Detroit, MI | Third Man Records: Detroit’s hidden concert gem: Third Man Records in Detroit doesn’t just press and sell vinyl; they are also a live music venue. Third Man Records was founded by and is owned by Jack White, Ben Blackwell, and Ben Swank. There are three locations: Detroit, Nashville, and Soho in London. Third Man Records is a record label, a vinyl pressing plant, a record store, a live music venue, a film studio and dark room, a guitar pedal and gear company, a mastering studio, a vinyl subscription service, and a publishing company. …Third Man Records in Detroit is not just a record store or a vinyl pressing plant, but also a live music venue. Recently, on the Detroit Reddit page, a poster asked about what he could expect at the venue when seeing a show. Fans on Reddit shared their experiences.
Detroit, MI | Michigan Central Brings Culture and Commerce Together with Vinyl, Books, and More: This month, Michigan Central celebrates one year since The Station reopened to the public – marking a milestone with expanded retail offerings, cultural programming, and continued momentum as a vibrant hub for the city. From the launch of two beloved Detroit retailers to Fridays at The Station, Michigan Central continues to build a destination that connects Detroit’s cultural legacy with its creative future. “At Michigan Central, we’re creating a space where Detroit’s cultural DNA shapes everything–from record bins to independent bookstores to global hospitality. We’re honoring the city’s legacy while creating space for new stories, new voices, and a future that’s bold and unmistakably Detroit,” said Catherine Kelly, Head of Brand & Strategic Communications at Michigan Central.
Atlanta, GA | Huge demand for vinyl records could increase prices for music lovers: Vinyl is now the number-one form of physical music in the U.S. For months, Nikki Speake, lead singer of the Atlanta-based ban Nikki and the Phantom Callers, waited and waited for the vinyl records her band had pressed overseas. At first, they weren’t sure if new tariff rates would impact the cost of the seven boxes of vinyl they had ordered. Then, they learned they were exempt from tariff-related cost increases thanks to the little-known Berman Amendment, which exempts “informational material” like books, art and music from tariffs. But that wasn’t the end of the band’s problems. While tariffs may not have been the root of cost increases or delays, the booming popularity of vinyl turned out to be. …The skyrocketing demand has oftentimes led to higher costs for bands and stores, and to supply issues with some producers of records, as Speake found out.
IE/UK | CMAT announces IE & UK record store tour to celebrate new album EURO-COUNTRY: The Dunboyne native will embark on a stint across Ireland and the UK ahead of releasing her third studio album. CMAT has unveiled a string of record store gigs in Ireland and the UK to toast her forthcoming album EURO-COUNTRY. The Irish popstar will perform in-store shows at HMV in Belfast on 28th August and Golden Discs in Dublin on 29th August, before heading to UK record stores in Liverpool, London, Brighton and more. See below for the full list of dates. Since announcing her third studio effort EURO-COUNTRY in March, CMAT has gone on to release two singles from the album, ‘Running/Planning’ and ‘Take a Sexy Picture Of Me’, with the latter going viral on TikTok with a dance by Sam Morris that has been affectionately called ‘the woke macarena.’ This Thursday, CMAT will release the third EURO-COUNTRY taster, ‘The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station’, before performing the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury next week on 27th June.
Baileys Harbor, WI | Vinyl, CDs Rise in Popularity: Every month for the last 24 months, Bay Vinyl Records has sold more new records than used records, according to co-owner Steve Allen. Many of the artists sought by young patrons—Taylor Swift, Conan Gray, Sabrina Carpenter—are simply too new to have second-hand copies of their work floating around quite yet, he said. But they’re responding to the demand for physical media. As an example, Allen pulled out a special-edition 45 rpm (revolutions per minute) record of “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan. “This one is really popular,” he said. “I keep selling out, so I’m stocking up for the summer.” Steve Allen and Alan Kassien opened their record store in Sturgeon Bay in 2018. In the last couple of years, they’ve seen the popularity of physical media resurge firsthand. Based on demand, the two have over tripled their selection of new releases since they opened.
Ibiza, SP | Vinyl-only listening bar opens in Ibiza, curated by Jaime Fiorito: A new chapter in Ibiza’s cultural offering began this weekend with the opening of Urusai Sunset Bar, a vinyl-only listening bar nestled within El Silencio beach restaurant. Curated by Jaime Fiorito, son of the late DJ Alfredo, the space marks a tribute to both Japanese jazz kissa heritage and the Balearic spirit his father helped define. Importantly, Urusai sets itself apart as the island’s first audiophile bar. It features a custom HiFi soundsystem, a hybrid analog-digital mixer, and an unwavering commitment to vinyl-only sets. Through this, Fiorito honors the deeply intentional listening environments pioneered in Japan while anchoring the experience in local musical tradition. …This launch arrives as a wider spotlight is cast on Japanese listening bar culture, with a new documentary series premiering at Sheffield DocFest this week. Following DJ Alfredo’s passing in December, Fiorito’s Urusai feels less like a tribute and more like a continuation—rooted in legacy, but looking ahead.
Coldplay to re-release back catalogue as EcoRecords made from recycled plastic bottles: As part of their sustainability mission, Coldplay are re-releasing all of their albums as clear 140g EcoRecords made from recycled plastic bottles. The records are produced using injection-moulding technology, which reduces carbon emissions during manufacture by 85% compared with traditional vinyl production. EcoRecords are manufactured using 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a lightweight and durable material that is easily recyclable and helps to reduce shipping emissions and end-of-life environmental impact. Each 140g injection-moulded LP is made from, on average, nine recycled PET plastic bottles. These bottles are recovered from consumers as part of a process known as post-consumer recycling (PCR), where they are cleaned, processed into small pellets and then molded into new items. While EcoRecords can be made using either virgin PET or recycled PET (rPET), Coldplay have chosen to use only rPET for all their EcoRecord products.
McIntosh Gives Its Stunning Audiophile Turntable Its First True Update In Years: It’s got the New York hi-fi maker’s signature look. And yes, those are vacuum tubes. McIntosh’s MTI100 isn’t your average turntable—it’s better, more beautiful, more versatile and definitely more expensive. Released in early 2019, the MTI100 is unique because it’s integrated with a lot of additional components—including a 50-watt Class D amplifier, a vacuum tube preamp, a phono preamplifier, and a Bluetooth receiver—so that it’s plug-and-play ready. That’s right, just hook it up to a high-quality pair of passive loudspeakers and you’re ready to rock. …Specifically, McIntosh has teamed up with Sun Records — the iconic record label that launched some of the most iconic names in rock and roll, such as Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash—to release a special edition of the turntable.
Electronic to reissue ‘Raise The Pressure’ and ‘Twisted Tenderness’ on vinyl: 2LP sets include first vinyl release for the duo’s third album. Electronic are to reissue their 1996 album Raise The Pressure and 1999’s Twisted Tenderness on vinyl, in August. Twisted Tenderness hasn’t been released on vinyl before, while Raise The Pressure hasn’t been on vinyl since its original release 29 years ago. Both albums will be available as 2LP sets, remastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios. Raise The Pressure saw Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr joined by former Kraftwerk musician Karl Bartos, who co-wrote six of the album’s 13 songs. It spawned the singles ‘Forbidden City’, ‘For You’ and ‘Second Nature’, with only ‘Forbidden City’ reaching the Top 20. While Bartos had departed by Twisted Tenderness, Electronic’s third album was co-produced by Arthur Baker and saw a backing band comprising Doves singer Jimi Goodwin on bass and Icicle Works/Black Grape percussionist Ged Lynch. Its sole single ‘Vivid’ reached No 17.
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