Tucson, AZ | Why do we collect? U of A study shows it’s about seeking structure: Collecting is a universal human behavior. From baseball cards and vinyl records to experiences like visiting every national park in the United States, the urge to collect connects people across cultures and generations. New research from Martin Reimann, McClelland associate professor of marketing in the Eller College of Management, suggests that collecting is driven by the desire for control – a psychological need to manage one’s environment, especially during chaotic times. …The urge to complete collections was strong among those who scored high in desire for control. In the study involving a fictional scenario where participants imagined collecting vinyl albums, those with a higher desire for control reported a willingness to spend more money or time to try to complete the collection.
Teesside, UK | Interview: Bald Btch Beats Record Store: Saltburn-by-the-Sea is renowned for its collection of unique and independent shops and one of the latest to find a home in the beautiful coastal town is Teesside’s newest record store – Bald B*tch Beats. I sat down with owner Matt Reynolds to find out more. “…The main thing for us is community. If we can create even 20% of what Sound it Out became then we’re winning. People want connection and specialist shops provide that—the conversations that pull other customers in and a shared common interest. Outside of algorithms you always have the chance of finding something unexpected in person too. …I personally still have another job. That said, we’ve been delighted by the number of sellers who have approached us—this is making our lives slightly easier. This is very much a family business and I couldn’t do it without my son Jason and wife Andrea…”
Sabrina Carpenter announces ‘Man’s Best Friend’ record store release parties: Sabrina Carpenter‘s next studio album Man’s Best Friend is set to be released on August 29. In celebration, her team has partnered with indie record stores around the world to give the fans album release parties from August 29 until September 1. The Pennsylvania native is known amongst her fan base for wanting them to feel included; she does this by organizing private events, early listening parties, and having special VIP packages available on her tours. Her official Team Sabrina Instagram account announced today that record stores in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and the Netherlands are hosting album release parties for her upcoming project. Large crowds are expected, so stores are advising fans to arrive a few hours prior to secure their spot inside.
Vernon, CT | Old School Record Store Going New School Business Route In Vernon: An iconic music store in Vernon is changing course to a “virtual” business model. A vintage music store in Vernon is shutting down its physical location, but the extensive inventory will live on under a more modern business model. “Paul’s Boutique is shutting its doors and going virtual,” the owner said earlier this month. To commemorate the move, there’s a 50-percent off sale going on at the 630 Talcottville Road location until the move is made. There was no definitive word Wednesday on when. Paul’s Boutique Record Store, named for the 1989 Beastie Boys album, buys and sells used records, stereo equipment and music memorabilia. And the collection is extensive.
Stratford, ON | Vinyl Record show to raise money for local humane society: From Punk to Soul, you’ll have lots of vinyl records to choose from. Some 20,000 records will be displayed to the community at the Army Navy and Airforce Veterans in Canada Unit 261 at Lorne Avenue on Sunday at a vinyl record sale. Organizer and seller Jim Fewer says along with records, there will be CD’s, 45 rpm’s, and multiple vendors. “We’re raising money for the Stratford Perth Humane Society,” said Fewer. “We did it last time and raised about $500 for the Humane Society so we’re hoping to do at least that or better.” He says the records will mostly range from five to $15, with CDs priced at $5, and five for $20. The rpms cost $1 each. He adds vinyl has “never really gone away.” The sale runs this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Replacements: Deluxe, Expanded Reissue of Classic 1984 Album ‘Let It Be’ Out Oct. 24 with Rare/Live Material: On Oct. 24, Rhino Records will revisit Let It Be, the groundbreaking 1984 album from The Replacements, for a Deluxe Edition featuring a wealth of bonus material. As announced on Wednesday, the revisiting will feature a remastered version of the original record, as well as previously unreleased live and studio material from the era. Previewing the set is an unheard version of “Androgynous,” which accompanied the announcement. Let It Be is widely considered one of the most important and influential albums in the indie/rock scene, released in ’84 by Paul Westerberg, Bob Stinson, Tommy Stinson, and Chris Mars. In addition to a bounty of unreleased and alternate tracks, the Deluxe Edition also features a previously unheard live set, detailed in a news release.
The Smashing Pumpkins celebrate 25th anniversary of ‘Machina/The Machines of God’ with new reissue: In honor of the 25th anniversary of The Smashing Pumpkins’ 2000 album, Machina/The Machines of God, a new deluxe vinyl box set will be available on Aug. 22 – exclusively through Billy Corgan‘s Madame Zuzu’s tea shop in Highland Park, Illinois. The box set also includes the companion record Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music and 32 bonus tracks. Machina/The Machines Of God was the fifth album from The Smashing Pumpkins; Madame Zuzu’s will be offering the 80-song box set exclusively, which will include a 48-track Machina as well as the 32 tracks of bonus demos, outtakes, and live performances.
NZ | Taylor Swift’s new album comes on cassette. Who is buying those? When Taylor Swift’s releases her new album, Life of a Showgirl, in October, it can be heard on the usual places, including streaming, vinyl and…cassette tape? The cassette tape was once one of the most common ways to listen to music, overtaking vinyl in the 1980s before being surpassed by CDs. But the physical audio format has become an artifact of a bygone era, giving way to the convenience of streaming. Or, that’s what many thought. In 2023, 436,400 cassettes were sold in the United States, according to the most recent data available from Luminate, an entertainment data firm. Although that’s a far cry from the 440 million cassettes sold in the 1980s, it’s a sharp increase from the 80,720 cassettes sold in 2015 and a notable revival for a format that had been all but written off.
This impressive five-star Audio-Technica turntable is back to its lowest ever price: Get your vinyl spinning for less. The best record players will ordinarily set you back upwards of £500, with some costing several thousand. Not so with the five-star Audio-Technica LP5x turntable, which is dropped from £379 back down to its lowest-ever price of just £299 at Richer Sounds. Described as ‘a fine-sounding, fuss-free turntable’, the LP5x is one of the easiest-to-use decks on the market right now. It also sounds fantastic thanks to its composed, robust presentation and impressive phono stage module. It’s more affordable than ever, and it could be yours right now.
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