Target Plans to Have Midnight Sales at 500 Stores to Sell Taylor Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ Album: Which century is this? Midnight openings for stores to sell hot new album releases at the moment they’re allowed to go on sale are largely an artifact of the ’80s and ’90s, before streaming and downloading became the preferred way to get immediate musical gratification. But Taylor Swift‘s forthcoming album is big enough to be stirring a return to that bygone phenomenon. Target announced Sunday that select stores will be open at midnight local time on Oct. 3 to sell copies of Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” album, including exclusive variants as well as the standard edition. The chain says that the number of local stores participating in the midnight sales will be about 500.
Portland, OR | Four Portland Record Stores to Keep in Heavy Rotation: Score top-notch vinyl at three new shops (and a newly relocated classic). Everyone knows about the coffee, the beer, and the strip clubs, but Portland’s reputation as a vinyl haven is still something of a local secret. This city continues to be paradise for record collectors, evidenced by three new shops that have opened for business in recent months—plus a decades-old stalwart that’s successfully relocated after losing its longtime home. Echoes in Space Records: You’ll know from the pink-tinted windows that Echoes in Space was designed to be a portal to another realm. The realm in question is one of electronic dance music, and the proprietors—Cee White, Nick Mejia, and Seth Mooney—are seasoned DJs aiming to make a space for working DJs…
West Babylon, NY | Cardi B set to visit Looney Tunes in West Babylon on Sept. 19: Looney Tunes Record Store just booked itself a mega-star that will turn Up the crowd, 100%. Grammy-winning Cardi B, known for hits like “Bodak Yellow,” “I Like It” and “WAP,” will make a rare in-person appearance at the West Babylon record shop on Friday, Sept. 19, to promote her new album, “Am I The Drama?,” Looney Tunes announced Tuesday night. Set to kick off at 1 p.m., the “Up” performer’s appearance is a photo-only opportunity for fans who purchase a copy of the album. There will be no autograph signing, the store said. Looney Tunes will distribute wristbands to those who buy the CD, and only wristband holders will be allowed to meet Cardi B and pose with her for a photo. Each wristband allows one photo per person, and all sales are final. Outside cameras are not permitted.
Wellington, UK | Wellington record shop owner dancing for joy following award shortlisting: A music shop owner in Wellington is dancing for joy after being shortlisted for a top award. Emma Perks has just learned that her store, Spinning Around Records in New Street, is one of the best of its kind in the UK. “The Independent Music Awards have named us as one of the top five independent record shops—am so proud of this achievement,” said Emma. “I only opened two years ago so Spinning Around is a ‘new kid on the block’ and yet we are in the top five with some really well-established shops from throughout the country—it is quite humbling.” Spinning Around was nominated for the award by its customers and Emma has now been invited to an awards ceremony in London later this month. She added: “I want to say a big thank you to all our customers, a lot of whom are local, but many come from all over.
Bristol, UK | New Records and Things shop opening: DJ and promoter Nathan Worm has announced he’ll be putting down roots just off Gloucester Road. His new venture, Hot Wax, is due to open at the beginning of October on Sommerville Road in the former Disk Frisk space in the Old Drumbank Studios. Predominantly a vinyl record shop, it will also sell prints, t-shirts, hats and accessories. The onsite cafe, built over the last year almost entirely from reclaimed materials, is now open Thursday to Sunday serving coffee from Easton’s Radical Roasters. Nathan Worm founded the notorious Worm Disco Club nights that brought the Comet is Coming to the Jam Jar just two weeks before the band’s Mercury Prize nomination. He has run countless events in Bristol’s independent venues over the past ten years including hosting live bands such as Shabaka Hutchings, WITCH, Colin Stetson…
Denver, CO | Metro Moves: Wax Trax record store will expand to Highlands: Record store opening fourth location. Wax Trax, a Denver record store celebrating its 50th anniversary, is opening a new location in the Highlands neighborhood. The record store announced last week it would open its new store at 3641 W. 32nd Ave. on Oct. 11. Wax Trax opened its first location in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood in 1975, becoming one of the few stores in the city that imported Punk and New Wave music from the U.K. during the 1970s. It also has locations on South Broadway and Stanley Marketplace. The new store opening will feature live music and giveaways, Wax Trax said in its announcement. It will also participate in the 32nd Avenue Farmer’s Market at Highlands Square on Oct. 12.
Copenhagen, DK | Copenhagen record shop 313vinyl_collective to close end of 2025: In a social media post, owner Morten Kamper said balancing the store with his full-time job has become “increasingly harder.” Copenhagen record shop 313vinyl_collective is closing at the end of the year. Opened in December 2019, the store was one of the Danish capital’s best spots for second-hand techno, house, electro, drum & bass and more. In a post shared to social media yesterday, September 7th, owner Morten Kamper said balancing the store with his full-time job has become “increasingly harder.” He added: “After a long and hard-thought process, it’s time to close this vinyl chapter. The shop is closing when it’s still going strong and packed with quality electronic vinyl. As 2025 will seek closure on December 31st, so will 313. There are still loads of vinyl left, so swing by and catch a bargain or a stone-cold classic.”
Asheville, NC | 103.3 Asheville FM’s Record Fair brings vinyl lovers together: Today (9/7) at Harrah’s Cherokee Center, community members went back in time and added some classics to their vinyl record collection at the 103.3 Asheville FM Record Fair. The event featured more than 30 vendors occupying the center, offering a treasure trove of records ranging from 45s to LPs and common CDs, as well as some music collectibles. Attendees were able to trade in their intriguing and eclectic music items. “It’s so interesting to see how many people from different walks of life can come together to have a common goal, and that’s like to share a love of music or to share a love of community with everybody else,” said organizer of the event, Whitley Albury. Albury says 103.3 FM plans to do another festival next year, but dates have yet to be confirmed.
Hoodoo Gurus Celebrate 40 Years of ‘Mars Needs Guitars!’ With Deluxe 2LP Reissue: Hoodoo Gurus mark the 40th anniversary of ‘Mars Needs Guitars!’ with a deluxe 2LP reissue featuring remastered audio and rare demos. Australian rock legends Hoodoo Gurus are marking 40 years of their landmark sophomore album Mars Needs Guitars!with a deluxe 2LP reissue, set for release on October 17th. Originally landing on March 8th, 1985, the record cemented the Gurus’ status as one of the most influential guitar bands of their era, delivering enduring classics like “Bittersweet,” “Like Wow – Wipeout!” and “Death Defying”. It went on to peak at No. 5 on the Australian Albums Chart, earn 3× Platinum certification, and propel the Sydney outfit onto international stages. “When we made Mars Needs Guitars! we were just focused on making something fun, loud, and honest,” frontman Dave Faulkner said. “Forty years later, it’s incredible to see how much these songs still resonate…”
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