Author Archives: TVD HQ

Dallas, TX | Best Vinyl Store: Forever Young. The giant jukebox-shaped arch over the door at Forever Young makes a great photo backdrop, but if you’re scouting for a setting with vinyl records as props for your latest TikTok video, go embarrass yourself elsewhere. Forever Young is a destination for true-blue lovers of music, in all mediums and all ages. Filled with troves of CDS, vinyl and cassettes, the massive store has a room dedicated to rare records. There’s an unmatched assortment of memorabilia, such as vintage Beatles masks and velvet Elvis paintings, and new posters that are perfectly priced for broke teenagers. If you’re looking for a Sir Mix-a-Lot T-shirt (because why wouldn’t you be?) and to grow your album collection, this must be the place.

Silver Spring, MD | ‘Love Your Stuff’: Silver Spring Shop Sells Curated Books, Records: Mojomala Books, Records & Cool Stuff has been attracting locals as well as customers from D.C. and Virginia to its Silver Spring store. Located off the beaten track in Silver Spring’s central business district, Mojomala Books, Records & Cool Stuff has been attracting local residents as well as customers from D.C. and Virginia to its store since early July. An avid collector since he was a young boy, Mojomala’s owner, Michael Abate, has amassed an impressive collection of record albums, clothing and books. Many of the items he had previously made available online can now be purchased in-person at reasonable prices at Mojomala, his curated store in downtown Silver Spring. Abate believes it’s his curation of the merchandise that makes his store stand out from the crowd. “What I’ve heard from customers is, ‘This is amazing. Every place I look, there’s something that’s interesting. It may not always be for me, but it’s cool. None of it is trash. It’s all quality stuff.”

Honolulu, HI | Inside the 15,000-strong record collection at Hawaii’s State Archives: A donation of two extensive collections is revealing new links to cultures at risk of being lost. Two of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Hawaiian music are now in the hands of the Hawaii State Archives in the heart of downtown Honolulu. In December 2021, a total of nearly 15,000 records almost entirely composed of Hawaiian music, with discs dating back to at least 1903, were donated to the organisation by the respective estates of Hawaii-born radio broadcaster Harry B. Soria Jr. and British-born, Toronto-based musician Michael Scott. From a collector’s standpoint, you could say this is the come-up of a lifetime — but that falls short of the true value at hand. Combined, these collections represent a direct connection to a long out-of-reach era of Hawaiian music and history, with the potential to form a greater understanding of the Islands’ heritage.

Iowa City, IA | Big Grove Vinyl Market returns to Iowa City, launches next month in Des Moines: “It’s a fun atmosphere to sell records in,” Brian Brandsgard told Little Village of the aesthetics and energy Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City. “It’s just a perfect place to have it.” Brandsgard is the organizer of the Big Grove Vinyl Market, which he has held periodically at the brewery since it opened five years ago. Now, in the wake of the brewery’s recent expansion to Des Moines, Brandsgard is testing the waters there, too. Big Grove Vinyl Market, coming up on Sunday, Sept. 25 at Big Grove Brewery Iowa City and Sunday, Oct. 2 at Big Grove Brewery Des Moines, will feature vendors from across Iowa and Minnesota. Included on the list of those selling is Brandsgard himself, whose introduction to selling vinyl arose out of a period of tragedy in Iowa’s history.

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Vinyl Sales Soared 22% in First Half of 2022, Per RIAA Mid-Year Report: U.S. recorded-music revenue climbed 9%, streaming revenues are up 10% and vinyl sales soared a whopping 22% in the first half of 2022, according to the Recording Industry Assn. of America’s mid-year report released on Wednesday. Total revenue climbed 9% to $7.7 billion at estimated retail value; total streaming revenues rose 10% to $6.5 billion, and paid streaming-service subscriptions are up to 90 million, with their revenues rising 10% to $5 billion and comprising almost two-thirds of the first half total. However, the report notes, at wholesale value, revenues grew 8% to $4.9 billion. …But the most exciting statistic for many is the continuing rise in vinyl sales, which have been climbing consistently since 2006. The number of units shipped rose 15.7% over the same period last year — from 18.8 million to 21.8 million — and dollar value is up from $460.5 million to $570.2 million. CD sales continued their slow downward slide, going from 18.4 million to 17.7 million and $204.3 million to $199.7 million.

UK | HMV launches its own label 1921 Records, announces first signing: The imprint will focus on releasing debut albums by smaller grassroots artists. HMV has launched its own record label called 1921 Records. The entertainment retailer’s first signing through the new imprint is 22-year-old Newcastle singer-songwriter India Arkin. She was discovered after playing in the HMV Live & Local programme. Arkin’s debut studio album ‘Home Truths’ will be released to coincide with National Album Day 2022 on October 15. It’ll be available exclusively on vinyl in HMV stores across the UK and online. Doug Putman, owner of HMV, said: “India’s music is absolutely incredible and we’re thrilled to make her our first 1921 Records signing. She has such passion for her craft, and she’s a true musician who writes, plays instruments and performs.”

Bioplastic records could help decarbonise music business, says developer: A sugar-based alternative to vinyl could help to decarbonise the music industry, according to its developer. UK-based Evolution Music say its bioplastic can be used to create records and is aimed at making it easy for labels and artists to stop using plastic without altering record pressing plants’ existing machinery or production processes. Acting CEO of Evolution Music Marc Carey said sonically and in terms of equalisation the music recorded on the bioplastic records is “absolutely spot on.” “[In] the little bit of lead-in and in between the tracks there’s some surface noise. If you like that, if you’re a 70s fan, you like that little crackling, great,” he said, adding they are continuing to develop the product. “We’ve got a unique recipe, but we are a (research and development) company – we’ll carry on with iterations of R&D to improve it,” he said.

Audio-Technica produces limited-edition slipmats for Ukraine fundraiser: In light of the devastating events in Ukraine, the audio equipment manufacturer has released a limited-edition turntable slipmat. In light of the devastating events in Ukraine, Audio-Technica has released a limited-edition turntable slipmat, featuring artwork by Eugene Berd, a Ukraine-based calligraphy and lettering artist. One-hundred percent of the profits will be split evenly between the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine and the animal charity UAnimals. The design was inspired by Ukrainian culture with the hope of connecting people around the world. The design focuses on Ukraine’s iconic symbols, like the blue and yellow palette of colors and flowers, which are meant to represent peace and life. Each symbol, including the mandala-like art pieces, were chosen through a long period of researching European and Arabic calligraphy. Berd’s goal was to bring these classical ideas into modern mediums, from old vinyl records to skateboards, mirrors, and now turntable slipmats.

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Loves Park, IL | Loves Park record store burst in flames, cause unknown: CD Source record store catches fire and firefighters work to get ahead of the flames. One of the Stateline’s oldest buildings goes up in flames early Tuesday morning. “Something so similar going up in flames like that, it’s just like a very tragic feeling,” said Skyler Davis, the owner of Culture Shock, another record store on the Stateline. Firefighters responded to the smokey scene a little after midnight as a fire turned CD Source into rubble, along with the irreplaceable antique CD’s and records once found inside the store. “It’s really sad to see a store like that having vintage and used items. With the rarity and the collectable features of them,” said Davis. He says he was rattled when he heard about the fire. Davis grew up shopping in the store and says it’s where he discovered his love for music. Davis calls it a staple of his teens and seeing it burnt down is like losing a piece of his adolescent years.

Brookfield, IL | Records with a side of succulents in Brookfield: Since the turn of the millennium, there’s been no shortage of digital music platforms and streaming apps to make our favorite songs easier and more convenient to enjoy. At the same time, there’s been a resurgence in the retro technology of vinyl records and artistic album covers, that the once dwindling medium is here to stay. There’s one man who’s banking on the vinyl revival and sees the potential for creating a small mecca for music aficionados in Brookfield — Dylan Kloska. The Chicago native, who has a background as both a musician and a record shop employee, says that after a year of successful pop-up shops selling both albums and small houseplants — another apparent mainstay of millennial culture — he was ready to take the plunge and turn his business, Vines & Vinyl, into a brick-and-mortar enterprise at 3730 Prairie Ave.

UK | National Album Day 2022 – Exclusive Debut Albums and Additional Ambassadors Announced: National Album Day today announces a list of exclusive debut albums that are being released or re-issued on vinyl and CD to coincide with this annual event celebrating the art of the album. The titles, which will be available to purchase in participating UK indie stores, HMV and Fopp, Amazon and other outlets on the day, can be pre-ordered now. Multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter Jake Bugg and Pip Millett, one of Manchester’s most exciting homegrown talents have also been revealed as the latest artists to be confirmed as National Album Day ambassadors. With Jake’s debut reaching a pinnacle 10 year anniversary on National Album Day and Pip is set to release her much anticipated debut, When Everything Is Better, I’ll Let You Know this October, they will join Franz Ferdinand, KSI, The Mysterines, and Sam Ryder in championing their love of the album.

Memphis, TN | Memphis Record Pressing Predicted to Become North America’s Largest Producer of Vinyl Records: Memphis Record Pressing, located in Bartlett, Tennessee, and founded by Brandon Seavers and Mark Yoshida, is predicted to become North America’s largest producer of vinyl records by 2023. Pressing around 130,000 records a day, Memphis Record Pressing is poised to produce over 10 million records this year. Brandon Seavers, co-founder and CEO of Memphis Record Pressing, said, “It’s a humbling experience for me, and for Mark as well, to see where we are today. Literally every day when I drive up, I say, ‘This is not real. There is no way that we are manufacturing a legacy, analog format/medium in the 21st century, and we’re actually breaking ground and constructing a new facility to do this.’” Memphis Record Pressing was founded in 2014 by Brandon Seavers and Mark Yoshida. The pair of entrepreneurs first joined forces in the late 1980s to operate Rockingchair Recording Studios, owned by Yoshida. In 1997, they co-founded AudioGraphic Masterworks, a CD and DVD manufacturing facility.

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Hot Springs, AR | Vinyl-collecting bug bites two local record collectors: Few collectibles can speak directly to their owner like a vinyl record, issuing forth the fundamental human art form of music. It is that elemental nature of music as well as the warm, full tones and tangibility of vinyl that keeps record collectors like Mark Maybrey and Tom Coleman hooked. “My first record experience was Elvis’ ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Don’t Be Cruel,'” Maybrey said. “My mom was an Elvis fan. We played it until it was worn out in the middle. My first 45 was Three Dog Night’s ‘Joy to the World.’ And from that point on — I grew up in the late ’60s and ’70s, vinyl was king — just kept buying vinyl, listening to it. “It kind of faded for a little bit. When I moved to Muscle Shoals, about 2012 … I found this … old-time, father-son record store and found (a) monthly meeting. I had probably two tubs of my personal (records) and then I went crazy. Back in 2012, you could find vinyl everywhere — before the big boom — in thrift stores, antique stores. And I went from those two tubs and now my collection is approaching 7,000 records.”

Worcester, UK | Spin The Black Circle to open on Pump Street tomorrow: A long-awaited record shop and cafe in Worcester city centre is set to open tomorrow. Spin The Black Circle, on Pump Street, is opening its doors at 10am tomorrow, following a busy renovation period. Spin The Black Circle is claims it is “Worcester’s only Vinyl Store and Coffee House”, with a variety of new and used vinyl on sale. The venue, at 19 to 21 Pump Street – the former EE phone shop, had a lot of work carried out to make it ready for its grand opening. Sam Barriscale, owner of Spin The Black Circle, said: “It has been really good so far. We originally wanted to get things ready to open in the first six weeks but there was an awful lot to do. “We carried out a full electrical re-wire and lots of plastering work and we are now finally ready to show Worcester what we have to offer.”

Edinburgh, UK | Watch incredible moment West Lothian band performs impromptu gig at record store: West Lothian band Dictator were on hand to open up a newly-refurbished record store in Falkirk, as the band from Livingston set up to play their new EP, Rubik’s Cube. A band from West Lothian broke out into an impromptu gig on Saturday, to celebrate the re-opening of a record store run by a fellow musician. Livingston-based band Dictator, performed live in Falkirk to celebrate the grand opening of The AV Company, ran by fellow musician and West Lothian guitarist, Connor Ward. The AV Company, ran by Mark Sharp and the Bicycle Thieves guitarist Connor Ward, and his dad Craig, recently opened their doors again yesterday. Dictator were on hand to help celebrate the grand opening, and performed a stripped-back set of their newest EP, Rubik’s Cube. Fans of the band came from across Scotland, and as far as Greenock, to support the band, and the new store.

Liverpool, UK | Seven Liverpool shops that have been around so long it defies all logic: There are shops in our city that have stood the test of time – surviving wars, recessions, the internet and a pandemic. Liverpool is home to many famous shops that have proudly stood along our streets for decades. Sadly, Liverpool has seen many shop closures over the years, so it makes the survival of these historic stores even more astounding. Despite the challenges thrown their way, they continue to thrive, serving our communities no matter what. It really is hard to imagine our city without them. …While vinyls are back in fashion, there was a time when CDs, iPods and MP3 players threatened the record business. One record store that survived this period is The Musical Box – Liverpool’s oldest vinyl shop. A trip here is a music lover’s dream, with the shop on West Derby Road having rows upon rows of vinyls covering a variety of genres. Founded in 1947, The Musical Box truly is a Liverpool gem that the city would be lost without.

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Miami, FL | Calling All Vinyl Enthusiasts: The Top Five Record Stores in Miami: For any vinyl record collector or audio enthusiast, the feeling of finally hearing a favorite album on vinyl is one like no other. The search for a vinyl, whether aimlessly scanning the isles of a local record store, scrolling high and low online or coming across it unintentionally, is an extremely rewarding process that will only keep a collector wanting more. In recent years, vinyl culture has made a comeback among Generation Z and the Millennial generation — with a majority of young people owning turntables and other sound systems, vinyls and CDs. Despite the development of streaming services and the digital age of music, purchasing vinyls and vinyl culture has been able to maintain its timelessness and potential to remain relevant. Throughout Miami, vinyl enthusiasts have taken it upon themselves to foster their love for the culture through establishing their record stores, keeping the vinyl culture thriving within the community.

Shropshire, UK | Newport record shop owner says thank you for the music and memories: A record shop owner, whose business has been at the heart of a Shropshire town for more than 20 years, has thanked customers and the community after retiring. Jude Paton has now completed her final day at Hey Jude’s but the shop continues to trade under the new ownership of Frankie O’Connor. But, after finishing her last day, Jude, who started Hey Jude’s in Newport Indoor Market in 1999 before setting up in Stafford Street, spoke of her gratitude to all those who have supported her over the years. She said: “I want to say a massive thanks to family, friends and my fantastic customers, all of whom have helped build the business and supported me through coming here. “I have made so many friendships through the music and sharing it with other people.” “I had an emotional final day and it hasn’t hit home yet. I well up in tears even now thinking about it because it was a passion as well as a business.”

Boise, ID | The Record Exchange Spins Local Magic with Vinyl: Seattle has Pike Place Market. Portland has Powell’s Books. And Boise has The Record Exchange. In 2021, The Exchange, which had endured for decades under the leadership of founders Michael Bunnell and Jill Sevy, made some changes. Bunnell and Sevy retired and welcomed some new faces at the top. Employees Catherine Merrick, Glenn Newkirk, and Chad Dryden, along with Erica Sparlin, bought the place, ensuring the business would remain an iconic retail marker for the city. Yet just like The Pretenders’ lead singer Chrissie Hynde’s famous lyric, Boise’s Record Exchange co-owners, Dryden and Sparlin, who are also married to one another, “went back to (their) pretty countryside” of Ohio. There, Dryden handles marketing for the most identifiable retail landmark in Boise. Of course, he misses a few things, but where he finds himself in time, moving to be closer to his family, takes precedence, Dryden said. “We miss our friends, and we miss the mountains. But we don’t regret the move to Ohio whatsoever. We love being here…”

Los Angeles, CA | Rare punk collection acquired by L.A. record store: L.A. landmark Rockaway Records recently acquired a six-figure punk collection of rare vinyl, memorabilia and vintage items. L.A. landmark Rockaway Records recently acquired a six-figure punk collection of rare vinyl, memorabilia and vintage t-shirts, featuring items from The Sex Pistols, Black Flag, The Misfits and more. Highly sought-after test pressings, picture sleeves and posters are among the items now available. The collection acquired by Rockaway Records also includes items from several groundbreaking Los Angeles based punk bands like The Germs, Social Distortion and Fear. Rare items including vinyl, concert posters, t-shirts and clothing, unique industry promotional items and more are currently available in their appointment only showroom and online. “In our 40+ years of selling vinyl, I have never seen a collection of any kind sell as fast,” says Rockaway co-founder Wayne Johnson. “The prices for punk era vinyl and memorabilia specifically have skyrocketed over the last few years! It reminds me of how Beatles collectibles were selling in the 80’s and 90’s.”

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