Los Angeles, CA | Vinyl records are back, but they’re polluting the planet. These labels are trying to help: …there’s an inevitable downside to anything that’s partially made of liquid dinosaur bones. Modern vinyl records are crafted with PVC resin, which makes up more than 75% of an average disk The synthetic polymer itself is made of chlorine and fossil fuel-derived feed stock. To put its harm in perspective, a first-of-its-kind report from Vinyl Alliance, published in June 2024, found that 50% of a record’s carbon emissions come from this resin. The carbon footprint of a single LP was estimated to be roughly equal to the pollution a gas-powered vehicle emits over a 3-mile trip. It adds up quick, considering that 46.8 million new records were sold last year.
Auckland, NZ | ‘We exist to meet a need’: Real Groovy turns 45, surviving five moves and the changing habits of music fans. It has survived five moves, multiple economic downturns, and the changing listening habits of music fans, but Real Groovy is arguably experiencing one of its best eras as it celebrates 45 years in business. Having first opened in 1981 on Mount Eden Road, the Auckland record store moved onto Queen Street in 1987, firstly on the corner with Turner Street before settling into what became its spiritual home for 25 years at 438 Queen Street. Further moves followed in 2016 and 2019, before they finally settled in their current spot on Victoria Street in 2023. They have now been there for three years and, in 2026, are celebrating their 45th birthday, making them one of the oldest remaining retail stores in the downtown area.
Siouz Falls, SD | What keeps the record industry spinning: In a world where streaming is everywhere, one industry hasn’t gone away. In fact, it’s been gaining new interest. Among the rows of records at Crosstown Vinyl in Sioux Falls, owner Steve Zastrow is keeping the past spinning. “You have to have a wide variety of stuff because people have such varied interest in music styles,” Zastrow said. From vinyl records to DVDs, cassettes, even old record players, Zastrow says demand for the so-called “old-school” media hasn’t skipped a beat, even in the age of streaming. “I’ve kind of got a theory that a lot of the younger people, they’ve probably grown up with screens in their face their whole life, and they really want something that’s more of a tactile experience or something you can actually hold,” Zastrow said.
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Sheffield, UK | Shoe shop transformed into gallery and tiny cinema: A long-vacant shoe shop has been transformed into a record store, gallery and micro cinema to celebrate the city’s heritage. The Victorian retail unit on Sheffield’s Chapel Walk has been revamped by a local curator and archivist who also plans to use the space as a small performance venue and who wanted a new lease of life for these “beautiful units sitting forlorn and empty.” Alex Wilson said his new venture, called Memory Dance, will be a “champion of Sheffield, Yorkshire and Northern culture.” “It’s a free space. If it’s old and it moves then I’m all over it and will look after it, care for it and give access to it,” he said. …The first Memory Dance exhibition celebrates old record shops in the city, from Bradleys to Virgin.
Brooklyn, NY | Traveling Record Fair VINYLCON! Makes NYC Debut in Brooklyn on June 13 and 14: Calling all Record collectors! VINYLCON! is touching down in New York City for the first time ever next weekend. The much-anticipated two-day record convention will make its debut at Industry City in Brooklyn on June 13 and 14. VinylCon! will feature more than fifty vendors from across the country bringing tens of thousands of records for a weekend centered around crate digging, collecting and music discovery. If that’s not enough, the Brooklyn edition of VinylCon! will boast an impressive DJ lineup curated by world famous DJ and collector Skeme Richards. …All-vinyl DJ sets will be ongoing throughout the weekend from the likes of Arthur Baker, Edan, Large Professor, Boogie Blind, DJ Prestige, Monk-One, Prince Klassen, Sky Society, MC Boing Boing, Mr Fine Wine, DJ Visty and Richards.
Meet the man behind Audio-Technica’s new £9999 turntable cartridge: Yosuke Koizumi tells us more about the range-topping AT-MCD1 moving coil cartridge’s design. Yosuke Koizumi is Audio-Technica’s Cartridge Global Product Manager. He started working at the company in 2002 and joined the cartridge development team after a year of training. Around 8 years ago, Koizumi was promoted to manager status, giving him the responsibility for developing the brand’s cartridges and turntables. We had the chance to sit down with Yosuke Koizumi at the High End Vienna show and find out more about the technology behind Audio-Technica’s new range-topping AT-MCD1 moving coil cartridge (£9999/$11,000).
Chicago, IL | Chicago Gallery to Play Records and Other Recordings Created Inside Midwest Prisons and Jails: The year is 1970 and 2,117 incarcerated people have gathered in the yard of Cook County Jail. Before the crowd, an emcee gives thanks to the “beloved” sheriff and a “dear friend,” the chief justice of the criminal court. Both names are met with a chorus of boos. Then a third name was announced: B.B. King. A loud applause ensues. King’s “Live in Cook County Jail” performance is just one of several vinyls recorded in Midwest jails and prisons that will be spun at the gallery Walls Turned Sideways on June 12. The listening session is a collaboration between Chicago-based artist Marc Fischer and Josh MacPhee, a founding member of the Brooklyn-based Interference Archive, which collects cultural materials produced by social movements.
The Rise of Personalized Vinyl Records: How to Create Your Own Custom-Labeled Album. In an era increasingly dominated by digital streaming, vinyl records have captured the hearts of music lovers all over again. The tactile beauty and nostalgic feel of vinyl bring listeners closer to their favorite artists and albums in a way that digital copies simply cannot. Today, it is easier than ever to create your own vinyl record, offering enthusiasts a meaningful way to own their music physically and artistically. Personalized vinyl records stand out not only for their retro appeal but also for the complete creative freedom they offer. Whether you wish to immortalize a personal playlist, commemorate a special occasion, or design a one-of-a-kind gift, custom vinyl brings a hands-on experience to music collecting that streaming cannot match.
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