Essex, UK | South Essex vinyl record shop opening this weekend: A new vinyl shop is ready to open its doors this weekend as a labour of love from the music-loving family at the helm. Dead Wax Vinyl opens this Saturday on Rayleigh High Street under the ownership of Melissa and Ben Crisp. The couple are hoping to bring classic vinyl records back to south Essex as well as hosting pop-up events at the new shop. In the age of streaming, the pair are adamant the store will meet a demand for record lovers in Rayleigh who have been deprived of a place to go for their fix. Melissa said: “There’s a lot of people that love vinyl, and the younger generation are getting back into the physical aspect of playing a record. “There’s not been anything like this in Rayleigh before, and people have to go to Southend or Leigh for records—well no longer.”
Justin Barry shares insights on Gen Z and real ownership with Ad Age: In a recent piece for Ad Age, Justin Barry, Associate Strategist at tms, explored the powerful shift in Gen Z’s growing desire for true ownership and authentic, real-world experiences. While many brands focus heavily on digital channels, Justin explained that this generation wants more than screen time, they’re looking for tangible ways to engage. From collecting vinyl records and physical books to joining sports leagues and seeking out nostalgic products, Gen Z is embracing “touching grass” and craving meaningful, sensory experiences. Justin encouraged brands to reimagine how they connect with young consumers by offering more physical products, reviving archival content, and creating spaces where they can socialize and express themselves on their own terms.
Holland, MI | Books and Mortar opening Holland sister store that offers books and records: A new books and records store is set to open in Holland’s Washington Square this August. Jenny Kinne and Josh Johnson are preparing to open Antidote Books and Records at 447 Washington Ave. near 19th Street, occupying part of the building that used to be Pereddies. The store will officially open the evening of Aug. 22 with a party that will feature drinks and live music. The shop—a sister store to Books and Mortar in Grand Rapids, which Kinne owns—will offer a mix of used and new books and records, plus community events like book clubs, listening nights, live music and author talks. Some events will make it easier to get into the two hobbies, like events where people can learn about what equipment they need to get for a record player. It will “marry” the vibes that typically come from a bookstore and a record shop into a fun, playful and welcoming space, they said.
Brisbane, AU | The House That Riley Built—Glitter Records Is Home To 35,000 Treasures: All that glitters is not gold, but there’s definitely some real treasure for vinyl collectors and pop-culture lovers to unearth at Glitter Records in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. Riley Fitzgerald is the owner and manager of Glitter Records, a brick-and-mortar record store nestled along the ultra-urban California Lane near the corner of Brunswick and McLachlan streets. A former music journalist, Riley began trading vinyl in the lucrative online space, driven by a curiosity to explore the dynamics of pop-culture and a desire to preserve the physical media of our past. What started as an online side hustle has quickly blossomed into a full-time business. “The curiosity started when I did some blog posts about record stores,” Riley explains.
Seapark, MY | This New Cafe In PJ Is A Cosy Date Spot For Music Lovers With Vinyl Listening Stations & Over 400 Records: Spotify may have made playlisting our new vibe, but there’s just something about escaping the noise of the digital world and celebrating the scratchy magic of a full album on a record player. While other cities are seeing a revival of listening bars, in Klang Valley, there are just a handful of spots where music isn’t playlisted or dissolved into the background. This includes Eternyl Vinyl Cafe, a cosy spot that recently cropped up in PJ’s Sea Park. It closely channels a Japanese kissa, or listening bar, with listening stations where you can zone out and listen to music that feels like a massage. Music is the main course at Eternyl. The cafe is a time capsule of sound, with a collection of vinyl records for audiophiles to indulge in the beauty of music the old-fashioned way.
Fort Lauderdale, FL | We Got The Beats Will Host Laufey Release Party: Fans of the Icelandic pop artist can preview her new album A Matter of Time at an event in Fort Lauderdale. The Fort Lauderdale–based vinyl shop We Got the Beats will host a midnight release party for A Matter of Time, the new album by jazz-pop star Laufey, on Thursday, August 21. Both store locations, Oakland Park and Lauderhill, will kick off the festivities at 11 p.m., ahead of the official album drop at midnight. Attendees will get a first listen to the album before it officially releases, snag a complimentary poster while supplies last, and receive an exclusive Laufey pin with the record purchase. One lucky fan at each store will also win a limited-edition Laufey tote bag. For those feeling anxious pre-orders can be placed on the vinyl shop’s website.
Chess Records Celebrates 75 Years of Blues, Rock & Soul With Audiophile Vinyl Series: In 2025 Chess Records, one of the most influential music labels in history, proudly celebrates its 75th anniversary. Many scholars cite the 1951 Chess single “Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats as the first rock and roll recording. The Rolling Stones literally took their band name from the title of the Muddy Waters Chess single, “Rollin’ Stone.” And the story of the pioneering label inspired the 2008 feature film, Cadillac Records, starring Beyoncé. From electrifying Chicago blues and rock & roll to stirring soul and R&B, Chess Records helped shape American music and inspired generations worldwide. To mark this historic milestone, Chess will launch a comprehensive 75th anniversary campaign this October with a curated series of audiophile vinyl reissues.
XTC / Drums and Wires CD+blu-ray with Dolby Atmos Mix: New Steven Wilson Atmos Mix + extras. XTC’s 1979 album Drums and Wires is being reissued in September as a new CD+blu-ray edition with a new Dolby Atmos Mix from Steven Wilson, an updated 5.1 Mix (originally created in 2014) and a host of other extras. The CD features the original 2014 Steven Wilson stereo mix of the album, with minor revisions for 2025, along with singles and additional tracks. …The album was originally produced by Steve Lillywhite but 2025 & 2014 material is mixed & produced by Steven Wilson. This CD+blu-ray set is presented in ‘paper sleeve’ / mini-LP CD / vinyl replica packaging with booklet including photos & album lyrics. In addition to this format, Steven’s 2014 mix (with the minor revisions) is available for the first time on vinyl—a 200g LP pressing at that.
AU | SA couple’s wedding vinyl returns home after 56 years and 10,000km trek: When Dorothy Nicholls married Max Samuel on January 25, 1969, a church full of friends and family heard them exchange their vows. But there was someone else listening in the congregation that Saturday evening—a sound recordist who captured their entire wedding service on a vinyl record. Now, 56 years and 10,000 kilometres later, that record has come full circle and found its way back to the Samuel family in South Australia. Max and Dorothy’s daughter, Heidi Samuel, who lives in Tailem Bend, had no idea her late parents had recorded their wedding service until she saw a Facebook post. Max and Dorothy Samuel’s entire wedding service was recorded on vinyl. The post came from a stranger, Barney Tompkins, who lives in Western Australia’s south west. Barney had found the vinyl recording of Max and Dorothy’s nuptials in a Vinnies op shop while holidaying in Darwin.
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