US | Vinyl Records Just Crossed $1 Billion in Sales for the First Time Since 1983: American vinyl sales topped $1.04 billion in 2025, according to the RIAA’s year-end revenue report—the format’s best year since 1983. Records have grown for 19 straight years running, and last year alone Americans bought 46.8 million of them, up nearly 8% from 2024. …But among the physical formats, vinyl is doing almost all the heavy lifting: it accounted for $1.04 billion of a $1.38 billion physical total, easily outpacing CDs’ $312.4 million and the smaller “other physical” category’s $25.8 million.
Berlin, DE | Rough Trade Berlin is Moving! Rough Trade Berlin will open the doors to a reimagined store at Kalle Neukölln on 1st September 2026, bringing its record store and warehouse together under one roof. After more than two years on Karl-Marx-Straße, Rough Trade Berlin is moving to a new home on Ganghoferstraße, just around the block from its existing location. The Karl-Marx-Straße store will close its doors on Thursday 27th August, with the new Rough Trade Berlin opening on Tuesday 1st September. Since arriving in Berlin in 2024, Rough Trade has established itself as a destination for the city’s music community, welcoming fans, artists and labels through its doors for a packed programme of live performances, signings, DJ sets and listening parties, alongside its extensive selection of new and independent music.
Grand Rapids, MI | Record store moves to new Grand Rapids neighborhood: A record store has found a new home in Grand Rapids. The Full Circle Record Shop opened this weekend at 2417 Eastern Ave. SE near Alger Street SE. It’s the former site of Reinspired Treasures, a home decor store that closed earlier this year. “The neighborhood around here and the people are just wonderful,” owner Steve Williamson told News 8 Monday in a phone interview. “It’s probably as good a shop as I’ve had.” Inside The Full Circle, you’ll find thousands of records, both new and used. You’ll also find CDs and DVDs. “We put out good records,” the owner said. “I try not to put out anything that has a scratch or a defect. And we don’t have as many records as some of the other stores, but what’s in here is real good…”
Liverpool, UK | A historic Liverpool record shop is reopening its venue space: One of Liverpool’s most historic record shops is about to reopen its venue space so it can host events again. 81 Renshaw first earned its place as part of the city’s music heritage when it was home to the legendary Mersey Beat magazine in the ‘60s. Most recently it’s been a hugely popular independent record shop and, until lockdown, its back room was an after-hours live music venue too. Since then the room has been used for storing vinyl, but after a clearout the space is ready to relaunch at the start of September with a line-up of music, comedy, and film screenings. Krystian Hudson says it’s a plan that’s come together over the past year and the response has been really positive.
Richmond, VA | Best & Worst 2026: Best Record Store: Plan 9 Music. The iconic River City record shop celebrated its 45th anniversary this year, and owner Jim Bland says its large selection got it there. Whether you’re a seasoned fan or new collector, Plan 9 has something to fit the taste of any music lover. “We get tons of used [records] in all the time, so it’s a lower-cost entry if you’re new to buying vinyl,” Bland says.
Cottonwood, AZ | Jennifer Keenan strikes up the bands at Queen B Vinyl Café: Suddenly there is an alternative choice for music in Cottonwood—a place for kids with perhaps less-traditional interests to feel like they belong. Old Town, which is better known for trucker hats, grey hair and passionate classic-rock fans, is now seeing a different, younger crowd flock to Queen B Vinyl Café. Jennifer Keenan’s new music venue, complete with vinyl store and café, fits only about 100 people, but she said it’s big enough to attract exciting bands like Thou, Hillbilly Devilspeak, and Screamin’ Rebel Angels. And Keenan’s customers are benefiting from her eclectic taste in music.
Wilmington, NC | Caleb Caudle: In-Store Performance and Album Signing at Schoolkids Vinyl: FREE 20-minute acoustic set followed by an album signing before playing Live at Ted’s. Caleb Caudle’s body of work is shaped from the ground up. His artistry has emerged through endurance and the steady momentum of a life in motion, carrying him from small stages in the North Carolina foothills he calls home, all the way to the Grand Ole Opry. Caudle is entering a pivotal chapter—one of a profound culmination where life and art converge in powerful ways.
Timmins, ON | First record swap in Northern Ontario in Timmins Sept. 12: A first of its kind vinyl record swap is happening in Timmins on Saturday, September 12th. Organizer Hugh Taylor notes that such events have been going on for years in Southern Ontario, but never up north. So he used Facebook to float the idea of having one. “We’ve never had one in Timmins and I know so many people who collect vinyl,” he observes, “so I threw that social media post up and the response was overwhelming. It really was.” Bring the albums you want to get rid of. You could even get a free table and trade or sell them. The event is at the St. Dominique Church Hall on the corner of Norman St. and Park Ave. between 10:00am and 4:00pm.
Kilgetty, UK | Northern Soul comes to Kilgetty’s Buffs Club for a night of rare vinyl: Experience the magic of Northern Soul at Kilgetty’s Buffs Club with top DJs and rare vinyl on August 29. Northern Soul nights are coming to Kilgetty—with ‘Soul at the Buffs.’ After the success of recent local Northern Soul events, Saturday, August 29, will see the RAOB CLUB in Kilgetty [otherwise known as the ‘Buffs Club’] will resonate to the sound of Northern Soul, Tamla Motown and the best of 70s Soul. This is a chance to enjoy this wonderful music running from 7pm till late.
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