Watch Out Vinyl, Tariffs Are Coming For You: As we all know, one of the many bright spots in the music industry recently has been vinyl sales. Even though the sales figures can be deceptive as to the actual number, it’s still a large revenue source for the just about everyone in that particular food chain. That said, the growth of vinyl is threatened today thanks the the new tariffs the government has recently put in place, thanks to increased production costs. It turns out that the raw materials required to press a record in the U.S., which include nickel, PVC, paperboard, and steel, are directly affected by these extra fees. Not only that, lacquer disc production (the master disc that make the stampers) are only made outside the United States these days since the Apollo Masters fire, and there are no Direct Metal Mastering machines operating in the U.S.
Golden Valley, MN | Down in the Valley: Four Minnesota businesses, four different tariff tales. All four of these businesses are weighing uncertainty. …Back up to Golden Valley, at Down in the Valley record store, tariffs are striking a blue note. “The problem is as a small retailer, we can’t just absorb these small added costs,” said Scott Farrell, general manager of Down in the Valley. “We are already running on thin margins the way it is. So, we have to pass that onto the consumer.” Sixty percent of the products he sells are imported. Suppliers of action figures, toys, incense and turntables are already charging higher prices. “The entry-level turntable retailed at 129. Now it’s at 179,” said Farrell.
Victoria, AU | Record Store Profile: Dutch Vinyl VIC. The Music’s search for Australia’s best record store is on. If this is your favourite, or you’d like to discover more great shops to visit, head to vote.themusic.com.au and go into the draw to win a $200 voucher to spend at the store. …We have about 12 staff members at Dutch Vinyl, forming a dynamic and diverse team. Our crew is a mix of shop staff, secondhand record pricers, a new record buyer, and the online order team, among other roles. Everyone brings their own unique skills and passion for music to the table, making Dutch Vinyl a vibrant and welcoming place for both customers and staff alike. …The store opened in 2016. After arriving in Australia with just a bundle of CD’s in my backpack I soon moved on to MP3. Within a few years I had such a large iTunes library that it became difficult to choose what to play. This led me back to vinyl records and I fell in love with them all over again.
Tokyo, JP | A music lover’s guide to Tokyo: Shop for your favorites at a record store. Ask anyone who has visited Tokyo about record shopping and they will all mention Disk Union. The behemoth music retailer has been around since 1967 and has multiple stores across the city. In Shinjuku alone, we’re talking four separate buildings within a three-block radius, containing various levels that cover 18 different genres. Music lovers will need a map—and fortunately, you can find one online or at the front of any of their stores. Tokyo is also home to several independent record stores. Shimokitazawa is a neighborhood revered by crate-diggers, and you’ll find plenty to peruse at Pianola Records, Jet Set, Flash Disc Ranch (featured in the Wim Wenders’ film Perfect Days), and City Country City—a bar, café, record store, and small venue owned by Keiichi Sokabe, the frontman of revered Japanese band Sunny Day Service.
Willernie, MN | Warped Records to open in Willernie: A vinyl record store and experience is coming to Willernie. Warped Records, owned by Chris Meads, will host a grand opening Saturday, July 12. The store is located at 313 Stillwater Road. Meads has built up his record collection for the last 40 years.
Manila, PH | One Stop Record Fair: A Father’s Day vinyl affair. This is where you should bring your music-loving dads, or anyone who just loves analog music, next time. The One Stop Record Fair: Vinyl in Motion Dad’s Day Edition is a haven for audiophiles, collectors, and most especially, dads looking for the perfect soundtrack to life’s most unforgettable moments. Staged at the Ayala Malls TriNoma Activity Center from June 13 to 15, the quarterly music event lined up 30 sellers of vinyl records, CDs, cassette tapes, audio equipment, vintage finds, art merch, and collectibles. Wooden crates filled with records across nearly all genres—from rock to jazz—invited families to rummage through and rediscover timeless music treasures.
Edinburgh, UK | Murrayfield Ice Rink are selling their vinyl collection to the public: Murrayfield Ice Rink are holding a vinyl record sale and auction this Saturday, selling their large collection of vinyls that they play to skaters. Collecting a vast collection of vinyl over the years, Murrayfield Ice Rink are hosting a large sale at the arena, giving the public a chance to buy the records that have been used to entertain skaters and audiences for years. Within the auction, there will be 12”, 10” and 7” vinyl alongside, promotional vinyl copies, DJ pressings, advance copies, posters and picture discs. Covering a wide variety of genres, including punk, metal, dance, R & B and many more, the vast collection includes a large amount of rare older records. The catalogue of listings is available here and includes many rare collectable records including an original 12” single of Joy Divion’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart.’
Hollywood, CA | Book Soup turns the page on 50 years: Few bookstores are left. Even fewer boast a history like Book Soup. The West Hollywood institution on the Sunset Strip celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 21 with complimentary cake, decorations and its regular programming of book signings and author meet and greets. The iconic small business, founded by Glenn Goldman in 1975 as the “bookseller to the great and infamous,” boasts an endless list of famous names who have held events at the store, including Patti Smith, Drew Barrymore, Hunter S. Thompson and Muhammad Ali, to name a few. The store, which was purchased by Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena in 2009, is currently up for sale. In celebration of the 50th anniversary, store manager Jess Amodeo said the store is recommitting its mission to serve the community with the hope of lasting beyond another 50 years.
Three Billy Idol Classics Coming to Vinyl: The ‘Don’t Stop’ EP (1981), ‘Whiplash Smile’ (1986), and ‘Charmed Life’ (1990) are all receiving limited-edition vinyl releases. Billy Idol has announced vinyl reissues of three classic releases: the Don’t Stop EP (1981), Whiplash Smile (1986), and Charmed Life (1990). All three are available for pre-order now. In addition to limited-edition vinyl, all three are available in Atmos. Charmed Life will be pressed on 2LPs for the first time, featuring standard black vinyl and a limited-edition 35th Anniversary lavender-colored vinyl. Whiplash Smile will be available as either a standard 1LP black vinyl or a limited-edition 1LP opaque tangerine color vinyl. Don’t Stop will be manufactured on 1LP standard black vinyl or a limited-edition lemon-yellow colored LP.
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