UK | Viewpoint: Key Production COO Neil Gibbons on why physical music is still booming. Earlier this year, Music Week reported that Key Production had seen a 50% surge in vinyl orders in 2025. And while, according to recent BPI figures, vinyl sales are wobbling this year, Key Production COO Neil Gibbons suggests that those figures may not tell the full story. In a new op-ed for Music Week, Gibbons, outlines why the industry should “look beyond the headline figures”…”Over the last few years, we have seen a long-awaited resurgence in the joy of owning physical music. Fans are buying vinyl and CDs again—not just to listen at home, but because they genuinely enjoy the experience of owning something real. It’s a trend we’re seeing across all age groups, from younger listeners to longtime collectors.”
Sydney, AU | RPM Records: A Mutual Passion For Music & Vinyl Bonded By True Love. Record stores and romance seem to go well together in movies, right? Well, here’s a real-life love story. A decade since opening in Marrickville, Sydney, RPM Records is a bricks and mortar record shop founded by Lizzie and Steve, who began dating December 2014 more than a year after first meeting on a boat cruise that Steve’s band, The Cleanskins, played a set on. Steve had talked about how he’d like to open a vinyl/ coffee shop one day; while Lizzie spoke of her desire to run her own business utilising her hospitality and computer skills (having worked at a record shop in the late ’80s in Toronto, when cassettes were a big thing but CDs had not arrived yet). The RPM name was Lizzie’s idea that came partially from a mid ’80, ’90s famous warehouse club in Toronto’s Queens Quay East she loved before she moved to Sydney; partially from 33 and 45 revolutions per minute (the speed vinyl plays at); and because it fit the model of records, posters, and memorabilia.
Dallas, TX | Top Ten Records Debuts New Latino Comedy Residency: Comedian Hector Sifuentes wants his new comedy show, Spirited Foo, to help the Dallas comedy scene evolve. If the Dallas arts scene is a healthy, pumping heart, then Jefferson Boulevard is one of its most crucial veins, continually pumping blood into its evolving ecosystem. The Texas Theatre is not only a Dallas institution but a legitimate destination spot in American cinema, with Francis Ford Coppola stopping in earlier this week. On the connecting streets, a new artsy magazine shop, Fine Print, opened its doors just off of Jefferson on Madison Avenue this summer, already on its way to becoming a hub for the visual arts scene. And then there’s Top Ten Records, the historically significant, volunteer-run outpost that’s as committed to serving the local community as it is keeping its doors open. The shop’s latest programming is a reflection of just that.
Dubai, UAE | Dubai is seeing a vinyl revival. Here’s where you can get your records: Why records are still music to some fans’ ears. Dubai’s constantly shifting population—fuelled by expats, tourists, and transplants—means vinyl fans are as eclectic as its stock. In a world dominated by digital playlists, vinyl records seem like an unlikely comeback story. Yet walk into The Flip Side—a beloved independent record store tucked away in Dubai’s art district—and you’ll quickly understand why the format endures. The warm crackle, the weight of the disc, the joy of searching through the crates. Vinyl isn’t just about music. It’s about experience, ownership, and a more human connection to sound. Shadi Megallaa, founder of The Flip Side, says he has seen a steady increase in people buying vinyl. “What I find tricky is figuring out what’s causing this,” he adds. Unlike other global cities, Dubai’s constantly shifting population—fuelled by expats, tourists, and transplants—means the store’s customer base is as eclectic as its stock.
Midland, TX | The Plot Twist: A one-of-a-kind bookstore. Opening on Friday, August 25th, in Midland, The Plot Twist is a one-of-a-kind bookstore that offers a little bit of everything, from books and gifts to much more. What makes them stand out the most is the fact that they sell vinyl records in an area that’s been crying out for more record shops. “We love books, obviously,” said Kelly Keating, co-owner of The Plot Twist. “But not everybody wants to buy ten books when they come in here, and we thought records. And it’s funny how things are circling back, like old is new again.” …“We are planning very soon to have a book club, maybe several. We hope to do a Bedazzle Your Book, which is fun… We have several things in the works. And we also have some local authors that are going to come do book signings.”
Brooklyn, NY | New record store, Finer Sounds, opens in Brooklyn: The new shop can be found at The Ace Hotel’s Schermerhorn Street branch. A new record store has opened in Brooklyn, New York. Finer Sounds, which opened last month, is located in Boerum Hill at The Ace Hotel’s Schermerhorn Street branch. It was set up by shop owners David Azzoni and Shota Lyobe, as Resident Advisor reports. The new store currently offers both an in-store selection and the option to shop online. Its shelves and racks feature a wide selection of new electronic music on vinyl covering house, techno, disco, IDM, ambient and much more. Shoppers can preview their digs using a dedicated listening station set up at the store, which connects to a custom sound system designed and built by New York-based DJ and producer Nak. The owners have plans to expand their selection of vinyl, and also sell books, audio accessories like headphones, and lightly used records in the near future.
Crosley’s new turntable system uses external bookshelf speakers, and aims to offer a step up from all-in-one record players: The Crosley C65 system arrives alongside the super-affordable Miles deck. We haven’t always been enamoured of Crosley’s cheap, suitcase-style all-in-one record players, but its new flagship turntable is a different beast altogether. The Crosley 65 turntable package comprises a belt-driven deck and a pair of external bookshelf speakers, making for a system which, according to Crosley, “fuses retro design with today’s audio innovations.” The sleek C65 turntable features a full-size steel platter alongside an aluminium tonearm and resonance‑dampening feet, teasing a solid, reliable performance for users seeking an easy, plug-and-play vinyl system. The turntable comes pre-fitted with an Audio‑Technica ATN3600L moving magnet cartridge, which can be switched out if you want to upgrade your turntable’s sound.
IN | Judging the Covers: Collector Arunabha Ghosh takes us through his vinyl collection: From Hollywood blockbusters to Indian classics, vinyl collector Arunabha Ghosh’s exhibition explores the visual beauty of the forgotten art of vinyl covers. A story of a magnificent obsession. It began with a visit to his headmaster’s house. Young Arunabha Ghosh, was captivated by the sound of a raga playing on a small record player. “The sound was mono, but it was so pure,” he recalls. “I asked the headmaster what that black disc was. He showed me the cover, and it was an Ali Akbar Khan record. That was the first time I really noticed the artwork.” Ghosh still remembers his headmaster suggesting he start a collection, and that’s how it began. Ghosh, who began collecting records in 1990, describes himself not as an audiophile but as a visual collector. “I collected those records for the music for sure but my main motive for the collection is for the cover art” he says.
Lady Gaga To Release Special ‘MAYHEM’ Liquid-Filled Vinyl Record: The limited-edition variant of the pop superstar’s seventh album features a unique disc format that combines two liquid colorways split onto one disc—marking the first of its kind in the world. …The global superstar announced the limited-edition release in collaboration with the United Kingdom-based record company, Blood Records, which will be releasing a liquid-filled vinyl record under the latter’s Bad World imprint. The special vinyl record will feature a combination of black and orange liquid fit onto a split vinyl disc, with the other disc being pressed on a standard neon orange vinyl colorway (with custom etching on the back)… This release has been described as a special one-time pressing that will only be made available from the beginning of the pre-order period until its deadline, giving fans an ample amount of time to purchase a copy of this unique vinyl variant for their record collections.
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