The comeback of physical media: “It was real money instead of just scraping by” Are you old enough to remember buying a CD to put into your car’s stereo system? Maybe you’re old enough to remember cassettes and the multitude of times where the tape would get stuck so you would have to manually rewind the tape – hoping it isn’t completely ruined. You may even be old enough to remember the prime of vinyl, walking into your local record store and flipping through hundreds of different LPs until something catches your eye. At this point these may seem like distant memories; however, with the rise of streaming, criticism towards how platforms handle paying their artists has risen.
5 useful tips for collecting CDs in 2026: …What seemed like an inevitable victory is now not quite so certain, though. Physical media is making a serious comeback, with Gen Z embracing the notion of physical ownership and offline media libraries, a concept that many millennials had so hastily abandoned just a decade before — no doubt to create minimalist homes with nary a misplaced book, CD, or vinyl record in sight. While being a collector and record store employee during the years when my peers were ditching physical media allowed me to score some great deals, I firmly believe that the more people interested in, and celebrating, physical media, the better—and there are few places to start more ideal than with CDs.
Memphis, TN | Brandon Seavers is proof Memphis music history is still being made: Nearly thirty years in the music business, much of it as a Memphis studio engineer, taught Brandon Seavers what a record is supposed to feel like before he ever had to manufacture one. Memphis Record Pressing didn’t even start as a vinyl company. Brandon co-founded it with Mark Yoshida in the 1990s as a CD and DVD manufacturer, and the turn came in 2013, when Fat Possum Records asked if they could press records. Neither had ever pressed vinyl before. They said yes anyway. That bet turned MRP into one of the largest vinyl manufacturers in North America. “We didn’t even know how to press a record when we started,” Brandon has said. “We just figured it out. That’s very Memphis.”
Madrid, SP | For two days only: a fair featuring thousands of vinyl records and cassettes from around the world is coming to Madrid, and admission is just €5: The International Record Fair will hold its 29th edition in Madrid from Saturday, September 26, to Sunday, September 27. …The fair will bring together between 130 and 140 specialized exhibitors offering vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music merchandise, and books from around the world. Must-have classics and the latest releases will be available, but the biggest draw for collectors will be finding rarities and out-of-print editions that aren’t available on streaming platforms. In addition, the fairgrounds will feature a food court, and there will be live performances, DJ sets, album and book presentations, and panel discussions with artists and professionals from the music industry.
Oklahoma City, OK | Vinyl Record Show of Oklahoma City: Fall Show – November 7th. Early Bird Tickets: $15, entrance time at 10 AM. General Admission Tickets: $10, entrance time at 12 PM. Step into a world of nostalgia and discovery, where vinyl enthusiasts gather to celebrate the timeless charm of analog sound. Event Highlights: Vinyl LP Records: Tens of thousands,from budget-friendly $1.00 LPs to rare collectibles worth hundreds of dollars. There’s something for every music lover. More Treasures: Dig through a variety of music memorabilia, 45’s, CDs, T-shirts, posters, cassettes, and even a few 78s.
Kuala Lumpur, MY | LITE Unites Vinyl Enthusiasts at Spin City: A Celebration of Vinyl. Embracing nostalgia and celebrating timeless classics, LITE recently organised Spin City: A Celebration of Vinyl, a one-day pop-up event featuring record collector booths, live vinyl DJ sets and a vibrant gathering of music lovers in a relaxed, community-driven space! The event was designed to celebrate the enduring appeal of vinyl records, recognising their significance in music history while supporting the growing vinyl culture that continues to resonate with music lovers today. Held at The Campus, Ampang, Spin City brought together music lovers as they browsed through pop-ups from record stores and collectors such as Kena Sound, Vinyl Vox, and MusicRecords2U.
Five new turntables to level up any interior while giving voice to your vinyl collection: New record players from Technics, Argon Audio, Dual, Esoteric and Pro-Ject keep the decks spinning in the new analogue era. We’ve rounded up five new turntables that make the most of vinyl releases, new and old. From ultra-high end Japanese hi-fi to a celebration of a modern classic, to designs from Denmark, Germany and Austria, these machines will treat your records right whilst also offering a stylish addition to any room.
Tears For Fears to reissue classic album The Seeds Of Love: “Out of all our albums, I’d probably rank it highest,” says Roland Orzabal. …Originally released in September 1989. The Seeds Of Love debuted at No.1 on the UK Albums Chart and went Platinum within just three weeks. In the US, it also gained Platinum status, reaching No.8 on the Billboard Top 200. The Seeds of Love features some of the band’s most celebrated work, including the hit singles Sowing The Seeds of Love, Woman In Chains, Advice For The Young At Heart and the album’s centrepiece, Badman’s Song. Reissued on 16 October via UMR, Mercury, the deluxe editions of The Seeds Of Love include new Steven Wilson Atmos and Stereo mixes, a 2LP edition on special-effect blue vinyl with alternate artwork, which pairs the original album with a second disc of B-sides and demos.
Empire Records Soundtrack Gets First Standard Black Vinyl 2LP With The Cranberries and Gin Blossoms: The soundtrack to Empire Records is back on vinyl in a new 2LP standard black edition, bringing together one of the most recognizable collections of alternative rock and pop associated with a 1990s cult movie. The Sound of Vinyl and Universal are presenting the 2026 release as the soundtrack’s first appearance on standard black vinyl. The 2LP edition is currently available for $32.99 USD. That distinction is important: Empire Records has appeared on vinyl before, including limited colored editions. An Interscope pressing, for example, used translucent emerald and lemonade vinyl. The new release is specifically notable for bringing the soundtrack to conventional black vinyl for the first time.
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