UK | Physical sales growth accelerates in first half of 2026 as vinyl closes in on CD: Physical music sales growth has accelerated during the first half of 2026, Music Week can reveal. According to Music Week analysis of BPI figures based on Official Charts Company data, vinyl sales are driving that performance—and the format is closing in on CD for supremacy in terms of volume. Based on the current trajectory, vinyl should become the leading format later this year. After 19 years of decline, album sales across all physical formats grew for a second consecutive year in 2025, maintaining 2024’s 1.4% growth level to come in at 17.6m units. During the first half of 2026, physical albums sales increased further by 3.7% year-on-year (8,125,574 units).
Pomona, CA | ‘Right place, right moment’: DBZ Books ‘N’ Records opens in Pomona. DBZ Books ‘N’ Records celebrated its grand opening last week with a ribbon cutting and free concert at the former YMCA building, recently refurbished and rebranded as The Union, at 350 N. Garey Ave., Pomona. The event also included free drinks from Gud2Go Cafe, a skateboard giveaway from Pawnshop Skate Co., and a raffle. Plans for the new Pomona location came about suddenly, shortly after owner Dilver Lizama toured the architecturally significant 1922 YMCA structure. “We thought, ‘Oh my God, this is a beautiful building,’” Lizama said. “There’s so much going on here. We could definitely bring a little bit of DBZ into Pomona. It felt like the right place, right moment.”
Austin, TX | Antone’s Pilots Vinyl Recycling Program: Antone’s Record Shop is joining Warner Music Group and independent record stores across the nation in a pilot vinyl recycling program. Last month, a manufacturing study by WMG, GZ Media, and Abbey Road Studios found that recycled vinyl can be successfully reprocessed into high-quality new pressings, opening the door to reduce physical media’s carbon footprint and provide a new future for bargain bin duds and damaged records. Austinites can return damaged or unplayable vinyl records to Antone’s collection bin for evaluation by the program’s recovery partner, Virterras Materials.
Okotoks, AL | Tipper Records reopening this Saturday (7/4) after relocating from Okotoks: The former Okotoks-based Tipper Records is back in business. The vintage vinyl store will host its grand opening at 47 Legacy View S.E. on Saturday, July 4, beginning at 11 a.m. Previously located on McRae Street in Okotoks, the store was forced to relocate due to unforeseen circumstances. In May, owner Jaica Tipper announced the business had found a new home, which is now ready to welcome customers. “I’ve been missing all of my regulars and I’m excited that it’s not too far from Okotoks,” says Tipper. She says many of her longtime customers have already told her they plan to attend the grand opening. “A lot of them were like, ‘I will be there right at opening lined up outside,’ so it should be good to see everybody and I’m excited for that,” she says.
Alexandria, VA | Crooked Beat Records aims for August reopening at new home in Del Ray: Crooked Beat Records is staying in Del Ray. Store owner Bill Daly announced on Tuesday (June 30) that the record store is expected to open at its new 2101B Mount Vernon Avenue location in August. Daly and his staff were forced to close their previous basement location up the street at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue after significant flooding in January. Daly said that a longtime supporter bought the building at 2101B Mount Vernon Avenue. It’s a two-story townhouse with 950 square feet, and has been vacant for more than a decade, according to neighbors. “This is going to be our new location,” Daly said. “It’s going to have an upstairs and a downstairs and that’s different for us.”
Glasgow, UK | Taylor Momsen to appear at Assai Records in Glasgow: Gossip Girl actress turned rock star Taylor Momsen is set to make a special in-store appearance at one of Glasgow’s most beloved record shops. The Pretty Reckless frontwoman will be heading to Assai Records on December 2 for a signing session, giving fans the chance to meet her in person. The event kicks off at 8pm, with priority ticket bundles now on sale. Assai Records announced the exciting news on Instagram, and tickets are expected to sell fast given Momsen’s devoted fanbase. Taylor Momsen, who fronts The Pretty Reckless, is best known to TV fans for playing ambitious, fashion-obsessed teen Jenny Humphrey in Gossip Girl.
Vancouver, CA | Vancouver’s West End to get groovy new books and record store: They’re going from New West to the West End. Groove Cat is moving from New West to the West End. The used book and record store originally opened in New Westminster in 2022. After four years at 775 6th St., owners John and Cathy Hughes decided to shuttter that store. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Groove Cat Books & Records will be leaving New Westminster and relocating to Vancouver’s West End,” reads a post from Groove Cat. Over the years Groove Cat built up a community around books and music, with open mic nights, author readings and a book club. Originally, the hope was to run two Groove Cats, but that wasn’t in the cards.
Hampshire, IL | Reliving the magic at Kane County’s favorite retro shops and eateries: …at Superjumbo, Mancuso and his team recently completed combining their two former business ventures, Superjumbo Records and the Yetee Station Arcade into one business under one roof at one much larger location. The new Superjumbo features an array of 20 pinball machines and around 100 arcade video games, including titles from the ’80s like Pac- Man, Frogger and Donkey Kong, and standards from the 1990s, such as Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, NBA Jam and more. …The mixed demographics at the arcade carries over to the records store portion of the Superjumbo experience, as well, he said, where older visitors can remember the experience of digging through the stacks to find new additions to their collection and younger visitors may be experiencing the art of browsing and discovering physical media…
Sugar Land, TX | Record-playing wine bar Vino and Vinyl now open at Sugar Land Town Square: Vino and Vinyl opened its second location in early March. A grand opening celebration is scheduled for March 17-18. The new wine bar in Sugar Land Town Square is located at 15977 City Walk, Sugar Land. Like his original site in Missouri City, owner Paul Killingsworth said the new location has a wine bar and record store. It also has community tables for customers, a full kitchen and sells items including sandwiches, pizzas, desserts and meal specials. Vino and Vinyl will also expand its craft beer selection at both locations.
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