’s a really lovely celebration where we get a lot of new customers that have never been here before that really want this limited release that is only out for Record Store Day and we get to make a lot of new friends and bring a lot of people in,” said Lisa Foster, owner of Guestroom Records. Foster estimated around 200 to 300 people were waiting in line for doors to open Saturday morning.

Chicago, IL | Long lines, rare finds mark Record Store Day in Chicago: If you’re a fan of vinyl records, Saturday was your day. Music lovers from coast to coast celebrated National Record Store Day — and Chicago, the birthplace of so much great music, was no exception. The line outside Reckless Records in the Loop stretched down the block. Some audiophiles camped out as early as 2 a.m. “You can’t play around with days like this, man. You end up coming here at 5 a.m. thinking you’re coming early. The whole line will be down the street. You won’t even get what you want,” said Wanya. And what they want might be hard to find. “We love Record Store Day because it has people coming into the store. That’s important. We’re really happy about that.”

Indio, CA | Coachella 2025: Record Safari returns for the festival for Record Store Day: Fans lined up hoping to catch rare finds, Coachella artist vinyl records and more. While DJs spin their records and headliners take the stage with breathtaking performances at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, fans can get a little piece of the action to take home with them at the festival’s Record Safari. This year, Record Store Day landed on Saturday, April 12, during the first weekend of Coachella, offering fans the opportunity to participate in what has become an international celebration of vinyl collection at independently owned brick-and-mortar record stores around the world. At Coachella’s Record Safari, fans can visit a fully air-conditioned shop right by the festival’s entrance to explore a collection of used and new records curated by Alex Rodriguez, who previously owned the Glass House Record Store in Pomona, which closed last year.

Rochester, NY | Rochester music fans flock to indie vinyl shops for Record Store Day: Music lovers in Rochester celebrated Record Store Day on Saturday: a tradition that’s keeping vinyl culture alive. Record Store Day is a nationwide event that celebrates independent records stores, and gives fans a chance to discover new music and take advantage of local promotions. At Record Archive, dozens lined up before doors opened. Jacob Joanette arrived at 6 a.m.—four hours early—to ensure he’d get his top picks. “I got a Lil Uzi, Gunna, and Young Thug,” he said. Joanette’s friend, Gordon David, also walked away with everything he wanted. “I got Don Toliver and Beabadoobee,” he said. Both began collecting records within the past two years. Despite having access to digital music, vinyl offers something streaming can’t.

Chattanooga, TN | Record Store Day draws 100+ Chattanoogans to Yellow Racket Records: Temperatures below 50 degrees Saturday morning did not deter the over 100 people assembled in front of Yellow Racket Records on Chattanooga’s Main Street. The line zigged and zagged its way onto the sidewalk, with people eagerly awaiting the arrival of 9 a.m., when Yellow Racket’s doors would open and Record Store Day would begin. First in line was the Pezanosky family. In an interview, Jillian Pezanosky said she arrived at Yellow Racket at 6 p.m. Friday, while Thomas Pezanosky said he arrived at 1 a.m. Saturday. The couple and their daughters slept in camping chairs through the night, Jillian Pezanosky said. “6 p.m. go inside and talk to Ben, the record store owner, go and get Taco Bell, come back, eat the Taco Bell in our car and set up here at 8:30 because nobody was here yet still,” Jillian Pezanosky said, explaining her timeline in the lead-up to the start of Saturday’s event.

Toledo, OH | Toledo’s Culture Clash Records rebounds with biggest Record Store Day yet: After facing one of its toughest years in two decades, Culture Clash Records is experiencing a dramatic turnaround, with this year’s Record Store Day. After facing one of its toughest years in two decades, Culture Clash Records is experiencing a dramatic turnaround, with this year’s Record Store Day marking its most successful event yet. The Toledo record shop credits its resurgence to community support, local music events, and a renewed focus on delivering what vinyl lovers want. Culture Clash Records has been a fixture in Toledo’s music scene for nearly 20 years, but last year, the future of the beloved shop appeared uncertain. Owners Tim and Lizzie Friedman described 2024 as their most challenging year in business. However, in just over a year, sales have gone from slumping to booming.

Las Vegas, NV | Record Store Day returns: Music fans were embracing the classics over the past week. One event drew eager throngs across the region, with music lovers embracing fresh vinyl versions of memorable classics. …With weather finally starting to resemble spring, mid-April brought the return of Record Store Day, with independent record shops across the state—including Vertigo Music in Grand Rapids, Green Light Music and Satellite Records in Kalamazoo and many more—filling up elbow-to-elbow with vinyl collectors snagging special, limited RSD releases by a dizzying array of artists, new and old. And Dodds Record Shop on Grand Rapids’ West Side, once again hosted music by Beaver Xing and more, with owner Rev Charles Preston Smith leading his usual, rollicking “Record Store Day Parade” up and down a few blocks of Bridge Street.

Wheeling, WV | Nail City Records thrives on Record Store Day with over 300 exclusive releases: Nail City Records celebrates Record Store Day, an international event that brings attention to independent music shops around the globe. Record lovers had the chance to check out over 300 album releases featuring artists like Taylor Swift and Post Malone as well as special record day deals. Co-owner Jonathan Napier says today is one of their busiest days of the year. “Today, we have over 300 unique releases specifically released for today, along with tons of new and used records, CDs, cassettes, posters, and so much more. This morning at 8 am, there were 100 people in line, so it’s been a really busy day for us so far.” For those who missed out on the fun, no worries, Record Store Day will be back again on Black Friday.

Rivesville, WV | Collectors line the street for National Record Store Day: Assumption Records in Rivesville opened its doors for National Record Store Day at 8 a.m. on Saturday, but some vinyl collectors had been lined up since the previous day. “‘Wicked’ is the one that I want, [which] they only have one of, so I wanted to be sure that I was first,” one collector said. She managed to be first in line when the doors opened by camping out the night before, since 6 p.m. Assumption Records owner Noelle Kolb said National Record Day has been a huge success, not just for her store but for vinyl collecting as a whole. The day started in 2008 and is a great way for collectors to find exclusive album variations, many of which are unique to April 12. “We see more and more people lining up every year,” Kolb said. “I really think that [National Record Store Day] was the number one thing that said, ‘Hey, look at records again.’”

Columbus, OH | Vinyl enthusiasts flock to record stores for National Record Store Day: Vinyl enthusiasts celebrated National Record Store Day on Saturday, an annual event that allows music lovers to acquire rare and exclusive releases. Hundreds of albums across various genres, many of which have been out of print for years or have never been released on vinyl, were available at stores nationwide, including in Central Ohio. “There are people who leave with one Taylor Swift seven-inch, and there are people who walk out of here with 20 or 30 records and spend a substantial amount of money,” Greg Hall, owner of Used Kids Records. “Let’s put it this way, it’s more than a car payment with some of these people for what they’re giving me for the records they’re buying, but they’re hardcore fans.”

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