Austin, TX | Waterloo Records sets opening date for new location: The new store, located at 1105 N. Lamar Blvd., will open at the end of August. A date has been set for an iconic Austin record store to open the doors at its new location. Waterloo Records & Video will open at its new location at 1105 N Lamar Blvd. on Aug. 30, according to a report from the Austin Business Journal. The new location sits five blocks from the record store’s current location at 600 N. Lamar Blvd, which it will leave on Aug. 24. The new 10,000-square-foot storefront will offer 50% more space than the current store, allowing more room for larger events and shows. Increased parking spots will also be available. The new location will also bring new management, with current Waterloo owner John Kunz “passing the torch” to Gold Rush Vinyl CEO and founder Caren Kelleher and Armadillo Records CEO Trey Watson.
Hampton, NH | Vinyl lover spins lifelong passion into Wardtone Records in Hampton: Adam Ward has loved music and vinyl since he was 5, spinning his dad’s LPs on the family phonograph, singing along at the top of his lungs. He’s now channeling that lifelong passion into his newest venture—Wardtone Records—a shop set to celebrate its grand opening Aug. 1-2 at 835 Lafayette Road in Hampton with live performances and giveaways. The store offers a curated selection of new and vintage CDs, cassette tapes, with vinyl taking center stage. Ward, 43, said he spent 20 years working in finance, but his heart and side-gigs were always in the realm of music. Toying with the idea of opening a record store for years, Ward said he tested the waters at nearby Fox Run Mall with “pop-up” events, putting up a table and selling records and such. He also attended fairs and record shows. The result taught him something about himself.
Houston, TX | Vinal Edge celebrates 40 years spinning records in Houston: An iconic record store is celebrating 40 years spinning vinyl in Houston. Vinal Edge Records has been a go-to spot for music collectors since 1985, with one of the most diverse inventories of music in the city. The beloved record shop on 19th Street in the Heights carries everything from new to vintage vinyl, CDs, cassettes, stereo equipment and more. Owner Chuck Roast is a former radio DJ who first started selling records at punk rock shows in the 1980s, and eventually opened his own store. His love of music started at a young age. “I was lucky enough to have parents that has music around. We each had our own little suitcase record players and so we each immediately had our own record collections from the time I was a little kid,” said Roast. “And I discovered so many things that to this day I know carved my path musically.”
AU | Your Favourite Record Store Revealed: And the winner is… The Music’s search for Australia’s greatest record store is over! With six weeks of voting coming to a close, our readers have had their say, and the most popular stores from each state can now be revealed. Of course, everybody’s favourite record store is subjective…. the best store is the one you love. The real purpose of the exercise has been our journey across the weeks, being able to shine a light on what’s happening out there in the over 200 small stores we have uncovered, bringing tunes to loyal customers. Who wins is less important than the fun we’ve had profiling stores, finding out what punters are buying, shining a light on what’s challenging and of course celebrating the best bits of working in a record store. …Without any further ado, here are Australia’s favourite record stores for 2025.
Vinyl recycling at Record Industry: It defies the ravages of time again and again and celebrates an almost endless comeback—the record. A traditional company from Haarlem is partly responsible for the previous peak in the seventies, as well as for the modern boom: Record Industry. Since 1958, thousands of records in all sorts of colour variations have been produced every day west of Amsterdam. To ensure that not a single gram of the precious PVC plastic is wasted, Record Industry recycles production waste directly on site using shredding technology from Weima and Wanner. While many pressing plants had to close at the end of the 1990s due to the triumph of the compact disc (CD), the record industry has managed to remain successful in the music business to this day. This is now paying off, as records have once again become a sought-after medium in recent years, which is not only appreciated by music lovers. In addition to the nostalgia and value, the quality of the analogue sound is increasingly preferred.
“Superman” 2025 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Vinyl 2XLP: Entertainment Earth are now taking pre-orders for Mondo Music’s “Superman” 2025 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Vinyl 2XLP. Mondo Music, in proud partnership with WaterTower Music, presents the first-ever vinyl release of SUPERMAN—Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, featuring the dynamic score from composers John Murphy and David Fleming, with the legendary original Superman theme by John Williams. This epic release celebrates the soaring cinematic debut of James Gunn’s SUPERMAN, the first feature film in the newly imagined DC Universe. Pressed on 2 x 180g solid Red & Blue vinyl and cut at Abbey Road Studios, this 33 1/3 RPM double LP is housed in a deluxe double pocket tip-on jacket with product design by Alan Hynes. Manufactured at GZ Media, the package delivers not just stunning visuals, but an immersive listening experience worthy of the Man of Steel.
Sonny Clark’s ‘Sonny’s Crib’ Joins Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series: The 1957 album from one of the finest piano players of the hard bop generation was his second for Blue Note. Blue Note Records has announced their Classic Vinyl Series picks for September 2025, and one title will be Sonny Clark’s 1957 record Sonny’s Crib. One of the finest piano players of the hard bop generation, Clark’s second record on Blue Note features a swinging set of originals and standards. This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. Sonny’s Crib is scheduled for release on September 19. Sonny’s Crib uses the same sextet format of Clark’s Blue Note debut, 1957’s Dial “S” for Sonny. Only trombonist Curtis Fuller remained from that session’s line-up and the album featured John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Donald Byrd on trumpet, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Taylor on drums.
Slipknot’s Deluxe 6-LP Box Set Sells Out Instantly: 40 Unreleased Tracks, Indigo Ranch Demos & Rare Live Cuts Included. Well that sucks. Slipknot fans wasted no time snapping up the newly released limited edition 6-LP box set, which sold out almost instantly despite its $249.99 price tag. Limited to just 100 units worldwide, this ultra-rare collector’s item celebrates the band’s early era with exclusive material, unseen artwork, and over 40 previously unreleased tracks—making it one of the most coveted Slipknot releases in years. The Slipknot box set includes 59 total recordings, including the band’s legendary Indigo Ranch demos and mixes, unreleased rarities, and high-octane live performances from 1999 and 2000, all spread across six colored vinyl LPs. Fans also received nine exclusive Slipknot photo cards, and a curated selection of never-before-seen images from the band’s personal archives, making this a must-have for diehards and vinyl collectors alike.
New Vinyl Pressings Are Getting Worse as Labels Cut Corners to Meet Demand, According to Industry Insiders: Even records worth hundreds are arriving warped, scratched, and noisy straight out of the shrink wrap. For years, new records were seen as the safer bet as they’re expected to be cleaner, flatter, and less hassle. Now, that assumption is slipping. Buyers are returning expensive albums for the same reasons they once avoided used ones, such as scratches, warps, and surface noise. And it’s not just a few bad apples. Even trusted audiophile labels and premium reissues are getting called out.
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