St. Paul, MN | Minnesota’s last Black-owned record store Urban Lights Music launches crowdfunding campaign: A beloved record store in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood is fighting to keep its doors open as the community bands together to support a local music landmark. …The store opened in 1993, joining a bustling scene of record shops like Music Land, Music City and Northern Lights. Now, with the rise of digital platforms and streaming services, Urban Lights stands as the last Black-owned record store in the state and one of fewer than 50 left nationwide. Wilson says the pandemic, unrest following the murder of George Floyd, road construction and other challenges have slowed customer traffic to a trickle along University Avenue.
Pittsburgh, PA | Offbeat Pittsburgh: My late-blooming affair with vinyl records and thrill of the chase at Jerry’s Records. …On vinyl, one song breathes out and the next breathes in. The “White Album” is a chapter book, of sorts, and these opening songs set the tone for adventure. It’s a small detail, easy to miss, but once you hear it, the album never quite sounds the same again. That’s not something you’ll ever quite capture on a streaming service, where those two masterpieces can end up worlds apart. I arrived late to the vinyl-collecting game. In June, I hit my 10-year milestone at TribLive. It came with a catalog showing assorted gifts. I could pick one. “Dad, get the record player,” my daughter, Chloe, suggested.
Bend, OR | Stereo Planet Returns to Downtown Bend with June 6 Grand Reopening: The space will be shared with Smith Rock Records. Stereo Planet -Some things streaming simply can’t replace. The ritual of lowering a needle onto vinyl. The feeling of sitting still long enough actually to listen. The moment great music stops being background noise and, after 45 years as a dependable Bend business, Stereo Planet becomes an immersive experience again, encouraging the community to look forward to rediscovering sound and sparking curiosity about new listening adventures. That spirit returns to downtown Bend on First Friday, June 5, as beloved local audio destination Stereo Planet officially reopens its doors at 1008 NW Bond Street—this time in collaboration with the passionate music lovers, longtime Central Oregon resident and local music fixture and owner of Smith Rock Records, Patrick Smith, and his team.
Calgary, AL | Tipper Records set to reopen, but not returning to Okotoks: Tipper Records may be leaving Okotoks behind, but the popular local vinyl shop isn’t disappearing for good. Known for its vintage vibes and collection of classic vinyl and physical media, the record store closed back in December due to factors outside of its control. Owner and founder Jaica Tipper says they’ve since been on the hunt for a new location and recently found one at 47 Legacy View SE in Calgary. “We will be reopening in Legacy and unfortunately not returning to Okotoks,” says Tipper. “We will miss it dearly.” After a lengthy search for a new location, Tipper Records officially announced its move to Legacy in late April. Its Okotoks roots stem back to 2022, when then-17-year-old Jaica Tipper first started a record store business in Okotoks’ Stockton Business Park.
Las Vegas, NV | Music Acts Turn to Cash-Only Shows at Record Stores as Touring Costs Triple: An industry term once whispered in management offices has gone mainstream—and what it reveals about the state of live music is sobering. “Blue Dot Fever,” named for the unsold seats that appear as blue dots on ticketing maps, has claimed a growing roster of tours in 2026, and music industry veterans say the underlying causes are anything but simple. Michael Kaminsky, founder of music management firm KMGMT Inc., a partner in the Vans Warped Tour, and an instructor in USC’s music industry program, has watched the economics of touring deteriorate firsthand. As he explained in a recent interview, “What I’m seeing is a lot of bands deciding not to tour in the first place.”
Chico, CA | Outpatient Records keeps vinyl culture spinning with Chico pop-ups and summer Latin music series: Outpatient Records continues to focus on analog music as an unparalleled experience by hosting vinyl pop-ups and highlighting local music in Chico. Matthew Garcia is the creator of Outpatient Records and said his work is all for the love of music. “It is such a grounding, spiritual way to connect with people and express things that I don’t know how to sometimes put to words,” Garcia said. The name Outpatient Records originally came from Garcia’s brother, a fellow vinyl enthusiast. Both once envisioned a business that merged a traditional record shop with an outpatient mental health clinic. “It never came to fruition,” Garcia said.
Montclair, NJ | Montclair Vintage Crawl And Record Fair Will Return To Lackawanna Station: Lackawanna Station will become a hotspot for vintage lovers and vinyl hunters on May 30 and May 31. Lackawanna Station will become a hotspot for vintage lovers and vinyl hunters in late May when the Montclair Vintage Crawl and Record Fair returns for a two-day run on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31. The event includes curated vintage dealers and independent record sellers, who will have racks of clothing and accessories—and crates of vinyl records—on display. This year’s new addition, “The Record Fair,” draws serious collectors alongside casual listeners, with dealers sourcing everything from jazz and soul to punk and folk. There will also be “open turntables” sessions set up for people to DJ live at the event.
Scritti Politti / Cupid & Psyche 85 reissue: Scritti Politti’s Cupid & Psyche 85 has been remastered and expanded for reissue in July. The nine-track album features the hits ‘Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)’, ‘Absolute’ and ‘The Word Girl’. Original cassette and CD editions added four remixes (‘Versions’) taking the track count to 13. For the new 2026 edition—overseen by Green Gartside—a 2LP vinyl features those original 13 tracks plus three additional numbers: Perfect Way (Version), Lover To Fall (12″ Dance Mix), Perfect Way (Perfect Way Mix). The same 16 tracks are available on CD and audio for both editions has been remastered by Chris Athens. Green alongside David Gamson—who joined Scritti Politti ahead of making Cupid & Psyche 85—and helped to create the album, have both contributed to the sleeve notes for this release.
San Antonio, TX | The Revenge of Analog: Ditching the iPhone for the ‘dumbphone.’ While our lives continually push toward an increasingly digital future, market data reveals a persistent and growing countertrend: the “analog” resurgence. Across the United States, consumer behavior is shifting toward physical media, driven not by the generations that grew up with it, but by younger consumers seeking an escape from digital saturation. …The desire to disconnect has moved beyond hobbies and into the hardware people carry. HMD Global, the manufacturer of Nokia phones, reported a significant uptick in the sale of “feature phones” (devices without internet or social media capabilities) in the U.S. market. Search interest for “minimalist phones” or “dumbphones” has surged as social media platforms face increasing scrutiny regarding their impact on mental health. Users are increasingly opting for devices that offer only basic calling and texting to regain control over their time.
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