I Quit Spotify and Started Buying Music Again—It’s Cheaper Than I Expected: listening to insufferable ads and shelling out hundreds every month for downloads and physical media. When I finally did quit Spotify, I learned you can actually listen to quite a bit of ad-free music without breaking the bank. See, I noticed that my individual Spotify Premium subscription cost of $12 per month was close to that of a single digital album or a brand-new CD. I thought that meant I could only afford to add one album to my collection every month without going significantly over budget. One album a month versus access to a virtual library of music all year long? I couldn’t make the math work—at first.
Bethlehem, PA | Eat, Sip, Shop: New Bethlehem record store to hit the right note with music lovers: As the country’s largest free music festival kicks off in Bethlehem, a shop in the city is bringing a year-round destination for new and classic tunes. Railroad Records, offering vinyl records, CDs, books, memorabilia, antiques, vintage clothing and more, will hold its grand opening 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at 335 Vine St. in south Bethlehem, owner Asa Blynn said. Blynn, 26, has been collecting vinyl records since he was 13 and previously worked at a couple of local record businesses, including a former Carbon County farmers market stand. “I had a lot of fun and learned a lot over the couple of summers I spent there,” Blynn said of the farmers market stand. “The owner gave me store credit, and I was just a young teenager. So, it was an awesome experience…”
San Francisco, CA | Rooky Ricardo’s Record Shop Owner Diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer: Lower Haight record shop Rooky Ricardo’s has survived 38 years under the ownership of Dick Vivian, but Vivian is now battling Stage 3 pancreatic cancer and receiving chemotherapy, and the shop’s only going to be open on weekends for now. If you’re a vinyl records fan in San Francisco, you are likely aware of the famed vintage collections of albums and 45s at the Lower Haight record store Rooky Riccardo’s. The shop has managed to survive for 38 years (though it’s moved a few times), with its signature throwback vintage toys and posters all over the place, and a beyond-comparison selection of oldies, soul, and R&B vinyl. Rooky Ricardo’s owner Dick Vivian even celebrated his 78th birthday this past Saturday, though it may not have been the happiest of birthdays.
Nashville, TN | Nashville’s Historic Ernest Tubb Record Shop To Reopen Their Doors On Broadway Later This Fall: Broadway is getting back to its roots. Since Nashville has become a bachelorette hotspot, Broadway has transformed into a mecca of booming bars owned by the hottest names in country music. From Miranda Lambert and Kid Rock to Eric Church and Lainey Wilson, a pivotal moment in the idea of “making it” as an artist these days is having an establishment with your name slapped on it. However, with the rise in artist-owned establishments, that meant that the tried and true honky tonk stages struggled to operate against them, leading some of the best businesses on the strip of bars to close. One of those was the historic Ernest Tubb Record Shop. The record store and venue first opened in 1947 and showcased some of the greatest country music talents over its 75-year operation.
Forest Park, IL | Old School Records moves to Maywood following rent disputes: The store closed at the end of July after 22 years in Forest Park and a legal battle between its owner and his landlord. On Friday, July 25, Peter Gianakopoulos, owner of Old School Records, packed up his inventory in cardboard boxes that covered most of the floor at 413 Des Plaines Ave. Following a legal battle with his landlord, Jack Zayed, and 22 years of selling music in Forest Park, Gianakopoulos moved out that weekend and into a storefront at 709 S. 5th Ave. in Maywood. As of Aug. 1, he said he was still negotiating with the new landlord over his lease, for which he put down a four-month deposit, and is hoping to open on Sept. 1. “I’m sad to leave Forest Park but hoping to make things better for Maywood because they don’t have a record store now. They haven’t for a long time,” Gianakopoulos said…
Lexington, KY | Major change coming for mainstay of Lexington’s music, college scene: Lexington’s longest running record store, CD Central, is getting ready to say adieu. Owner Steve Baron announced via Facebook and Instagram on Tuesday that he is selling the business he opened in 1995 and retiring. The store will close in early September, but will reopen later in the fall with a new name and new management. “Financially, the store is doing fine,” Baron said. “We’ve had great community support. It’s not one of those situations where it’s being closed because of any kind of distress. It’s just my desire to let it go and retire and focus on retirement kinds of things in life.”
Puyallup, WA | Women Owned Wednesdays—Atomic Genius Records: Hi, I’m Beth Curtis, owner and operator of Atomic Genius Records & more. We are a small, independently owned record store located in beautiful historic downtown Puyallup, WA. Established in 2021, we’re celebrating the four-year anniversary in early August. Offering new & used vinyl, you can find the newest releases and titles from days gone by. Special order is available. The local music section is a feature on PNW artists, currently including independent artists Champagne Sunday, the Cloves, Diamond, Fifteen Stitches, Hot Step Mom, Naked Society, Sons of the Force, Stargazy Pie, and Waves Crashing to name a few. Along with local labels Between the Cracks Records, Latent Print Records, and NW Metalworx. We carry music themed gifts, novelties, and games…
Bristol, UK | Bristol heavy metal shop nominated for national award: A Bristol record shop has been nominated for a national award that celebrates the high street. Black City Records, the South West’s only dedicated independent heavy metal record shop, has been shortlisted for the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) ‘Love Your High Street’ awards. The only Bristol shop to be nominated for the award, Black City Records was launched in 2021 amidst the global pandemic and quickly became a mecca for metal lovers – drawing fans from across the region and beyond who make pilgrimages to experience its high-octane celebration of all things heavy metal. When it opened, it became only the second dedicated heavy metal record shop of its kind in the UK. The shop rapidly built a loyal following, earning a reputation for its welcome among both die-hard fans and curious first-time visitors.
Buffalo, NY | Buffalo library increasing expansive vinyl collection: Vinyl records have surged in popularity in recent years. One local resource that might go overlooked is the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, which is looking to expand its collection for public use. The library wants to expand its collection because a growing number of young people are buying turntables and supporting more offline activities, Marketing Manager Sean Piazza said. “Folks in Gen Z want intentional, offline experiences. So really, growing up in a digital age, a tangible relationship with music and a different listening experience,” he said. “We felt we were uniquely positioned to support and expand access to those experiences.” More than 18,000 records make up the library’s collection, and it isn’t limited to music.
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