The Death of Physical Media and Its Brewing Renewal: How a generation raised on streaming seeks comfort in the rituals of media ownership. The era of streaming services fundamentally killed the production of physical media, but over the past five years, a new era has been brewing on the vinyl shelves of trendy city neighborhoods. Ten DVDs sit on my shelves. They’ve been arranged together in the same fashion for 19 years, surviving five moves and preserving 126 episodes of The Simpsons first ten seasons—all of which I’ve memorized by now. My parents were against cable, upset with the grueling stream of advertisements. So, for the first nine years of my life, those ten discs—looped on our trusty Xbox 360—were my only television. …While ownership is a contested concept across cultures, it has fundamentally shaped American expansionism and the “American Dream,” with the country’s earliest votes afforded only to land–owning men. Land ownership, property ownership, consumerism of goods and media all trace the same throughline: they make the physical personal.
Spring Hill, FL | Rock-It Records in Spring Hill is drawing all ages to its old-school vinyl paradise: You want Taylor Swift? They have her. You want heavy metal? They have that, too. Whether you’re a metalhead, a jazz buff or an unabashed Swiftie, the new Rock-It Records in Spring Hill has your tasty tunes in stock. Owned by the music-loving husband-and-wife team of Joe and Pam Rooney, this is an old-school-cool record shop with lots of vinyl, CDs, memorabilia and more. They’ll even be hosting in-store record signings just like they did in the good old days. “I grew up in Massachusetts record-shopping with my cousin,” said Joe, who also fronted the metal band First Born. “And I just wanted to bring it back. I wanted to do it, man.” Oh, he’s doing it alright. Rock-It Records, located at 10480 Northcliffe Blvd in Spring Hill, is like a warm, nostalgic hug, although some of the most loyal customers are kids. “They’re really into the whole record-buying thing,” Joe said. “They come in alone, they come in with their parents, it’s a family thing. It’s great.”
Edinburgh, UK | Dog-friendly record store and coffee lounge announces plans to open on Leith Walk this month: A new record lounge has said that it will open its doors to members of the public this month – and four-legged friends are welcome too. Lounge 33 plans to open on Leith Walk, offering customers a space to drink coffee, but also to listen to vinyl and shop for records too. The lounge has said that it wants to reflect the local community and city and plans to work with local charities and community groups as they develop. As part of these plans, the record store has already partnered with a Scottish dog rescue charity. Posting online, Lounge 33 said: “At Lounge 33, your four-legged friends are always welcome, and we’re thrilled to announce our new charity partnership with Staffie Smiles Rescue. “This incredible local charity rescues Staffies and Staffie crosses in need, offering them a second chance at life. “From rehoming to lifelong foster care for older or terminally ill pups, they do it all with love – and we’re here to help support their mission.”
‘Paradise Records’ Review: Rapper Logic’s Anarchic Stoner Hangout Movie Brings Jay And Silent Bob Out Of Retirement. American rapper Logic was born the year Richard Linklater’s Slacker came out, and, at the age of four, was thus unlikely to catch Kevin Smith’s Clerks when Miramax first released it back in 1994. Nevertheless, though the director cites Sidney Lumet’s Dog Day Afternoon as a prime source of inspiration, those two lowest-of-the-early-’90s-lo-fi films—with a dash of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction too—are a much more apt comparison for his directing debut, a hangout movie set in a failing record store in the Greater Portland area. The store is run by Cooper (Logic), who—in a surprise move for a rapper in a film that he wrote for himself to star in—is anything but cool, a Napoleon Dynamite lookalike who probably gives away more than he sells, as evidenced when he gives a J. Dilla record to a toddler, simply because his pretty mom smiles at him.
UK | Exceleration Music Acquires Marquee UK Independent Music Company Cooking Vinyl: Exceleration Music, the independent music company known for its unique blend of distribution, investment, and label support services, has entered into an agreement to acquire Cooking Vinyl, one of the UK’s most successful and long-standing music companies. This strategic move brings together two influential forces in the independent music sector: Exceleration, with its global, full-service model that includes ownership of leading distribution company Redeye Worldwide, and Cooking Vinyl, the originator of artist services with its signing of Billy Bragg in 1993, and a proven worldwide leader in the field. …Cooking Vinyl will integrate into Redeye’s industry-leading distribution platform and gain access to Exceleration’s global infrastructure, significantly expanding its growth opportunities worldwide. Exceleration, meanwhile, will be able to tap into Cooking Vinyl’s renowned artist marketing expertise.
Kildare, IE | Anthem Vinyl pressing plant opens in Kildare—“The diversity of music in Ireland is incredible.” Ireland’s newest, and only, vinyl pressing plant is the “right fit for a country that has the breadth of talents we have.” Ireland’s newest, and only, vinyl pressing plant is the “right fit for a country that has the breadth of talents we have”. Officially launched in April, Anthem Vinyl, located 30 minutes from Dublin, in Clane, County Kildare, enables homegrown artists and independent and major labels access to premium and sustainable vinyl pressing once more in Ireland. As well as offering vinyl pressing for Irish artists and those further afield, Anthem Vinyl sets itself apart from being just another vinyl plant, giving acts access to a bespoke media room to shoot content, a new smart vinyl option, and a network of independent record shops to distribute vinyl to. We had a chat with Anthem Vinyl founder Brian Kenny about the new plant, their commitment to the environment, and the need for a vinyl pressing plant in Ireland.
Huntsville, AL | New vinyl lounge, “Perseus Sound Bar,” coming soon to MidCity: We’ve heard the rumors of a new vinyl bar coming to MidCity…and the first look was just shared today! As an avid fan of vinyl bars in New York City and Atlanta, I am definitely excited for the opening of one right in my backyard. Enter Perseus Sound Bar to the Huntsville bar scene. The new mid-century modern coffee, cocktails and sound bar made its official debut on Instagram today, June 6. The hi-fi lounge is brought to you by Nick Quinn, the owner of Huntsville favorites Phat Sammy’s, Goodland Pour House and Mad Malts Brewing. Take a look at the construction progress and learn about their debut event at The Lumberyard this weekend.
The Verve’s ‘Urban Hymns’ Is Returning To Vinyl: The rock band’s third album was originally released in 1997. The Verve’s classic Urban Hymns album is set to return to vinyl, with the pre-order available as a 2-LP pressing on June 6. Originally released in September 1997, the London rock group’s third studio album signaled their reunion following a breakup during the promotion of 1995’s A Northern Soul. With the addition of guitarist and keyboard player Simon Tong, Urban Hymns is one of the seminal albums of the ‘90s. The album featured five singles: “The Drugs Don’t Work,” “Lucky Man,” “Sonnet,” “The Rolling People,” and “Bitter Sweet Symphony.” Their signature song, “Bitter Sweet Symphony” peaked at No. 2 and No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100, respectively. The single received nominations for Best British Single at the 1998 Brit Awards and Best Rock Song at the 1999 Grammy Awards, and was used as the dramatic closing track for 1999’s Cruel Intentions.
The best turntables for all budgets, tested and selected by TechRadar experts: The best turntables and record players you can buy today. Our expert audio team has handpicked the best turntables and record players after extensive hands-on testing and years of deep industry insight. We’ve made sure there’s something here for every budget and experience level. Choosing the right setup is a big deal for music lovers and the right turntable can transform your vinyl experience, revealing stunning clarity and depth to your favorite records. So, what actually sets a turntable apart from a record player? Record players usually come with built-in speakers and amplification, making them a convenient, all-in-one option. Turntables, on the other hand, are built with high-quality components—think tonearm, platter, and sometimes a built-in phono stage—giving you the freedom to build a custom setup with your own phono preamp, amp, and speakers.
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