Carmarthen, UK | Beloved Welsh record shop to close original home after 26 years: A record shop worker has spoken of his heartbreak over the closure of a long-running Welsh music store, describing it as a “chosen family” for customers across generations. Tangled Parrot was established in 2000 as a stall at Carmarthen’s market by Matt Davies, and soon expanded to a shop in the town, a location at Alleyway Coffee in Swansea, and a space in Hay-on-Wye. The record store sells both new and second-hand items that “cater to the fringes—and sometimes extremes of music whilst also not being snobbish!” Matt explained. However, on 8 May 2026, Tangled Parrot announced on their Instagram that the original Carmarthen and Swansea locations were to close.
Dance/Electronic Vinyl Variety: From Belfast to Vegas Fergie Runs Down His Favourite Record Stores: DJ Fergie shares his favourite record stores from Belfast to Las Vegas in this globe-spanning edition of Vinyl Variety. Fergie shares six record stores and platforms that have shaped his experience as a collector, DJ, and lifelong music fan. Spanning Germany, Portsmouth, London, Belfast, Las Vegas, and the online marketplace Discogs, each selection reflects a different side of modern vinyl culture, from specialist techno outlets and community-driven independent stores to high-end listening spaces and global online digging. …Whether it’s sourcing exclusive techno releases from Decks Records in Germany, revisiting formative tracks at Underground Records in Belfast, or crate-digging alongside world-class sound systems at Echo Taste & Sound in Las Vegas, Fergie’s selections showcase the importance of independent record shops and the communities built around them.
San Antonio, TX | One of San Antonio’s oldest record stores says it was locked out over rent: The record store has served the South Side for 54 years. An iconic 54-year-old Texas record store, Flip Side Record Parlor, faces an uncertain future after its San Antonio store was locked out due to rent hikes. The beloved record store posted about its hardships on social media on Friday, May 22, saying it’s facing an “incredibly difficult financial crisis.” “I know many of us are feeling the squeeze of the current economy and rising costs of living, and it pains me to share that our shop is facing those same harsh realities,” Flip Side Record Parlor wrote in its post. “Recently, our rent was drastically increased.” Flip Side Record Parlor said it has made consistent efforts to make partial payments and show property ownership, and that the business is doing everything it can to catch up. However, the landlords have locked the staff out of the store until the balance is paid in full.
Las Vegas, NV | Vinyl Room to open at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas this summer: Vinyl Room, inspired by intimate 1970s Japanese listening bars, will open on the top floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas in August. The music-forward venue, where vinyl and high-quality audio are the stars, is a partnership of Live Nation and MGM Resorts International. It replaces the Foundation Room, which closed last year. “We wanted to create a space that feels more connected to music and community,” said Kurt Melien, president of Live Nation Las Vegas. “The inspiration from 1970s Japanese listening lounges was a natural fit because those spaces were built around the experience of really listening to music, spending time with other music lovers and enjoying the atmosphere that celebrates the music.”
Jacksonville, FL | DIA board OKs $200,000 in incentives for vinyl listening room in Downtown Jacksonville: Hi Fi Lounge, planned for 315 E. Bay St., is a concept from the operators of Keane’s Irish Pub and Decca Live. The Downtown Investment Authority board approved public incentives May 20 for a restaurant and entertainment group to add another venue to its offerings in the 300 block of East Bay Street. On a 7-0 vote, with members Jill Caffey and Sondra Fetner not present, the board OK’d a $200,000 incentive for Illyria Properties 8 to establish Hi Fi Lounge, described in a DIA staff report as a vinyl-record listening room, restaurant and lounge on the second floor of 315 E. Bay St. The lounge would be in the same building as Keane’s Irish Pub and next door to the Decca Live music venue…
Asheville, NC | Citizen Vinyl departs historic Citizen Times building for Weaverville: Citizen Vinyl has moved from the historic Citizen Times building in downtown Asheville into a bigger manufacturing space in Weaverville, allowing it to expand its vinyl pressing business. It’s a “new chapter” for the nationally known boutique record press, Citizen Vinyl founder and CEO Gar Ragland told the Citizen Times May 21, who described the move as a “painful,” but business-minded decision to depart downtown. …The company now has five vinyl presses and employs 16 people, Ragland said. Moving to Weaverville has made the business healthier, he said. The bottom floor of the Citizen Times building will be transformed into office space for the design firm LS3P, which has occupied an office on the second floor since 2023, the company’s Asheville office leader Maggie Carnevale said.
UK | Warner Music Group & GZ Media pilot proves unsold records can be reprocessed as new vinyl pressings: Warner Music Group and GZ Media have completed a pilot scheme demonstrating that unsold records can be reprocessed and incorporated into new vinyl pressings, without compromising the sound quality. The pilot processed approximately 10,000 unsold records sourced across artists, titles and pressing plants, reflecting the mixed inventory typical across the industry. The records were shredded and multiple pressing variants of records were pressed using different recycled content ratios, ranging from 10% to 100%. Through rigorous evaluations coordinated with Abbey Road Studios, industry experts assessed the pressing without knowing which material blends they were hearing. The results showed that recovered material can be successfully incorporated into new, commercial-grade pressings while maintaining the sound quality and production standards expected across today’s physical releases.
Berlin, DE | Yoyaku acquires Berlin vinyl pressing plant, Objects, launches distribution service, Kurtezy: The move will offer a more seamless journey for physical music, from production to record stores. Parisian label and record store Yoyaku has acquired Berlin pressing plant OBJECTS, which ceased operations under its original management earlier this year. Completed in early 2026, according to press material, the deal has allowed vinyl production at the facility to continue with minimal interruption. Most of the original OBJECTS team have remained in place at the plant, with founder Jeremy Guillot continuing to be closely involved. …Equipped with Alpha Phoenix presses and an integrated galvanic line, the facility handles lacquer processing, stamper production, pressing and distribution internally. Yoyaku said the acquisition is intended to establish a long-term manufacturing base for independent labels across Europe.
UK | From the makers of the ‘Saltburn’ “cloudy bathwater” record, a ‘marmalade-filled’ vinyl is being released for ‘Paddington: The Musical’ soundtrack: The makers of the Saltburn “cloudy bathwater” vinyl are releasing a marmalade-filled record for the Paddington: The Musical soundtrack. Blood Records/Bad World released a special-edition LP for the Saltburn soundtrack in 2024 that was filled with a liquid that was billed as bathwater, in reference to one of the most X-rated and notorious scenes from the movie. Now, the same label has announced another liquid-filled vinyl release to tie in with the soundtrack to the West End musical version of Paddington. …Bad World have partnered with the musical to produce a vinyl release that is filled with a liquid designed to resemble marmalade, with added orange peel.
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