Author Archives: TVD HQ

Beijing, CN | A guide to Beijing’s record stores: Beijing’s music scenes are tight-knit and dedicated. From futuristic club-heads to gutter punks and everything in between, Beijing’s tune fanatics often have to deal with a variety of societal roadblocks, bringing those with a true passion together to create its unique interconnected web of sound. Live venues, restaurants, cafes, bars, and clothing shops are often shifting and expanding their definitions, open to hosting events and collaborating with each other. The amorphous nature of these spaces is best shown in the city’s record shops, great places to meet the weirdos of the city, importing bizarre Cambodian metal or putting up a poster for a gallery event-cum-acid techno rave. Below is an introduction to some of Beijing’s best places to pick up a record, give it a spin, have a cup of coffee–or a gourmet hot dog–and delve into the myriad sounds of this megalopolis.

Southsea, UK | Independent record store resurgence: Pie & Vinyl’s success mirrors the industries growth: The owner of a popular Southsea record store looks back on it’s success as independent record stores reach a 10 year high. Steve Courtnell, the owner of Pie & Vinyl in Castle Road, has spoken about his shops success as it was revealed that there are more independent record stores nationwide than there were ten years ago. The unique pastry and music based shop opened in 2012 and since it began the industry has seen an upturn in fortunes. …Having sat on Castle Road for over a decade, Pie & Vinyl has become a fixture of the city, renowned and revered by many. However, that description still takes Steve by surprise. He said: “When people say, everyone knows Pie & Vinyl it never fails to warm my heart a bit. Obviously there has been an incredible amount of hard work to nearly get to 12 years old, there has been lots of challenges and there continues to be lots of challenges. What we try and offer is something unique, and it does stand out in a way.”

Valdosta, GA | Founder of Stokeley’s Records switched to pop-up sales to spread the joy of Black music: Le’Shawn Taylor bought his first vinyl at Goodwill in 2012. He said he was inspired by Questlove after seeing a video of the artist’s collection on YouTube. “I don’t think at the time I had a record player,” he said. “I was just buying.” It has been over a decade since he purchased that first vinyl that planted a seed. Record-collecting has blossomed into a near full-time passion for Taylor. From 2018-2020, that passion manifested in Vibes and Stuff, a brick-and-mortar in Taylor’s hometown of Valdosta, GA. The name of his store was an homage to the song off A Tribe Called Quest’s “The Low End Theory.” Taylor said he knew he was different growing up in Valdosta. His store was an extension of that eccentricity. “[I was] just into like the opposite of things that were cool,” he said. “I’m probably like the only person in bell-bottoms in like a hundred-mile radius.”

Mansfield, OH | Operation Fandom & Blackbird Records moves to former Uncommon Nostalgia: Mansfielders will still be able to shop for collectibles, music and games at 36 W. 4th St. but from a different business. Following the closure of Uncommon Nostalgia, Operation: Fandom and Blackbird Records opened their store on Friday. Owner Josh Lehman said the new space nearly doubles the floor space they had between City Grille and The Clubhouse. “This will become the largest store of the three we have,” Lehman said. “It was our smallest store before. We have two different 1,000-square-foot stores in Wooster, and about 2,400 square feet in Medina. “We had tall ceilings at the old place, but only 1,400 square feet. Here, we have 3,000 square feet.” Lehman said the extended space will allow for more records, games and spread-out shopping aisles. “I think we’ll have more space for Record Store Day,” he said.

Read More »

UK | Vinyl records return to UK inflation basket for first time since 1992: Strong sales of Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) help format make an impact, as air fryers also join list. Not since Simply Red’s album Stars topped the albums chart in 1992 have vinyl records been included in the basket of goods used to calculate annual inflation, but a rise in sales over recent years has brought them back as a marker of UK shop prices. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the “resurgence of popularity” in vinyl records meant they should be included among the 744 items used to calculate inflation each month, in its latest annual shake-up of the basket. Sales of vinyl were given an extra push in the UK last year by Taylor Swift’s album 1989 (Taylor’s version), which was the biggest-selling vinyl record, while the Rolling Stones’ Hackney Diamonds ranked as the highest-selling vinyl record by a British artist.

RI | 7 Local Record Stores to Lend an Ear: Record stores—a reminder of the slower pace of times past—are experiencing a resurgence with new generations of vinyl enthusiasts. From vinyl records to CDs, cassettes, band merch and more, record stores in Rhode Island are teeming with vintage finds and unique collectibles. While online streaming services provide our favorite tunes at our fingertips, the experience of visiting a record store is about more than just the music—it offers a sanctuary and a sense of community for music lovers. Here are some of our favorites from around the state. Analog Underground: This record store lives up to its analog namesake—the music playing throughout the store comes directly from a record player and the walls are lined with vintage vinyl and cassette tapes. Owner Dave Lifrieri frequented record stores as a child and wanted to create the same community atmosphere when he opened his store in 2010…

Portland, OR | Owner of North Portland record store helps arrest burglar who hit shop twice: The owner of Vinyl Resting Place jumped in a car with another local business owner and followed the burglar. Vinyl Resting Place was broken into twice in the span of a few days. The owner said it was the same burglar who did it both times and he helped take them into custody. The first burglary happened early Thursday morning. Steve Cook, who owns the North Portland record store, got a call that his front door was shattered. “The front door was busted out,” Cook said. “I could tell the (point of sale) system had been yanked out.” Cook said the burglar walked away with the cash register and all the money that was inside. He estimates it was about $5,000 dollars. “That wasn’t even my money,” Cook said. “I had sold that stuff on consignment for somebody else, which was the hard part, telling them, not only was I burglarized but I lost your money.”

Rio de Janeiro, BR | Rio’s Best Party Happens Once a Month at This Tiny Record Store: Vinil do Mustafa is a treasure trove of 1970s Tropicalía music. …Before Mustafa inhabited his current digs, he kept a shop nearby in the same neighborhood—a subterranean space that turned into an exclusive club every Thursday night. After the pandemic, however, the owner “wanted to see the sky.” In his new location, Mustafa boasts an impressive collection of everything you might expect, but he doesn’t say no to the odd ‘90s hip-hop album or movie soundtrack. It’s more important for the owner to keep his collection tight than to be picky about genre. “I don’t want to sell records in bulk,” he says. “I don’t want to have thousands of records, where you step into the store and you can’t find what you’re looking for.” Instead, he carefully curates his selection, some of which he sells on the cheap, though especially rare titles can bring in much more. “I’m aiming for all kinds of crowds,” he says.

Read More »

Nederland, CO | Music and libations for Boogie’s anniversary: Five years ago Ryan Blackwell opened his dream store in his dream location. Nederland was, and in many ways still is, a hotspot of musical culture and creativity, and Blackwell could think of no better place to lay the foundation for Boogie Records. Over the years, Boogie Records has moved to a bigger space and has expanded its inventory to become a paradise for music fans and those addicted to physical media. Though Blackwell’s favorite part of the job is acquiring big collections from record enthusiasts, where flipping through someone else’s eclectic tastes can often yield some incredible results, he’s recently been focusing on expanding the merchandise available at Boogie. From expressive band logo T-shirts repping Nirvana and Wu-Tang Clan, to a variety of music-inspired toys, such as vintage Devo figurines and newer Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem dolls, with these new additions Boogie Records is constantly being enhanced.

Dundee, UK | How Dundee record store Assai became city centre success story: Its owner said Assai has built a community and embraces the power of the internet to encourage people to shop. Noah Kahan is one of the hottest stars in the world, selling millions of albums, attending the Grammys and selling out arenas. But when the Stick Season star wanted to give his album a charts boost, it was a Dundee music shop he turned to. He took the time to sign 500 copies of his album for a special numbered edition to sell through Assai. In the streaming age, a retailer being able to sell this number of physical copies can make all the difference to chart positions. A week after they went on sale, Kahan followed acts like Blur, Liam Gallagher and Green Day—who have also provided unique versions of their LPs to Assai—to have a number one.

Stroud, UK | End of an era—Stroud’s oldest record shop closes its doors for the final time: Saturday (3/9) will mark the end of an era as Stroud’s oldest record store closes its doors for the final time. Trading Post, in Kendrick Street, can trace its history back 47 years, and for the past 23 years has been run by Simon Vincent. On Friday afternoon friends Tom Berry, who runs Sound Records, and Sean Roe and his wife Ritsuko Hidaka from Klang Tone Records made a surprise presentation of a cake in the shape of a record player. “Simon’s the longest-serving record shop owner in town, so we wanted to mark his departure in style, so we thought a record player cake would be a fitting memory,” explained Tom. Simon said: “I’m absolutely blown away by it—and slightly emotional, as I’m sure I will be for the next 24 hours—but these guys are great, and Stroud is very lucky to have Tom and Sean doing what they’re doing, so Stroud’s going to be fine for records…”

How to have the best Record Store Day: Record Store Day (RSD) is an annual event that celebrates independent record stores and vinyl culture with limited editions and special releases. To make the most of this day, enthusiasts need a game plan. Here are some tips to ensure you have the best Record Store Day experience possible. Start Your Research Early: In the weeks leading up to RSD, check out the official list of releases and decide what you’re interested in. This list is usually released in advance on the Record Store Day website. Also, follow your favorite artists and labels on social media for any surprise announcements. Plan Your Route: Determine which record stores you’ll visit beforehand. Some shops may offer exclusive items or in-store performances, so prioritize them according to your wishlist. Remember to consider store opening times and distances between shops to maximize your time efficiently…

Read More »

St. Louis, MO | How Frenchtown Records turned a passion for physical media into a thriving business: David and Christine Boykin never planned on opening a record store. They just needed a place where David could store his vast vinyl collection – and a project to keep them occupied during the COVID-19 lockdown. That’s why the pair bought a 140-year-old building in LaSalle Park, right around the corner from St. Louis’ historic Soulard neighborhood. The married couple gutted the space and renovated everything from top to bottom. Although they planned to sell records in their spare time, the Boykins never envisioned their side project would evolve into something with regular shopping hours. …Although vinyl’s recent resurgence played a role in the store’s success, Frenchtown’s unique shopping experience is an accomplishment all on its own. “We didn’t want to be a snooty audio shop or record store,” Boykin says. “There’s too many of those already. We’ll help you buy a dollar record as quickly as we’ll help you buy a thousand-dollar record.”

Sunderland, UK | Vinyl sales have doubled compared to three years ago despite declining highstreets: According to the ERA (Entertainment Retail Association), 36.7% of total physical music sales last year were in independent shops. This rise is down to the big vinyl revival which last year had a 58% share of the physical market value which doubled compared to three years ago. This is down to the biggest artists such as Taylor Swift releasing their albums on multiple collectable editions such as her album Evermore coming out on four different coloured records. Reflex Records in Newcastle are taking advantage of this by having a dedicated part of their website for fans of Taylor Swift as well as selling exclusively to independent store editions of top 40 releases. When asked about this rise, Reflex did say that “a large amount of their sales are down to exclusive editions such as coloured and limited release vinyl.”

Glasgow, CA | Glasgow record shop Monorail Music is auctioning discarded backdrops from viral Willy Wonka experience: Long-standing Glasgow record shop Monorail Music is auctioning souvenirs from last week’s viral Willy’s Chocolate Experience. Three items are currently for sale via eBay—two original backdrops and the entire “Time Tunnel” fabric—with all proceeds going to Medical Aid For Palestinians (MAP). The auction ends next Thursday, March 14th, and at the time of writing 40 bids have been placed. The highest is £565. “Yes it’s real,” Monorail Music wrote on eBay. “A friend of ours has a workshop below the House Of Illuminati Willy’s Chocolate Experience and rescued these original printed backdrops from the bin following the globally reported Willy Wonka scam.” On February 27th, Willy’s Chocolate Experience went viral after photos circulated of the so-called “immersive experience” showing an empty warehouse with plastic props, a bouncy castle and animated backdrops pinned to the walls.

New Delhi, IN | The Record Store: This New Delhi Shop Features Rare Vinyl—and Cakes: Meet the cool owners behind Digging in India: Nostalgia is the driving force behind Digging in India, the New Delhi-based record store and cakery from DJ, archivist, and record collector Nishant Mittal and pastry chef Mallika Tandon. When you walk inside, you’re greeted by a glossy yellow and pink sign with the shop’s name, which is also Mittal’s Instagram alias. Tandon designed it and recruited a painter who makes signs for Indian trucks (which are often decorated with vibrant, instantly recognizable floral prints). On the walls, posters for magic shows and educational fliers that an Indian student would recognize from a textbook—guides to types of rocks and seed germination—hang in cherry red frames. “The store is very anti-minimalist,” Mittal says. “There’s stuff everywhere. It’s very much the Indian home aesthetic…”

Read More »

Lubbock, TX | Celebrate Record Store Day 2024 at Lubbock’s only independent record store: Lubbock’s only independent record store has quite a history here in the 806. Ralph’s Records (3322 82nd St) has been Lubbock’s entertainment headquarters for over 40 years. And now it’s the only place in Lubbock where you can participate in Record Store Day, April 4th, 2024. Record Store Day was created “to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently-owned record stores in the US.” And it’s a fantastic opportunity to pick up Record Store Day only releases, which are very collectible, cool, and often appreciate in value significantly. There will be limited color vinyl records, picture discs, CDs, and even cassettes in a wide variety of genres. Record Store Day is a bit of a surprise and there is some element of luck involved with getting the titles you want most. Of the many RSD releases, many, but not all, will be at Ralph’s, and the quantity will be limited.

UK | Indie record shops boom in number—but supermarkets are deserting music: Data from Digital Entertainment and Retail Association finds there are now 122 more indie record shops compared with 2014. New data shows that the UK has dozens more record shops that it did 10 years ago, but the marketplace for physical music elsewhere is quickly collapsing. A study by the Digital Entertainment and Retail Association (ERA) finds that there are now 461 indie record shops in the UK, 122 more than 2014. Purely in terms of store numbers, the sector has recovered strongly after a small dip during 2020 that is likely attributable to the Covid-19 pandemic. The much-heralded vinyl revival—and its controversial premium pricing—drove revenue for vinyl to more than £170m last year, the 16th straight year for growth in the format. Of that revenue £110m came from archive releases rather than new music. ERA chief executive Kim Bayley celebrated the shops’ success, saying: “…Indies have found their niche and they are here to stay.”

UK | How young women are fueling the vinyl revival: Experts reveal female Gen Z are driving record sales by buying new albums from modern artists including Taylor Swift—as number of indie stores hits 10-year high: Gen-Z women are helping to fuel the vinyl revival by buying new records from modern artists including Taylor Swift rather than old albums, store owners have revealed today. Some 6.5million LPs on vinyl were bought across the UK last year, making it the 16th year in a row to see growth—with stars Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar and Harry Styles credited for the boom. Experts in the industry now say that Gen Z-ers are behind the trend, whereas in the past it was more likely that middle-aged men and women would go shopping for vinyl from their younger years. It comes as an industry group today revealed that the number of independent record shops has hit a 10-year high, with 461 indie record shops across the country—122 more than a decade ago.

Wilton, UK | LSD Records, Wilton, to feature in upcoming comedy film: A Wilton record shop will be at the heart of an upcoming comedy film set in Wiltshire. LSD Records (or £.s.d. Records) in West Street, has been the main filming set for Sleeves, a story following two aging mods who get together and open a second-hand record shop. Sleeves is a “massive” opportunity for the shop and everyone else involved, said owner Adrian Martin, who hopes the film will grow from humble beginnings into a cult classic. Big names in the film industry have shown interest and Adrian said the scriptwriter is constantly making adjustments as Sleeves has blown up to “massive proportions.” The 58-year-old Wilton resident has been asking his friends to step in as extras in the pub scenes which have been filmed in the Winchester Gate and the Bear Inn. “It’s like a diary of people I grew up with. I have never been so excited in my life,” he said.

Read More »

UK | Number of independent record shops in UK reaches 10-year high, despite overall decline in stores: Despite a decline in stores selling physical music to UK customers, independent music stores continue their growth. The number of independent record stores in the UK has reached a 10-year high, according to new research by ERA, the digital Entertainment and Retail Association. ERA’s research confirms that as of the end of 2023, there were a total of 461 independent record shops up and down the country, a 36% increase on 2013, where there were 339. Despite this rise, the number of stores selling physical music in the UK has hit an all-time low; in 2013 there were a total of 10,391 stores that sold music in the UK, but now there are just 2,486 – a decline of 76%. However, it’s not all bad news – ERA’s new research does prove that despite a shrinking of the physical music market, indie record shops have increased their share of the market; sales from independent record shops now account for 8% of all music sales in the UK. In 2013, indies represented just 3% of music outlets in the country, while in 2023 they represented nearly a quarter, with 23%.

Denville, NJ | The Sweet Vinyl Cafe is a Denville, New Jersey hidden gem: There are so many hidden spots in New Jersey that are just dying to be explored. I love finding out through the internet that there are a ton of quirky and unique cafes, restaurants, bars, and other places that are located not too far from me in my own state. There’s a cafe that’s located in Denville, New Jersey that mixes a few of my favorite things. I’ve seen a few different videos of this spot online and people are loving the comfy, artsy vibes that it gives off. The Sweet Vinyl Cafe is a cafe and record store all mixed into one, making it a wild hidden gem that I’m not sure enough people know about in our state. “Sweet Vinyl Cafe is Northern New Jersey’s first record store/dessert shop. Pursue the new and used vinyl, enjoy a locally made brownie or coffee, hear your favorite music, and discover new recordings and artists in a warm and welcoming community environment.”SweetVinyl.com Their website updates you on what vinyls are new in the store and you can enjoy browsing while you have your favorite coffee in hand.

Charleston, WV | Beloved record store closes after 52 years in business, sign designated historically significant: Record and gift shop, Budget Tapes & Records closed down operations on Sunday after over half a century serving the Charleston area. The Kanawha County business first opened its doors in the 1970s and has since been a go-to source for physical media and music merchandise throughout Southern West Virginia. Owners Dave and Priscilla Pope announced the news last week, noting that the last day of business would be Sunday, March 3, 2024, and citing retirement as the reason for the change, which took many patrons by surprise. “After 52 years, we’re retiring,” read a statement from the establishment. “THANK YOU to our customers for loving Budget all these years!” Along with its eye-catching merchandise, Budget Tapes & Records developed a reputation for its top-notch customer service and knowledgeable employees, one of which was longtime manager John Nelson, who has become something of a local icon over the years.

IE | Vinyl Variety: Elaine Mai Fires off Three of Her Favourite Irish Record Shops: With her latest offerings, it feels like Elaine Mai has hit on a special “moment” in her career. She recently released her new single “The Moment,” featuring singer-songwriter soft centre. Originally written as a lead vocal for a different project, Mai enlivened the track with her unique songwriting abilities. Mai is a queer artist, producer, and songwriter from Dublin who has been performing as a solo acoustic act since 2011. Back then, it was just her with a guitar and loop pedal. Now, she has evolved into a powerhouse electronic artist, which has helped her demonstrate her unique talents as a producer. Although she has been active as an artist and producer for over a decade, Mai didn’t release her debut album Home until the fall of 2021. It was well worth the wait, an arsenal of unique electronic tracks that was applauded as one of the year’s best electronic releases. …Joining us today for a new edition of Vinyl Variety is Elaine Mai herself to share with us a few of her favourite record shops.

Read More »