Bend, OR | Stereo Planet returns to downtown Bend with grand reopening celebration: A longtime Central Oregon audio destination is making its return to downtown Bend, aiming to reconnect the community with a deeper, more intentional way of listening to music. Stereo Planet, a Bend business with a 45-year history, will officially reopen its doors during First Friday on June 5 at its location on NW Bond Street. The reimagined space is designed to offer more than just equipment—it is built around creating an immersive, shared music experience. The reopening comes through a collaboration with Patrick Smith, owner of Smith Rock Records and a longtime Central Oregon music figure, along with his team. Together, they are blending decades of audio expertise and record-collecting culture to create a destination for both longtime audiophiles and newcomers.
Brussels, BE | Dua Lipa recommends Brussels record shop to her fans: British-Albanian pop star Dua Lipa has named a record store in Brussels as the “must-visit for any vinyl lover” in her list, with over a hundred favourite locations around the world. Known for her taste in culture, fashion, and travel, as well as her chart-topping hits, Dua Lipa has had her own weekly lifestyle newsletter and website—called ‘Service95’—where she gives tips on culture, travel and fashion, among other things. In collaboration with Google and her ‘Service95’, Dua Lipa has shared her personal travel list for go-to places. In Brussels, she spotlights Tropicall Records as a must-visit place for record lovers. Tropicall Records is an independent record label located in Marolles—one of the hippest, most bohemian neighbourhoods in Brussels—which supplies locals with “extraordinary gems.”
Mandeville, LA | From Passion Project to Community Staple: 22 Sound Records Keeps Louisiana Well-Versed: Most industries must adhere to strict rules. Construction sites comply with safety regulations, financial advisors must be wary of illegal trades, and corporate offices must follow the guidelines of a well-documented chain of command. A record store, though, has always been more than a business. It is a community hub for the music-minded, a place for your taste to grow, and an extension of the ones running it. Products are sold, but the tangible goods are art itself, and dealing in art is not for the faint of heart. It seemed to be the perfect fit for Manuel and Kimberly Gemperli.
Glasgow, UK | Huge queues of 500 fans line up outside Glasgow record shop to meet top movie star: Hundreds of fans braved the Glasgow rain and snaked along Argyle Street today as a Hollywood star drew huge queues outside HMV for a rare in-store signing. Jeff Goldblum visited the HMV on Glasgow’s Argyle Street at 12.30pm to meet fans and sign exclusive artcards, prompting crowds of around 500 people to gather outside the store despite the wet weather. The 73-year-old actor and musician is promoting his new album, Night Blooms, which will be released on June 5 and supported by a world tour. These include his Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo, singer Charlie Puth, British artist Dodie, and jazz musician Melody Gardot. Erivo joins Goldblum on a duet of “If I Only Had a Brain,” the classic song from The Wizard of Oz.
Falmouth, UK | Jam Records, Falmouth, could sell Verdant Brewing beers: A popular record shop could soon be able to sell alcohol and host live music if a new proposal is approved. However, Cornwall Council has been asked to reject the premises licence application, meaning a council sub-committee will meet this week to decide if Jam Records in Falmouth will be able to sell a renowned brewery’s beers. The application has been made by Green Spaces (Cornwall) Ltd, a company registered at Unit 30, Parkengue, Kernick Industrial Estate in Penryn, which is the same address as Verdant Brewing Company Ltd. The companies share directors. Verdant already operates a brewery taproom at its Penryn base, as well as running the Verdant Seafood Bar on Quay Street, Falmouth. It also recently took over the Seaview Pub on Wodehouse Terrace in the town.
Oxford, UK | Pop-up shop for vinyl records fans returns to Didcot centre: Fans of vinyl records gathered at an arts centre in Didcot to get their hands on collectable albums. DJ Richard Strange ran Music Box record store in Wallingford until it closed in 2019 due to tough trading conditions. In recent years, he has been running a pop-up record store at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot to take advantage of the “vinyl revival”, a growing trend for music fans to choose to buy vinyl records instead of downloading songs. Usually Mr Strange runs the pop-up at the arts centre on the last Saturday of the month, and it was busy with music fans at the weekend. While he no longer has a record shop on the high street, he retains an extensive collection to sell and play.
Chattanooga, TN | Dallos Vinyl Love Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary With “Drop The Needle: Charity Edition.” Dallos Vinyl Love, the locally owned vinyl record shop located at the corner of Market and Main Street in Chattanooga’s Southside, is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a community-centered event designed to bring people together through music and purpose. On Saturday, June 13, the shop will host Drop the Needle at Dallos Vinyl Love: Charity Edition from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., a “one-of-a-kind anniversary celebration blending vinyl culture, curated music sets by area community leaders and charitable giving.” Officials said, “Since opening its doors one year ago, Dallos Vinyl Love has become much more than a record store.
KR | BTS turns to vinyl instead of streaming to mark 13th anniversary: Next week, the members of BTS will arrive in the southeastern port city of Busan to take the stage for a massive, two-day stadium celebration marking 13 years since their debut. But ahead of that massive homecoming, the world’s biggest boy band announced Tuesday that it is releasing a highly personal, limited-edition vinyl project—one that trades slick pop production for candid, behind-the-scenes conversations about anxiety and survival. …The special vinyl will be sold through Weverse, the global fan community platform run by its agency, HYBE. By anchoring its 13th year with a tangible record rather than a quick digital drop, the group is leaning into the nostalgic, tactile side of music—giving its audience a permanent keepsake of a major milestone.
Why Lorde’s Vinyl Releases Continue To Shape Modern Pop Culture Collecting: …One reason Lorde’s records work so well on vinyl is that her artistic style naturally complements the format. Her music encourages listeners to slow down and absorb entire albums rather than skipping between tracks. Albums like Pure Heroine, Melodrama, and Solar Power each carry distinct visual themes and emotional moods. …Vinyl culture also values authenticity and atmosphere. Lorde’s music often feels intimate, reflective, and cinematic. That aligns closely with the ritualistic nature of listening to records at home. Many younger collectors are discovering that vinyl listening feels more intentional than streaming. Instead of shuffling songs in the background, listeners sit with an album from beginning to end. Lorde’s work benefits greatly from that type of engagement.
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