US | 50 Million More Americans Are Paying for Music Now Than in 2014: The industry is seeing increases in streaming subscriptions, physical purchasing, and live attendance. A decade ago, the music industry was at a low point; today, it’s a different story. According to a new report from MusicWatch, the population of people paying for music is breaking records, with consumer spending significantly higher than it was in 2014 (even when adjusting for inflation). The new data reveals that 132 million Americans are currently paying for music subscriptions, a number that includes on-demand subscriptions in addition to satellite radio and fee-based internet radio services. That’s 50 million more than the numbers gathered in 2014. Additionally, in 2024, more than half of Americans between the ages of 13 and 70 purchased a CD, download, vinyl, or an on-demand or non-interactive subscription (excluding satellite radio). This data echoes an increase in vinyl sales, which analytics company Luminate confirmed increased by 6% in 2024.
Tavistock, UK | Vinyl fans to scoop limited editions: Vinyl fans are expected to queue for hours when their local record stores sell limited editions on one day only. Only independent record stores like Tavistock’s Rival Records in Paddon’s Row and Bookstop, on Market Street, take part in Record Store Day on Saturday (April 12). Top artists are included in the 400 recordings which are only on sale on that day in 280 shops. Customers should queue early, because they are sold on a first-come-first served basis, with no pre-buying. Rival Records owner John Chapple said: “Record Store Day is a celebration of independent record stores. I’ll have 200 titles including the Gallagher Brothers acoustic sessions and Elton John’s Rainbow Theatre concert.” Paddon’s Row cafe Mime will serve food from 6.30am.
UK | You’d be a mug to miss Record Store Day: This is the last column before Record Store Day and from a record shop’s viewpoint the mayhem has just started, with large deliveries of boxes all needing checked and processed in time for the big day and then stored away. We were already running out of space so that last bit is actually quite important. We have very strong Avalanche jute bags that we use when people make large vinyl purchases and we had four huge boxes of these very bags arrive at our back door this week in readiness for the big day. After some moving around we did find a space for them but with the majority of our RSD titles still to arrive it is not clear at the moment where they are all going to go. I didn’t help matters recently by ordering several king size boxes of One Direction mugs.
Herefordshire, UK | New record shop launches on National Record Store Day: The Retro Station in Leominster Celebrates National Record Store Day with launch of new record shop, open day and doggy fancy dress competition. Retro Records, Herefordshire’s newest record shop, officially launches on May 12 to coincide with national Record Store Day. The shop run by Mark Parker is selling new and used vinyl, CDs and musical instruments, plus there are two listening booths—so you can try before you buy. There is also a mezzanine Coffee and Cake Station where you can sit in or takeaway. To celebrate the launch in their own quirky way, The Retro Station are running a fancy dress competition for your furry friends! They are asking for you to bring your dog along on Saturday 12th in a music inspired costume, best costume at the end of the day will scoop a £20 voucher from Kulamoo Hounds and a £30 voucher from Retro Records.
Milton Keynes, UK | Hospice music shop to host major event for vinyl lovers in Milton Keynes: Willen Hospice’s independent record shop, Off The Record MK, will be hosting a highly anticipated celebration of vinyl culture on Saturday 12 April as part of national Record Store Day 2025. Following the phenomenal success of last year’s event, the Off The Record MK team are thrilled to announce that they have secured an even wider array of limited-edition and exclusive new releases this year. Whether you’re a seasoned vinyl collector or just starting out, this is your chance to get your hands on rare and special editions that aren’t available anywhere else. Located in Midsummer Place in Milton Keynes, Off The Record MK will be opening at 8am on Saturday 12 April, for what promises to be an unforgettable day of vinyl hunting. Last year’s event saw crowds forming early, so music lovers are advised to arrive as soon as the doors open for first dibs on the hottest releases!
Wellington, UK | Record Store Day: Wellington vinyl shop owner hoping to be a hit with music lovers once again—here’s how. The owner of a popular record store in Wellington is gearing up for the return of ‘Record Store Day.’ Spinning Around Records has proved a hit with locals since it opened around 18 months ago. After leaving BT where she had worked for several years, Emma Perks decided to follow her passion of pop music and open the shop on New Street in Wellington. ‘Record Store Day’ returns on April 12 and will see almost 300 independent record shops across the UK come together and celebrate their unique culture. Special vinyl releases are made exclusively for the day. And last year, residents and music lovers were queuing down the street, waiting eagerly in anticipation for Emma open her shop doors.
Earls Colne, UK | Vinyl lover celebrates first Record Store Day with own store: A Music enthusiast is celebrating his first Record Store Day with his own shop. Stone Rock Records was launched in late 2023 by Jonathan Stoneman, 23, who began by opening pop-up shops across Essex. Last July, Jonathan opened his permanent residence in Earls Colne Recreation Club where he has already hosted events for fellow vinyl record lovers. Jonathan said: “Having a location has been good. I’ve been building up a list of regulars that keep coming back and people who are just driving through. “We’ve still been doing pop-ups in Colchester, Chelmsford and Sudbury because I think that’s important. “It’s good to have people’s collections and the shop is always growing. “This will be my first Record Store Day where I actually have a store.”
Milwaukee, WI | Irving Place Records is celebrating its 1st birthday by doubling in size: Irving Place Records, 1627 E. Irving Pl., on the East Side will celebrate its first anniversary on Saturday April 19, but soon after it will also grow, according to co-owner Terry Hackbarth. Irving Place Records, 1627 E. Irving Pl., on the East Side will celebrate its first anniversary on Saturday April 19, but soon after it will also grow, according to co-owner Terry Hackbarth. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Hackbarth and his co-owner Don Kurth will offer free limited edition record shop T-shirts with a $50 purchase and offer 10 percent off all vinyl and 20% off compact discs, cassettes, shirts, hoodies, sweatshirt jackets and hats. They will also light a grill and cook up some snacks and Luke Lavin, who owned the shop when it was called Bullseye Records—and has been dealing music since—will also bring hundreds of records to sell. But the real news is something Hackbarth let slip last week.
Lowell, MA | ADamnShame Records finds a temporary home at Lala Books: When Lowell’s beloved hub Mill No. 5 shuttered this past February, one of its newest residents had only been in business for six months. ADamnShame Records joined the Mill’s wealth of vendors last July, stepping into the former Vinyl Destination storefront like a passing of the torch between two arbiters of Lowell’s cultural scene. Now, in light of the Mill’s final days, ADamnShame Records owner Adam O’Donnell has teamed up with a different staple of downtown Lowell: Lala Books. The record shop has taken up temporary residence in the back of the Market Street bookstore, operating during Lala’s hours from Wednesday to Sunday. O’Donnell made the move during Lowell’s annual Winterfest in February, and plans to remain there for the next few months.
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