US | Taylor Swift Wasn’t the Only Winner of Physical Sales in 2025: Luminate’s 2025 Year-End Music Report is chock-full of useful data for those looking to learn more about the state of the music business and its consumer trends. Among the notable metrics from last year was that Total U.S. Album Consumption (album sales plus track-equivalent albums plus stream-equivalent albums) grew 4.8% year over year in 2025, slightly outpacing total U.S. On-Demand Audio streams (+4.6% YoY). Interestingly, that boost in album consumption seems to have been fueled by physical album sales, which grew a healthy 6.5%, to 16.2 million units—the biggest YoY percentage of all the key U.S. metrics. The most natural explanation for that growth is Taylor Swift, whose latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, and its many physical variants sold incredibly well. But digging deeper into the data shows other key players helped push physical music to a strong late-year finish, which in turn directly impacted overall industry consumption growth.
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Eugene, OR | House of Records: Three Eugene businesses in threatened industries thrive during the pandemic. House of Records lives in a sage-green house finished with a copper-red trim on 13th Avenue in Downtown Eugene. Inside on May 3rd, 55-year-old Greg Sutherland stood polishing a record with scraps from an old cotton T-shirt. He calls records artifacts and says polishing them is his favorite part of the job. That morning, he finished sifting through 500 disks. It took him a few days to get through them all. He liked about 300 of them. For Sutherland, this is routine. “I’ve done the same thing every day for a decade,” Sutherland says. Sutherland has been the manager of the House of Records for 35 years. He was a big fan of the store while he was in college at the University of Oregon. After three years of being a dedicated customer, the store hired him in 1986.
Big Rapids, MI | Book and record store to open in Big Rapids: Two siblings are preparing to open Big Rapids newest business, Books and Beats, a store selling vinyl records, used books and music lessons in downtown Big Rapids. The store is owned by 17-year-old Hudson Pease and 19-year-old Bella Pease, and will be opening directly next to Quinn’s Music at 210 S. Michigan Ave, Suite 2. The shop will offer many used books and records, while offering lessons in guitar, bass and piano, while also hosting small events alongside Budd Greenman, owner of Quinn’s Music. Hudson spoke about the events that they could host in the future. …The siblings said the business fills a gap that Big Rapids is missing, specifically for vinyl buyers. Big Rapids used to have a large bookstore closer to campus, which closed down in 2017, and its audience was mainly Ferris students.
Blackwood, UK | South Wales record shop set to close after owner announces retirement: A well-known independent vinyl shop in south Wales is preparing to close after its owner announces plans to retire. Heart of the Valleys Records in Blackwood, run by Alun Kent and his wife Maria, will shut later this year after serving music lovers in the town for more than a decade. The couple have announced a closing-down sale, with all stock reduced by half from Saturday, April 11. The sale will run for five weeks as they begin winding down the business. Any records that remain unsold will be packed up and sent to Sullivan’s Auction in Merthyr Tydfil in June. The pair plan to clear the shop, located at 17 The Market Place, before handing the keys back in August.
Providence, RI | Rhody Gem: Wickenden Street. New vinyl and rarities for diggers. Olympic Records is a neighborhood record store known for its easygoing vibe and friendly atmosphere. Since opening 14 years ago, it has grown into a trusted spot for vinyl lovers, offering a wide selection across numerous musical genres. “I’ve built a substantial selection of LP’s and 45’s that is well organized with a range of different types of music,” says owner Kevin Morosini. “We cater to both new collectors and those looking for rare and hard-to-find records.” In addition to selling records, Morosini also buys collections and offers trade opportunities. Whether you’re new to vinyl or a seasoned digger searching for that lost Clash album, the store provides a welcoming and carefully curated experience.
TX | Vinyl Record Show of Dallas, TX / Ft. Worth, TX: Apr 4 at 8:00AM – 6:00PM Step into a world of nostalgia and discovery at the Grapevine Convention Center, where vinyl enthusiasts gather to celebrate the timeless charm of analog sound. Event Highlights: Vinyl LP Records: Tens of thousands, from budget-friendly $1.00 LPs to rare collectibles worth hundreds of dollars. There’s something for every music lover. More Treasures: Dig through a variety of music memorabilia, 45’s, CDs, T-shirts, posters, cassettes, and even a few 78’s. Exciting Door Prizes: Every attendee has a chance to win a free record, a cool T-shirt, or even tickets to future shows! Join us for your shot at some fantastic goodies.
Santa Barbara, CA | Santa Barbara Musicians Turn Dream into Boutique Recording Studio: Zach Wallace and Ruben Zarate Open Day Off Recording Co., a Community-Focused Space Helping Local Artists Move Beyond Home Recording. Zach Wallace and Ruben Zarate had long wanted to open a brick-and-mortar space. But what exactly it would house, they weren’t sure. Both musicians and members of Santa Barbara’s Dante Elephante, which Zarate started in 2010, the pair were always looking for ways to contribute to the city’s robust music scene beyond the band. On tour, between shows, they constantly talked about ideas—opening a record store, a guitar shop, or something else connected to music. Zarate was always browsing Craigslist for possible commercial spaces. …Flowers told them there was “something about this building.” The ceilings are acoustic panels like those used in the ’60s and ’70s to absorb sound, which means the rooms naturally sound good for recording. It was perfect.
Elderly Vinyl Fan Goes Viral for Reminding Collectors That Records Were Made to Be Played, Not Treated Like Museum Pieces: In a hobby that’s increasingly focused on rarity and value, one older music fan is going viral for bringing the conversation back to basics. In a video shared on Reddit, the man reflects on what vinyl meant “back in his day”—and why he believes people are overthinking it now. His message is simple: records weren’t meant to sit untouched on shelves—they were meant to be played, enjoyed, and lived with. One of the biggest takeaways from the video is his straightforward attitude toward collecting. He pushes back on the idea that records should be treated like fragile, untouchable objects. Instead, he describes them as something functional—items created to deliver music, not just hold value. For him, worrying too much about condition or rarity misses the point entirely.
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