AU | How Gen Z and the TikTok generation are spending big on vinyl records: The revival of independent record stores is thriving in Australia, with one city home to the greatest number of bricks and mortar retailers you’ll find on the suburban high street. There are more than 119 independent vinyl music stores in Melbourne alone – the boom is in part thanks to an online trend. We only have to turn to Tik Tok to see the growing trend toward vinyl. where more than 28,000 posts use the hashtag #VinylLovers, amassing more than 111 million views. At last check, more than 642,500 posts were tagged with #VinylCollection, and close to three million have tagged vinyl. It’s part of the reason why many listeners head in store to embrace the nostalgia of holding vinyl, limited pressings, and connecting with an old-school pastime.
Lorong Telok, SG | Darker Than Wax’s Dexter Colt just opened a record shop on Lorong Telok: A new haunt with rare finds for house heads, techno fiends, jazz obsessives and fans of soul, disco, broken beat and more. Singapore’s latest record shop has entered the chat—meet Lifted Trax. Opened officially on August 5, the all-new record store digs deep into dance, electronic, jazz, soul, ambient and all the wonderfully niche corners in between, with both a physical store and an online catalogue for those who prefer their crate-digging from the comfort of home. At the helm is Singapore selector and budding producer and label head Dexter Colt, whose musical appetite runs from deep, leftfield house and trippy techno to dub-heavy frequencies. With more than a decade behind the decks, Colt has built a reputation for digging out the obscure, shaped in part by pirate radio and New York club legends.
Sydney, AU | Sydney Scores A New Record Store, Live Music + Community Space: Sydney music lovers, there’s a new spot to add to your crate-digging itinerary. Independent music merch company Jungle Merchandise is celebrating its ninth birthday by opening Jungle HQ, a new record store, event space and music industry hub in the heart of Marrickville. Opening its doors to the public this August, the new Inner West digs will be part traditional record store and part community music space, hosting everything from album launches and artist pop-ups to intimate live performances, acoustic sets and fan events, alongside curated collections of vinyl and merch. It marks the first public-facing space from Jungle Merchandise, which began life in a Newtown share house back in 2017.
Indianapolis, IN | The state fair’s pop-up vinyl shop offers nostalgia and a return to physical media: When Andy Skinner, a Marion County resident, decided to open Indy CD & Vinyl on Broad Ripple Avenue 24 years ago, he wanted to use his passion for music to amplify the modern vinyl record resurgence. From Ariana Grande to Fleetwood Mac, Indy Vinyl has generations of music and movies for sale in various reminiscent forms. As the internet has grown, so has the rapid spread of ‘80s and ‘90s nostalgia. …When kids began dressing up as “Ghostbusters” for Halloween again, the interest in revamping the franchise followed. Skinner’s pop-up shop, next to the “REWIND” exhibit in the Harvest Pavilion at the Indiana State Fair, features this nostalgic vibe.
Sandy, UT | Sandy record store sets record for largest physical media giveaway in 24 hours: A Sandy record store made history after breaking a record for the most physical media given away by a record store in 24 hours. The event at Daybreak Records drew hundreds of people from across the Wasatch Front and highlighted the continued popularity of vinyl records and other physical formats in the age of streaming. …Inside the store, customers can browse thousands of records spanning nearly every genre, from classic rock and jazz to modern pop and hip-hop. For many visitors, the experience is just as important as the music itself. Paul said much of the store’s inventory comes from local collectors who sell or trade records. After realizing he had accumulated a large amount of inventory, he decided to find a way to give back.
Minneapolis, MN | Owner of Vintage Music Company intends to sell south Minneapolis shop: Scott Holthus founded the business 34 years ago. A longtime Minneapolis shop that’s filled to the brim with 78 rpm records, vintage radios, record players and other pieces of music history—including one-of-a-kind artifacts—will soon be for sale. Vintage Music Company owner Scott Holthus announced his plan to sell the business, near the intersection of East 38th Street and Cedar Avenue, in a statement Saturday. “This is a difficult post to write. After 34 years of business, 28 years in this building, I have made the decision to sell the shop,” Holthus shared. …Holthus told Twin Cities Public Television in 2021 that he believes Vintage Music Company is the last record shop the country to stock and sell 78 rpm records and cylinder recordings. At that time, he estimated he had roughly one quarter of a million 78s catalogued inside the store.
Birmingham, AL | Seasick Records holding early listening event for new Weezer album: Seasick Records is giving fans the chance to hear Weezer’s new album a week before its release. The self-titled album will be released Aug. 21. Weezer’s early listening party will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday. Fans are encouraged to RSVP. The event will feature freebies and a prize giveaway. A full list of record stores holding similar events across the U.S. can be found here.
16 Vinyl Record Design Ideas That’ll Remix Your Next Event: From groovy photo ops to interactive elements, here’s how recent activations dropped vinyl records into their decor. This year, we’ve frequently spoken about a “return to analog,” aka our collective desire to rediscover more tactile, tangible experiences in an increasingly digital, screen-heavy world. If you’re looking to bring this movement to life at your next event, vinyl records could be just the ticket. After all, they have (once again) become a hot commodity. Earlier this year, Forbes reported that, for the first time this century, vinyl music sales eclipsed $1 billion in a calendar year. The outlet also shared that vinyl sales grew for the 19th consecutive year. So it’s only natural that these modes of listening have become popular design motifs at events and activations.
Record hand sprayed by Banksy expected to fetch $5.4k: A rare Banksy-designed vinyl record is expected to fetch up to $5.4k (£4k) at auction after being rediscovered more than two decades after it was created. The promotional copy of Royksopp’s Melody A.M is one of just 100 record sleeves hand-sprayed by Banksy in 2002 for record label Wall Of Sound. Numbered 42/100, the collectible is being offered for sale with an estimated value of $4k-$5.4k (£3k-£4k), with auctioneers describing it as an “extremely rare” find.
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