Charlotte, NC | How Charlotte record stores help fuel a vinyl boom, as US sales spin past $1B: Derek Patten dug through the crates at Hardy Boys Records in Charlotte, looking for rare vinyl treasures. His favorite section is the recently dropped bin. “You get here at the right time, find something that you’ve been looking for and usually get a good price on it,” Patten said, holding Bob Dylan’s greatest-hits album during his recent visit to the shop in Camp North End. …Charlotte-area residents like Patten contributed to the billion-dollar total. He uses digital streaming as a vetting tool for new records, and if one passes the Spotify audition, he buys it on vinyl.
Chapel Hill, NC | In the Triangle, people are making media physical again: Michael Wilkerson uses a flip phone. That may not immediately strike anyone as strange until they find out that Wilkerson is a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill. He got his first phone in middle school, and it wasn’t until his first year in college that he realized: “I hate my phone.” …Wilkerson isn’t alone. A 2024 study by Pew Research Center found 95% of teens have access to a smartphone. About 4 in 10 teens said they spent too much time on their phones or social media. Roughly the same number reported having taken steps to reduce their screen time. Social media is rife with content about teens and young adults embracing physical media. Take the Triangle’s own Angeline Richard, who has amassed over 46,700 TikTok followers by posting content on nostalgia and physical media.
Amarillo, TX | Record store serving Amarillo for nearly 5 years: Ruben visits an Amarillo record store that brings a unique and vintage feel to the area. Lance Garza, owner of Caliche, says the store started in July of 2021. He’d worked in books and records for several years before moving back to Amarillo. “My wife and I were living in Chicago. We both kind of wanted to do our own thing. I’d always wanted to start my own record store, bookstore, and Amarillo was home,” said Garza. Garza says he’d grown up going to Hastings here in Amarillo, and he felt like it was the right place to bring something like that back. “I just wanted to kind of bring that back a little bit to kind of bring something cool here for people,” said Garza. Garza says they knew they wanted a physical location. They wanted a building that was cool and interesting.
Milltown, NJ | Revilla Grooves and Gear Interview (Vinyl Lives): The American dream lives in the small towns that dot the map between these monstrous metropolises. These communities work tirelessly as a unit to uphold their beloved towns, and Milltown, New Jersey, is no different. With a population of just over 7,000, Milltown is a slice of Americana, and every small town needs a cultural hub. Revilla Grooves and Gear stands as a testament to small-town America, proudly providing Milltown with a haven for music-obsessed residents. What started as a side stream of income has gone on to become a full brick-and-mortar, equipped with audio equipment, records, and unique vintage items. The one-stop shop for everything that populates a music nerd’s mind lines the shelves, along with enough space to host listening parties and other events that bring Milltown together.
IN | Sony Music India launches vinyl and merch store StampEight: For Sony Music India, Record Store Day marked not just the return of its The Vinyl Pop-Up series of events but also the launch of StampEight. That’s the new sub-brand and e-tail site through which it’s selling vinyl records across a variety of genres, and a limited amount of official merchandise by acts such as AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Metallica and Pink Floyd as well as—because why not?—Cypress Hill. While some of those LPs are available at other e-tailers, StampEight is the only place fans of those bands can get hold of their merch within India. It follows the May 2025 launch of The Noise Culture, a self-described “fashion and culture platform” that has partnered with the Universal Music Group’s merch division Bravado to sell its products in the country.
Miami, FL | Miami Has A New Vinyl Room Channeling Hollywood’s Golden Age: 400 Vinyl Room is a 60-seat lounge that features a vinyl-only music program rooted in funk, soul, disco, and ’80s Latin. “…Opening 400 Vinyl Room feels like completing a circle. Yamashiro brings the dining, the history, the legacy of over a century in hospitality,” says Freddy Braidi, Partner, Yamashiro Miami Hospitality Group. “And now, right alongside it, a room where the night truly begins.” The 60-seat lounge features a vinyl-only music program rooted in funk, soul, disco, and ’80s Latin, with themed sessions, guest selectors, and visiting DJs. Programming will spotlight local tastemakers, including Mr. Stakemann, Soltek, Aris San, Lagrimas de Oro, alongside surprise performances and future cross-city collaborations between Miami and Los Angeles.
Leesport, PA | Leesport ‘Record Riots’ attract vinyl enthusiasts on Mother’s Day at farmers market: Record collectors spent Mother’s Day poring over vintage vinyl in Berks County. The “Leesport Record Riots” event was held at Leesport Farmers Market. Moms were able to get in for free. The event’s promoter says moms are part of the rock ‘n’ roll generation and that it’s not just young people who collect records. “It’s so great to see all these nurturing moms with their kids, bringing them to music, which is such a nurturing thing,” Stephen Gritzan, owner and promoter of Record Riots. “So it’s really like food for the soul, records and CS and all of that. It’s really very touching. I’ve met so many nice people today.” The next “Record Riots” event at the farmers market will be held in October.
Benton Harbor, MI | SW Michigan Record Show: Vinyl collectors and music fans can dig through thousands of records and music collectibles when the Southwest Michigan Record Show returns Saturday, May 16, to Grand Upton Hall at Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center. Now in its fourth season, the show continues to grow as a destination for music fans, with a strong lineup of quality vendors and a deep selection, including a mix of returning favorites and new dealers. This spring’s event features 25 vendors from five states, with 70 tables filled with vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, record supplies, and music memorabilia. Grand Upton Hall is located inside Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center, with free, convenient parking just steps from the entrance.
Mankato, MN | B.Y.O.V.: Bring Your Own Vinyl Night! Thursday, May 21st is B.Y.O.V. night at Tremendous Brewing in St Peter! KMSU DJs will be running the turntables, but you can bring in a record with a song you’d like them to play. Let us thank you in person for such an amazing pledge drive! RULES AND REGULATIONS: 1) Bring a record! You can pick two songs to play. They must be under five minutes long so we have time for everyone. 2) All songs must be appropriate for mixed company, so nothing crazy obscene. If you have to ask, it’s probably not okay. We’d love to see you at Tremendous Brewing in St Peter for a night of music!
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