Category Archives: A morning mix of news for the vinyl inclined

The Democrats Are Winning the Record Store Battle: Doug Emhoff and California governor Gavin Newsom went vinyl shopping in Philly before the presidential debate, the latest example of the Harris/Walz campaign’s music geekdom. …Early Tuesday afternoon, hours before the presidential debate at the National Constitution Center, a woman walked into Latchkey Records, an indie record store in south Philadelphia, and asked owner Marc Faletti about his stock of Depeche Mode and other new wave records. After taking a few photos of what was in stock, like rare DJ mixes of the British synthpop band, she said she’d be back. Faletti recalls that, a half hour later, “a guy with an earpiece” entered the 1,000-square-foot store and started asking about its entrances and exits, and if the bathroom locked. The woman—who turned out to be part of the Harris team, along with the Secret Service agent—then returned with a startling piece of news: Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, and California governor Gavin Newsom would be coming by in 20 minutes to shop for vinyl.

Miami, FL | Terrestrial Funk Record Store Is Here for a Good Time, Not a Long Time: Terrestrial Funk has quickly become a beloved fixture in the burgeoning corner of an area known mostly for luxury retail. Bright-orange couches, shelves of locally made apparel and crafts, and well-curated racks of vintage T-shirts aren’t the most distinctive things about the new Terrestrial Funk record store in the Design District. That would have to be the two enormous speakers sitting in the middle of the shop. Standing floor to ceiling between the bins and the marble sales counter, the JBL speakers were salvaged from the movie theater at the Dolphin Mall, where they sat behind one of the screens. The sounds of Hollywood action films flowing through the stacks have been replaced by a new soundtrack of funk, boogie, soul, house, and other genres found mainly on vinyl, all sounding crisp and clear. How does such a massive sound system end up in a relatively small record shop?

Nashville, TN | Nashville record factory innovating with vinyl after 75 years in business: For the past 75 years, everything from the Beatles’ first U.S. record to Taylor Swift’s latest hits have been pressed at the factory along Allied Drive. America’s oldest and largest historic record-pressing plant is innovating in Nashville. United Record Pressing is trying to keep up with the growth of vinyl by using new technology alongside Music City’s history. For the past 75 years, everything from the Beatles’ first U.S. record to Taylor Swift’s latest hits have been pressed at the factory along Allied Drive. “It’s not been easy every year, so it’s been special to celebrate that longevity,” Director of Sales and Marketing Cam Sarrett said. “There is the art object of a vinyl record that’s really special, and I think different than other formats.” During the 1990s downturn of vinyl, United Record Pressing was down to just 12 employees. The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a vinyl resurgence that now has more than 120 employees producing around 8 million records every year.

Pittsburgh, PA | Robotics meets vinyl records, thanks to this Pittsburgh entrepreneur: Maximillian Obasiolu’s experience at Carnegie Mellon and a local accelerator helped him launch Lead-In Record Co. To build a hardware startup, come to Pittsburgh. Yes, software as a service — and now AI — has long dominated the flashy narrative of nascent companies, but physical tech still reigns in certain markets. Just ask Maximillian Obasiolu, founder of vinyl manufacturing company Lead-In Record Co. It’s the local hardware scene that’s kept him in the area, where he’s building his startup from the ground up. “The robotics scene here is top tier compared to other cities in the country,” Obasiolu told Technical.ly. “Pittsburgh punches well above its weight class because of the educational institutions here.” It all started in 2021. Now 26, Obasiolu came to Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to pursue a dual master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering and engineering technology and innovation management. He stuck around because of the other opportunities.

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Dayton, OH | Skeleton Dust Records opens in new Dayton spot: ‘I just feel like home here.’ Skeleton Dust Records closed its doors in Dayton’s Fire Blocks District on Aug. 31 and today it’s reopening in the Huffman Historic Area on East Fifth Street. After being located on East Third Street for nearly seven years, owner Luke Tandy said he is ready for a change. The move is largely motivated by the opportunity to be located next to Pink Moon Goods, which is owned by his wife of six years, Kathleen Hotmer. “It feels good to be a part of an area of town that’s growing and developing — especially on a grassroots level,” Tandy said. “I just feel like home here.” Skeleton Dust Records is known for offering a wide variety of music at affordable prices. From noise and experimental music to classic rock, all generations can find something special in the store.

London, UK | Rough Trade to open Denmark Street’s first ever record shop: Rough Trade have announced that they will open their new UK branch on arguably the most famous music street in the world—London’s Denmark Street, once known as ‘Tin-Pan Alley.’ This will be the very first time the iconic street has had a record shop. Rough Trade will join the many instrument shops and music venues on the street, making it even more of a must visit destination for music lovers. Although the Denmark Street store will not offer a live performance space, it will host album signings and work in partnership with neighbouring venues HERE and The Lower Third to contribute to Rough Trade’s existing out-store events programme. Lawrence Montgomery, Managing Director, Rough Trade UK said “We are thrilled to bring Rough Trade to London’s iconic Denmark Street, a location that holds such a profound place in the city’s music history…”

Liverpool, UK | Setting the Record Straight: Is Rough Trade a Rough Deal for Liverpool? …Tell anyone anywhere in the world you’re from Liverpool and they’ll start singing Yellow Submarine at you. There’s an argument to say that we live in the music capital of the UK, and so it’s worth asking the question: can our independent record stores, that have celebrated our music for the last sixty plus years, take the competition from this hulking, musical leviathan? At a time when vinyl sales are at their highest since 1990, increasing 11.7% year-on-year, and with five independent record stores within the same square mile, it’s reasonable to ask if Rough Trade is really a positive or necessary addition to the city. “Not really, no,” said a source that wished to remain anonymous. “Price point-wise, they’re the same as HMV, but market-wise they’re going for the in-stores which is what Jacaranda are already doing. They’ve already started losing in-stores.”

Philadelphia, PA | Exclusive: Doug Emhoff makes a pre-debate pitstop at my boyfriend’s Philadelphia record store: “Gavin Newsom might have helped us rearrange the shop a little.” …Marc had no prior knowledge of the surprise visit. “Ben, my clerk, noticed a Secret Service guy casing the joint,” Marc told me after Emhoff and his companion, Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., visited. “It turns out that a customer who had come in previously and was asking for a bunch of help was actually part of the campaign. She was scouting us to see if we were the type of shop that would be a good fit.” Secret Service, Marc noted, even found a parking spot right in front of the store, “which in South Philly, as you know, never happens.” Once inside, Emhoff and Newsom “asked a couple of questions about the shop, but mostly they just wanted to talk about music,” Marc told me. “Doug wanted to see all of our New Wave,” and picked up “Brotherhood” by New Order and the eponymous first album by the Stone Roses.

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East Windsor, CT | An LP and 8-Track Flashback in East Windsor: An old time record store is enjoying new business and plans to expand. CBug’s Records on Bridge Street in East Windsor is finding that there has been a vinyl resurgence – so much so that Chris Bugbee, who opened CBug’s four years ago, is now planning to expand his store. “There’s definitely a vinyl community out there,” said Bugbee, standing inside his second-floor store that is chock full of LPs and even some 8-track tapes. Bugbee thinks that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the increasing interest in people wanting to acquire albums—of which he has around 16,000 of. Bugbee said, “People started new projects, so I think one thing people got back into were records and just the whole interactive part of it.” Laura Feliciano, who is a business associate at CBug’s Records and oversees the website for the store said, “[With vinyl], you have something you can collect and look at and feel, and it’s tangible…”

Marshall, NC | Record, games store brings a new artistic flavor to downtown Marshall: Marshall has long been viewed as a musical haven in Western North Carolina, as the town will soon host a storied music studio and is home to legendary bluegrass jams at businesses such as Zuma Coffee and The Depot. But downtown Marshall is host to a new record store, Oasis Ltd. Records, that is attracting music fans from Asheville and throughout the region. In addition to records, the North Main Street store also stocks a wide range of offerings for hobbyists, including hand-built arcade games, VHS tapes, video games and consoles. “We’ve got our fingers in lots of different pots,” said Abigail Guyton, who owns the store with her husband, Alex Toporowicz. “We just want to be a space for people with different interests that don’t get a lot of attention or have a lot of space for that kind of thing in Madison County.” But for the Marshall couple, records are their bread and butter at the shop.

SP | The Spanish recording market grows 16.6% during H1 2024: The first six months of 2024 have meant a new growth for the recording industry, mainly thanks to the growth of the digital market, which continues its great evolution with a rise of 18.8 % mostly due to streaming, representing 99% of digital consumption. The physical market during the first half of 2024 “equals” the growth of the same period of 2023, and remains with a growth of 0.03%, provided mainly by the consumption of vinyl, rising 11.9% regarding the same period of the previous year, whereas CD decrease by 15%. Other formats also decrease compared with the same period of 2023 (down 32.9%) and DVD (down 15.1%). …The increase of sales of vinyl on first semester 2024 (11.9% more that the the same period of 2023), providing 16.18 million euros, and representing 62.8% of physical formats sales, makes that the consumption of analogical formats does not yield negative figures overall. Sales of CD drop 15% in respect of first half of 2023, with revenues of 9.39 million euros to the total market.

Fort Myers, FL | Stellar Records in Fort Myers commemorates first anniversary: Stellar Records is marking one year on its calendar next month and is celebrating its success with an event local music fans won’t want to miss. The store, located on Cleveland Avenue, opened on Sept. 2 and has become a popular gathering spot for many local music connoisseurs. To celebrate their anniversary, Stellar is throwing an event with giveaways, deals and a unique lineup of local music acts. Owner Liz Cochran said the shop’s success in the past year has delighted her. “It’s absolutely amazing. I’m beyond grateful that people keep coming in to see me, and they keep coming back, and they’re excited to be here, and they’re excited to find their perfect record for the day,” Cochran said. …“We’ve surpassed my expectations. The community has really welcomed us as a fresh take on what a record store can be in Fort Myers. It’s been such a great experience, like adventure. Every day I come in here, and I have fun. It’s awesome,” Cochran said.

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Owasso, OK | Screaming Earth Records opens in Owasso for vinyl enthusiasts: The Tulsa Metro only has a handful of vinyl record stores. Ben Sloma, a music enthusiast, and his wife, Rosario, are opening up what he says is the only record shop in Owasso today. Their passion for music is one of their inspirations for opening Screaming Earth Records. Sloma stopped by the Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages Porch to talk about his new vinyl store. “We want our shop to be a place where people can come in, hang out, and listen to music,” Sloma said. “We also want to provide a place for local musicians to have to perform.” Sloma said Screaming Earth Records is a reference to a song by Tom Waits called “Earth Died Screaming.” When asked why vinyl, Sloma said, “It’s the only form of media that is a direct representation of the music. …There is nothing like it.”

Manchester, UK | Inside Sifters Records, the time capsule record shop that inspired Oasis. What an institution. …Fans of our most iconic band from all around the world should show their gratitude to a little record store in Burnage for helping to make that happen. Some might say, Sifters Records is the home of the Gallaghers’ love for music. The two brothers were brought up just a stone’s throw away from here on Cranwell Drive and were regular visitors of Sifters throughout their teenage years. Noel has previously mentioned how he used to stroll around to Sifters on Fog Lane and pick up records by the likes of The Smiths, Joy Division and The Happy Mondays, which would help inspire some of the world-renowned anthems Oasis would later go on to create. The relationship between the Gallaghers and Sifters Records is emblematic of their deep roots in Manchester’s music scene. If you feel like you’ve heard the name before, you probably have as Liam mentions the store in the song ‘Shakermaker’. In the final verse of the song he gets his special mention.

Dayton, OH | Beam back to Dayton in 1979 with this vintage report on Dingleberry’s record store: Fleetwood Mac…Led Zeppelin….Pink Floyd…The Eagles…Donna Summer…Rober Holmes? These were some of the hottest artists of the 1979 holiday season. You can see them mentioned in this really cool news report from WDTN. The channel sent local broadcast legend Barbara Kerr to interview staffers from the also legendary (and now defunct) local music store Dingleberry’s, which was opened by Greg Savage in Dayton in 1974. The video of the report is below, and it’s an awesome visual time capsule. Also, below is a bonus vid of a Dingleberry’s classic radio commercial. Don’t act like you weren’t shocked about the dominance of Rupert Holmes, too.

UK | ‘It’s schmoozing – but that’s nothing new’: how the record shop in-store gig changed touring: In-stores can be beneficial for bands, fans and record shops alike – but do they still hold the same magic, or have they become an obligatory part of an album promotion? At one end of Banquet Records in Kingston upon Thames the Dutch indie band Personal Trainer are performing a short set next to the album racks. Before them are 30 or 40 people who have pitched up on a Thursday evening to see them launch their second album, Still Willing. Afterwards, the band will sign the albums the fans have bought and everyone will depart a little happier: the fans with memories of an intimate show and signed records; the band a few quid richer, a few more sales made, maybe a few more fans won. And Banquet will have sold a few hundred quid’s worth of stock.

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Miami, FL | New record shop Terrestrial Funk in Design District offers collections of vinyl records, cassettes, CDs and more: Streaming music on your phone is cool and all, but man, do we miss the days of physically holding an album. Lucky for us, there is a new record shop in the Design District that can give you what you’re missing. Deco’s music expert, Alex Miranda, is here to tell us more. Deco is all about the sights, sounds and, most importantly, vibes. That’s why our ears perked up when we heard about one pop-up record shop with the funniest-sounding name: Terrestrial Funk. Remember the days of vibing out to a classic album at a record store? Well, those days have come again, thanks to Miami’s newest record shop, Terrestrial Funk. Ivette Lozano: “Terrestrial Funk has been an online record store for almost a decade now, and now we have this pop-up here in the Design District.” This pop-up didn’t just “pop up,” though. It’s been a long time coming.

West Bend, WI | Behind the scenes as John McGivern visits The Beat Goes On in West Bend, WI: Joe Zaremba is the owner of The Beat Goes on with his wife Mary. Below is a look back at the evolution of the store formerly known as The Exclusive Company. There’s a lot of history behind one of the landmark businesses on N. Main Street in downtown West Bend, WI. Believe it or not The Exclusive Company had a couple name variations, locations, and specialty services as it blossomed downtown. In 1959 the Tel-a-City Directory listed The Exclusive Record-Shop at 146 N. Main Street. The phone number was listed as FE 4-7101. Other local businesses in that era included City Bakery, Bob Boltz Photographer, Peters Resort, Koth’s Motel, and Meyer’s Cigar & Newsstand at 219 S. Main Street. Jack Bandy recalls the original Exclusive store at the southwest corner of where Elm Street once intersected Main Street. Bandy said the store “not only sold Magnavox (Philips) hifis, but it was THE record shop in West Bend.”

Bangor, UK | Snow Patrol fans get in a spin for midnight vinyl signing: Snow Patrol super fans will be setting their watches for a special midnight signing of the band’s new vinyl album in Bangor’s Bending Sound Records. To secure their place in next Thursday night’s signing, fans had to pre-order Snow Patrol’s new LP The Forest Is The Path on limited edition forest green marbled vinyl. With all the places snapped up for this late night signing at the popular Banks Lane store, lead singer Gary Lightbody is thrilled to be returning home ‘to keep the vinyl flame burning so brightly’. Writing on social media, Lightbody fans: “We are so excited to launch the album vinyl at midnight in my local record store in Bangor, at Bending Sound Records. We’ll be signing albums at midnight going into Friday, September 13, so midnight Thursday night. “Bending Sounds is an amazing record store and I have found so many incredible vinyl albums there over the years. And they are such a lovely bunch of people.”

Nairobi, KE | Melodica: The Kenyan vinyl store preserving African deep cuts: Writer Peter Yeung meets Abdul Karim, the owner of a legendary Nairobi record store. Mfangano Street in Nairobi’s Central Business District is in the throbbing, working-class heartbeat of Kenya’s capital city, a constant racket of honking matatu transport vans, packed no-frills restaurants and cheeky street traders who line the pavements. But up a flight of stairs at the end of a nondescript corridor, Melodica Music Store is an oasis of calm. That’s not to say this legendary record store, the oldest in Kenya and perhaps in the whole of east Africa, is quiet. Far from it: through the day, the vinyl shop is powered by a playlist of customers who come to listen to deep cuts of pan-African music and beyond, from Kenya’s upbeat benga pop to Arabic-influenced coastal taarab ballads, Congolese rumba and even more standard fare like Western classic rock and jazz. “Everybody walks in here,” says Abdul Karim, the 62-year-old owner of Melodica, puffing on a cigarette as a rare version of Fela Kuti’s iconic 1973 album Gentleman, pressed in Kenya, spins in the back.

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Bloomington, IN | Bloomington’s newest record store is actually an old favorite: TD’s CDs and LPs, Bloomington’s eclectic record store that’s been housed in the basement of the Kirkwood Avenue Soma since it opened in 1998, is rebranding to “Walkover Sounds and Stones” and moving into a new shop on the Square with a little more elbow room – and a lot more daylight. In August, the record store moved into the former site of Global Gifts at 122 N. Walnut St., next door to Amrit India, after over 25 years as Soma’s subterranean neighbor. Its new title, “Walkover Sounds and Stones,” is a reference to the bygone Walk Over Boot Shop that once occupied the storefront (and whose mosaic tile sign is still in the entryway). Though TD’s quirky location as Bloomington’s “underground record store” has long been a hallmark of its identity, Will Bewley, the store’s owner, says he’s been ready to move out of the basement for years. “We’ve had to deal with flooding and were constantly having to seal the flooring and work with humidifiers,” Bewley said. “I just wanted to be in a place with more room to grow.”

Stirling, UK | Stirling institution Europa Music is the record shop with nine lives and a powerful legacy: Withstanding fire, recessions and lockdown, Europa Music has been selling joy on vinyl and CD for more than 30 years in Stirling city centre. Ewen Duncan has an impeccable memory. Dates, album titles, the eventual career paths of former staff members going back decades—they all spring easily to the mind of Europa Music’s owner. After 42 years of trading, the 65-year-old seems as energetic and passionate as ever when it comes to the business of selling records from his shop on Friars Street in Stirling’s city centre. Europa is a music connoisseur’s dream—large, but still packed to the rafters with vinyl, CDs, cassettes, books and other merchandise, like band T-shirts and patches. Rare LPs dangle enticingly from the ceiling. Stacks upon stacks of plastic crates hold the stock that groaning wooden browsers on every wall can’t contain. Further in, tall shelves are loaded with many hundreds of tapes. Oh, and that’s not even taking into account the 30,000 7-inch singles upstairs, waiting to be sorted.

Fort Lauderdale, FL | Connect Records Rises From Radio-Active’s Ashes in Fort Lauderdale: Connect Records will focus more on imported vinyl, dance music, 45s, and other specialty records. They say when one door closes, another opens, and in Fort Lauderdale, one beloved record store will give way to another. Two former staffers for Radio-Active Records, the venerable vinyl emporium that closed its doors permanently on September 1, have shared exclusively with New Times their plans to open a new shop, Connect Records, in Fort Lauderdale’s Thrive Art District development. The new shop’s co-owners, Natalie Martinez and Mick Ford, hope to open by the first weekend of October. “We felt like one of the main things in the industry that is needed right now is connection between communities,” says Martinez, the general manager at Radio-Active since 2010, of the new shop’s name. “It was also one of the only names that wasn’t taken that had to do with all the ideas we had in our heads.” At 781 square feet, Connect is smaller than Radio-Active’s final location, but its location in the year-old Thrive Art District affords plenty of opportunities.

Whanganui, NZ | Cutting-edge electronica comes to life at the Vinyl Room: Whanganui record store The Vinyl Room has teamed up with local electronic dance producer Body Beat Ritual to celebrate the release of their debut 12″ on Whanganui’s newest record label, Pleasure. This Friday, you are invited to sample a taste of cutting-edge electro at the Pleasure Records release party for Body Beat Ritual’s Fixation EP. Since relocating to Whanganui from Auckland, Body Beat Ritual has released a series of well-received EPs on international labels, all written and recorded in the River City. Body Beat Ritual’s live electronica is made and performed with hardware synths, samplers and drum machines. His abiding musical influence is techno, which took a futuristic take on 1980s electro acts such as New Order and Front 242 and combined the funk of American club music and the style of cinematic disco (think Georgio Moroder and Donna Summer’s I Feel Love) with the dark visual punch of the cyberpunk genre that produced iconic cultural works such as Bladerunner and Akira.

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Chapel Hill, NC | Schoolkids closing leaves Chapel Hill without record store for first time in decades: When Schoolkids Records closes at the end of the year, it will be the first time in decades that Chapel Hill will be without a record store. That’s especially notable because college towns are generally a place where record stores thrive. Once the Chapel Hill location of Schoolkids closes, the closest record store to UNC’s campus will be All Day Records in Carrboro, which opened in 2010. Schoolkids opened in 1974 and had become a Triangle institution. Glenn Dicker, co-founder of Hillsborough based Yep Roc Records and Red Eye Distribution, recalled his first time at the store. “The first time we came to Chapel Hill was in the early 90’s with our band, and one of the guys at the store put us up as we didn’t have a place to stay,” he said. “That vibe was one of the things that we took to heart about the Chapel Hill music scene that made the Triangle such an attractive place to us.”

Issaquah, WA | Sundew Plants and Records mixes vintage vinyl with verdant vibes in Issaquah: Tucked among the restaurants and boutiques in Issaquah’s historic Gilman Village is a tiny shop with a big personality. Described by one visitor as “the coolest little shop in Issaquah,” Sundew Plants and Records offers a unique combination of vintage vinyl, carnivorous plants, and original art by local artists. “We basically opened this shop because it’s what we’re passionate about. art and records and plants,” said Richie Bemm, who owns and operates the business with his wife, Kristina Ricotta-Bemm. The longtime hair stylists opened Vetiver Organic Hair Spa in the Gilman Village location more than a decade ago, offering a non-toxic environment with organic, plant-based products. “We require people to be fragrance-free,” said Kristina. “We have a lot of people that are chemically sensitive that come to visit us because of that. They want a safe, clean air space to be in.” The duo wanted to cut back on their salon hours and started brainstorming about what they could do.

Leeds, UK | Crash Records celebrate Next Big Thing anniversary: Launched last year to help raise the profile of up-and-coming local musicians, Crash Records’ Next Big Thing intiative has gone from strength to strength. Now, as the weekly showcase – under which a different artist is featured on the store’s website and via its social media platforms – nears its first anniversary, Crash is planning a celebratory gig at Oporto in Leeds and has also issued a callout for more acts to apply. Next Big Thing was the idea of Matthew Banks, the independent record store’s social media chief, who is also a member of the post-punk band Mince. “My own band started off around two years ago now and as we started playing it opened my eyes to how much great music there was in this Leeds scene,” he explains. “And then I thought Crash as a shop should be at the forefront of the music scene and be able to give back.

Washington, DC | The 6 D.C. area record stores that will scratch your vinyl itch: Washington, D.C. has a strong community of crate-diggers and DJs, and by extension, a network of excellent record shops for us to dig through. My own record collection might seem expansive to the average music fan, but compared to some of my DJ peers on the DMV record scene, I come off looking like a minor player. That’s largely thanks to the quality offerings we all have to pick from at shops across (and outside) the city. My own vinyl habit was kickstarted long ago in the fully analog era, and followed many paths since — from building core DJ skills to maintaining a working DJ library, to exploring sample sources and traveling to acquire exotic pieces of music that never made it to digital formats. …D.C. vinyl shops have had a lot to do with building the character of my collection, so I’ve gotten to know them well. As you explore and build your own collection, here are my favorite options for area stores worth exploring.

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Thanks, Swifties? U.S. Vinyl Sales Volume Returned to Double-Digit Growth During H1 2024, Report Shows. Who says vinyl’s nearly two-decade commercial resurgence is slowing? The format achieved double-digit stateside sales-volume growth during 2024’s opening half after turning in a single-digit expansion in the same category throughout all of 2023. That data point comes from the RIAA’s newly released mid-year report, which charts the performance of the U.S. recorded music space in H1 2024. As many know, revenue from vinyl sales has improved in the States for 17 consecutive years, besides managing to grow in a number of different markets. But last year, the RIAA identified relatively modest year-over-year volume growth of 6.6 percent for the format, with 43.2 million units having generated around $1.35 billion (itself up 10.3 percent) at estimated retail value. Importantly, the latter is, as its name spells out, just an estimate—not necessarily the price that the products ultimately fetched when bought by customers.

Camberwell, UK | Popular music store Dash the Henge in Camberwell opens up a coffee shop: The founders of the Camberwell record shop, and now second coffee spot, talk local music and the secret ingredient to the best cheese toastie. Dash the Henge is a focal spot on the South London music scene, having taken over the well established Camberwell store Rat Records, and now they have opened up a coffee shop two doors down. HENGE Coffee opened at the end of July as an extension of their popular store. So where did it all start and what’s this new addition to area’s self-proclaimed “Golden Triangle” of music? Dash the Henge, the record label, was founded by Nathan Saoudi from Fat White Family and Tim Harper of FreakFreak in 2019, to provide a home for outsider artists. It aimed to champion local artists, and it still does, says Tim. Dash the Henge, the store on Camberwell New Road, was co-founded by Tim and Chris OC in 2022 with a similar mission. Sat in the space of Rat Records, the physical store has everything you hold dear—music, books, merch, decks and lots more, plus live music events and now a coffee shop two doors down.

Walnut Creek, CA | A Popular Walnut Creek Indie Record Store is Moving to a Huge New Location: Popular record store “Up The Creek” is set to relocate to a much larger space on Mt. Diablo Blvd., next to Ace Hardware. The move, scheduled for mid-August, will take the store just a little further “up the creek” from its current location on Tice Valley Blvd. The new space, formerly occupied by Terra Outdoor Furniture, will allow “Up The Creek” to significantly expand its offerings. The store plans to increase both its new and used record inventory, with a special focus on jazz records. Beyond just selling music, the shop aims to become a community hub for music, art, and creativity. …The store’s motto, “Fingentes Dum Progredimur” or “Figuring it out as we go,” reflects the owner’s excitement for the new possibilities the larger space will bring. The new location even boasts an outdoor patio, opening up potential for movie nights, food trucks, and more.

Toronto, CA | Best Vinyl Record Stores in Toronto: Whether you’re a long time vinyl collector or are looking for a new way to listen to your favourite tunes, there are so many cool vinyl record stores that you’ll want to check out in Toronto. Here is a list of the best vinyl stores in Toronto. 1. Sonic Boom: Sonic Boom Music is the country’s largest independent record store and a much-loved staple of the music scene in Canada. They have an impressive selection of hundreds of thousands of new and used records, CDs, and cassettes. 2. Rotate This: Located on the trendy Ossington strip, Rotate This is one of Toronto’s leading and best known independent vinyl record stores. They are committed to filling their shelves with as much vinyl as possible, with a focus on new releases from independent bands. 3. Dead Dog Records: Dead Dog Records has two locations in Toronto where you can find a wide selection of new and used vinyl records. If you need any help while shopping, their staff have more than half a century of collective experience in record retail!

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Music Keeps the Groove in the First Half of 2024: US recorded music revenues rose 4% to $8.7 billion in estimated retail value over the first half of 2024 and have grown for nine straight years, dating back to 2016. As digital streaming entered its third decade in the US, paid subscriptions remained music’s workhorse, delivering nearly two-thirds of total revenues and averaging 99 million plans over the first half of the year (and well more than 100 million individual users since household plans count as a single subscription in our data). At the same time, overall revenues continue to stand on a strong and wide foundation that music companies have worked for years to build. Vinyl records alone grew 17% this period and are currently on pace to again break the billion-dollar barrier by year’s end.

Philadelphia, PA | Vinyl revival: Chestnut Hill Audio keeps old-school sound alive. In an era of smartphones, Bill McKinley’s shop caters to audiophiles. Bill McKinley, the 72-year-old owner of Chestnut Hill Audio, doesn’t mind being told he is “old school.” Furthermore, he says, he’s not the only one. “Turntables have made a comeback and are now bigger than ever,” he told the Local. “Vinyl and records are making people listeners again.” McKinley’s been running the shop on Germantown Avenue between West Abington and Willow Grove Avenues since 2016 when he bought it from former owner John Adams, who started what was then called Community Audio by selling electronic equipment out of his house in Mt. Airy in 1982. …Most of his customers are local to the area, he said, and come in to update their system about every five years or so. All told, he said, he’s got about 2,000 names in his database, almost all within a nine-mile radius. And all of them are serious audiophiles, he said. His shop is not for dilettantes.

Edinburgh, UK | Spinning vinyl records is all the rage among men of a certain age: There are few things more dynamic than a Yorkshireman on a mission. Heads up – just temper your expectations with regard to the word ‘dynamic’. We are not talking US standards of enthusiasm here. Yorkshire goes for a more low-key approach. Had NASA’s first man on the moon been from Sheffield, I imagine he would have taken a good look around and then said “Call this a beach? Have you ever been to Scarborough?” He was alone and palely loitering at home while I did the Fringe, so he decided he’d like to sort out our old record player so he could spin his vinyl again. This is all the rage at the moment among men of a certain age. The old fashioned LP is back. Music trend influencers like Grant Stott actually play them on the BBC, when I know fine well he has access to modern technology in those studios. Markets and second hand shops are bung fu’ of men in polo shirts wandering around mooching through those boxes of albums.

The Cure to release two new songs on eco-vinyl: And Nothing Is Forever and I Can Never Say Goodbye will be available on 1 October, using the ‘most recyclable’ plastic available, part of a Naked Record Club project to benefit the EarthPercent charity. The Cure are set to release live recordings of two new, previously unreleased songs on an environmentally friendly vinyl edition. Featuring the songs And Nothing Is Forever and I Can Never Say Goodbye, The Cure – Novembre: Live in France 2022 will be released on eco-vinyl on 1 October, with all profits to benefit the climate charity EarthPercent, founded by Brian Eno. The release is part of the Naked Record Club, which sells limited-edition records made from sustainable vinyl that is estimated to use 80-90% less electricity than traditional steam vinyl pressing machines. Five thousand copies of the record will be released on 12in, with the first 100 signed by Cure frontman Robert Smith.

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Beaumont, TX | A family-owned record store, live music venue is coming to downtown Beaumont: The owners tell 12News that thanks to the City of Beaumont’s “neighborhood empowerment zones”, they’re saving thousands of dollars in opening costs. A new family-owned and operated classic record store is coming to downtown Beaumont soon. “For the Record” will be a classic record store with a live music venue. The owners envision the space as a sanctuary for musicians and music lovers alike. …The Trenbeath family wants For the Record to become a new hub for all Southeast Texas music lovers and the city hopes it’s just one of many future small businesses that will breathe even more life into the downtown scene. “Earlier this year, I had the idea to open a new records store. I mentioned it, in passing, to Mom over here, we both realized this was the time to jump on it if there ever was one…”

Norwich, UK | Record and punk shop Dirt open in Magdalen Street in Norwich: A record store that started life as a pop-up shop has moved into a big new home in the city. Mark Blenkiron opened his shop, Dirt, in Magdalen Street earlier this month. It is easily recognisable by its black frontage painted with white skulls. Mark said: “We’ve been really popular since opening a few weeks ago. “We are quite unique – we sell loads of punk and alternative rock CDs and vinyls, as well as leather belts, tote bags, badges and patches.” Dirt started gaining a following after Mark opened a pop-up shop in Magdalen Street between December 2022 and July 2023, before closing while hunting for a bigger new home. Mark added: “It’s been great to recognise a few faces from before. “We’ve also had a lot of new customers checking us out – it’s hard to miss us. “The space is wicked.”

Greenville, SC | Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan visits Greenville’s Horizon Records: We know it’s not Halloween yet, but one pumpkin decided to roll into a local record shop just before the season. During the early afternoon Tuesday, Aug. 27, an unexpected visitor popped up at Horizon Records in Greenville. Customers who were browsing for tunes stopped what they were doing to get autographs. The visitor was none other than Billy Corgan, frontman of the two time Grammy Award winning alternative band The Smashing Pumpkins. …Most recently, the band introduced album “Aghori Mhori Mei” into their discography, described by music reviewers as a return to their classic sound. Here’s what to know about Corgan’s visit and why he was in the Greenville area in the first place.

Minneapolis, MN | Lucky Cat Records Opens at Iconic Music Hub: Formerly Oar Folkjokeopus and Treehouse Records, the new record store honors the music legacy of its past. Michele Swanson never imagined she would open a record store. It wasn’t a lifelong dream. But when she moved back to Minneapolis, the idea became obvious. Her return to Minnesota came after she retired from her job in HR at Delta Airlines. When she heard the building that previously housed Treehouse Records was open at 26th and Lyndale, she was intrigued. So she reached out to Mark Trehus, the former owner of Treehouse and landlord of the building, to talk about the possibility of leasing the space. “I had never ever contemplated opening a record store,” Swanson says. “I’ve always loved music, I’ve always loved local music, but never ever contemplated that. This space was what really got me thinking about it. It was just kind of a pie in the sky idea about it.”

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Chattanooga, TN | Spin your Sundays away with Yellow Racket Records’ new hours: Starting on September 1, local vinyl record store and venue Yellow Racket Records will be open on Sundays between 12:00pm and 4:00pm. “Many of you have expressed a desire to while away your Sunday afternoons flipping through records, and we finally seem to be at a point where we can accommodate,” said a post from the shop’s Facebook page. The change in hours is not yet permanent, so the store is asking for all vinyl fans and audiophiles to come visit throughout September and share whether the extra hours benefit them. There are a few concerts coming up in the next few months.

Chicago, IL | Bridgeport Records Brings House Music Vinyl Shop To The South Side: Owned by a house music DJ and longtime political operative, Bridgeport Records opened on the 45th anniversary of the infamous Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park. A new vinyl shop in Bridgeport is carving out space for house music and other genres of dance music, with a pioneering house DJ at the helm. Bridgeport Records opened in July at 3336 S. Halsted St., establishing a record store and community for house fans in the city that birthed the genre of electronic music. The business was founded by Vick Lavender, a longtime house DJ, producer and record label owner, and Jerry Morrison, a former labor leader who was “one of the most powerful political operatives in Illinois,” Politico wrote upon his retirement from his previous career in 2023. Both owners grew up in the same Chicago house music scenes and decided to work together a year ago to get a record shop up and running, playing the records that stuck with them.

Hanover, PA | Hanover vinyl record store to close its doors at the end of September: After five years of operation, a downtown Hanover record store is closing its doors. Vinyl Visions, 10 York St., announced that the store will be closing at the end of September. The store, which sold vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, rock and roll posters and other items, first opened at the location in April of 2019 by Perry Musselman. In 2023, the store was sold by Musselman to Nicholas Malinowski, the most recent owner. “I wanted to thank all the wonderful customers I have met over the past year and a half who have shared their love of music with me,” Malinowski said in the post. “We would entertain selling the business outright if there is an interested buyer who could keep the business open,” a second post read. A closing sale will begin at the store on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, including 50% off used vinyl, equipment and art, $10 off all new vinyl, used CDs all for $2, and back stock vinyl for $1, the post announcing the closure said.

Pharr, TX | Pharr Out Records Spins South Texas Tunes: Vinyl shops in the RGV specialize in vintage Mexican American finds. Vinyl collectors accustomed to dusty, sweaty crate digging are in for a surprise at Pharr Out Records. A cheery interior mural featuring citrus trees, monarch butterflies, and a music-loving giant named Melódico greets visitors and hints at a different experience. Opened last year in Pharr’s historic downtown, in the Rio Grande Valley, Pharr Out is already a destination for a variety of genres and eras. The owners—married couples Isaac and Jade Herrera and Zach and Rebecca Myers—provide an interactive record store experience. They’re as happy to engage aficionados in esoteric conversations about underrated musicians and regional labels as they are introducing neophytes to the influential regional Mexican American music they specialize in. “Folks who are just starting out—or if you’re a collector who’s not extremely savvy in Tejano music—they really benefit from having somebody who can tell them, ‘If you like this band, you’ll like this,’” says David Flores, a customer from Raymondville, 45 minutes away.

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San Marcos, TX | Sundance Record Lagoon changes name and ownership: Well-known San Marcos vinyl shop Sundance Record Lagoon has a new owner and with it, a new name. Kevin Kotara took over ownership of the business in early August. Sundance Record Lagoon is now Sundance Records. Looking back: The vinyl shop’s original owner Bobby Barnard, who died in 2020, first opened the store in 1977 as Sundance Records & Tapes and sold records, tapes, CDs, posters and more. After several relocations around downtown San Marcos, the store closed in 2012. A former employee of Barnard’s, Tomas Escalante, reopened the store with help from Barnard’s wife, Nancy Barnard, in 2021. Kotara, who worked at the original Sundance in the nineties, has now taken over the business.

Washington, DC | Indie Record Store Profile: Home Rule Records in Washington, DC: As part of a series on independent record stores, Billboard looks at one of D.C.’s only Black-owned shops, where vice president Kamala Harris has been known to visit. WWhen Home Rule Records owner Charvis Campbell got a cold call from the Office of the Vice President of the United States on May 3, 2023, he felt the way most people would have when confronted by the same scenario: perplexed. “It felt like an interview, like a background check,” Campbell tells Billboard. “When we were done, I was like, ‘Wait, this is kind of weird.’” But the calls continued. Next, VP Kamala Harris’ representative asked if anyone from the Uptown Washington, D.C., record store would be in the shop that day and mentioned that someone from the office might stop by. Then, Campbell got another call from a different representative who strongly suggested he stick around. The next thing he knew, the Secret Service came to inspect the 2,700 sq. ft. independent record store—and then the vice president followed.

Puget Sound, WA | Spin zone: Stop by these record shops near the 1 Line: Just like the never-ending list of Washingtonian music talent, we’re keeping it going with part two of a few of our favorite record stores near 1 line stations. Sit back, relax, turn on some tunes (if multitasking’s your thing), and enjoy the next installment of Spin Zone. Westlake: Holy Cow Records. Holy cow, a record store in Pike Place Market?! That’s right, this aptly named used record store features some classic and rare vinyl’s in one of Seattle’s most iconic locations. Walk 0.2 miles away from Westlake station and take the plunge into this rabbit hole of a collection. Sub Pop Records on 7th: Sub Pop and grunge, like a cup of coffee and Seattle. This iconic record label known for signing bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney most definitely features their albums and a selection of other records at their store on 7th. 0.4 miles from the station, check out Sub Pop and maybe even bring home a slice of music history…

Sugar House, UT | Raunch Records Sugar House: A Destination for Vinyl Enthusiasts: Raunch Records, in Sugar House, is home to vintage vinyl records, skateboards, magazines, books, shirts, and anything else related to punk rock, free thought, and Salt Lake City’s subculture. Brad Collins moved into a small storefront on this community’s main street in late 2009 to relaunch Raunch Records, just as the attractive area began its transition into a densely populated downtown. His hole-in-the-wall shop at 1119 East 2100 South also feels densely populated—packed with vintage vinyl records, skateboards, stickers, magazines, books, shirts and anything else related to punk rock, free thought, and Salt Lake City’s subculture. Now in his mid-60s, Collins has been key to that subculture for more than four decades. But the longtime musician and former radio host of “Behind the Zion Curtain” said he pursued his passions out of sheer interest rather than rebellion against Utah’s dominant culture. “Really, I’m not that combative,” Collins said.

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Chapel Hill, NC | Schoolkids Records, a College Town Mainstay for Decades, to Shutter Chapel Hill Location: As rent ticks up, chains expand, and the college students come and go, Franklin Street has seen local businesses struggle to stay open. On Monday, Schoolkids Records owner Stephen Judge announced that the Chapel Hill location of the independent store will permanently close at the end of the year. “Owning a store, much less one with the history and reputation of Schoolkids and operating on Franklin St has been the thrill of my lifetime. I will miss it terribly. It is like a death in the family,” Judge wrote in a GoFundMe message to supporters. …The flagship Schoolkids Records store in Raleigh, near N.C. State, isn’t going anywhere, Judge stresses, and with more time, now, he hopes to make it even stronger. Cinched in a Franklin Street band of homegrown businesses like Mediterranean Deli and Local 506, the Chapel Hill location has been iconic in its own right.

UK | Rough Trade eyes further expansion amid resurgence of physical sales: Rough Trade is “assessing opportunities” for new stores, MD Lawrence Montgomery has told Music Week. The indie retailer has been expanding as the vinyl market grows in the UK. “We are selling more than double the number of records and CDs so far in 2024 than we did five years ago,” said Montgomery. “As long as labels and artists continue to value the role independent record shops like ourselves offer, we believe this growth can continue.” Rough Trade Liverpool (pictured) opened in April 2024, joining stores in London’s Soho (2022), Bristol (2017) and Nottingham (2014), as well as the longstanding East and West London sites, the US New York City record store and a branch in Berlin. With overall physical sales now on an upward trend amid signs of a turnaround for CD, it makes sense for Rough Trade to seek new outlets.

Everett, WA | ‘Shout It Out Loud’: Apollo Exos Records. The new Everett business Apollo Exos Records seemingly appeared in downtown overnight. But to Puget Sound local Sotirios Rebelos and his team, Apollo has been years in the making. Rebelos, has a long history with the Puget Sound, jumping between Everett and Seattle for most of his life. He spent his teenage years in Seattle during the metal, rock, and grunge music scene when Nirvana was still playing in bars, he said. Rebelos ended up running a successful business in Seattle, pioneering car services for those needing a late-night ride on Capitol Hill and Ballard between 2006-2016. When he tired of the nightlife, he decided to move on. When figuring out where to relocate after his time in Seattle, Rebelos thought about his friends in Everett. “I was thinking back and man I have a lot of friends that I’ve known for decades that I met when I lived in Everett or are from Everett,” Rebelos said.

Asheville, NC | Harvest Records owners celebrate spinning tunes for 20 years in West Asheville: In 2004, a couple of college friends decided to take business ownership for a spin. Mark Capon and Matt Schnable opened a record store to create a community gathering spot around music that would sell music and host the occasional concert. Twenty years later, Harvest Records, at 415 Haywood Road, has surpassed their imaginations, and the impact on West Asheville and the city is resounding. “The goals that we set in the beginning I feel like we did that and still are. The vision has kind of remained the same,” Capon said. Capon and Schnable have witnessed the landscape shifts of West Asheville and have navigated the downturns and upticks in the music industry and technology. The business pressed on during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has aided in reviving and reinforcing the music culture and uniting friends and strangers over the common bond of music.

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Ashland, OR | ‘It’s all about the people’: Ashland’s newest record store works to create a welcoming vibe: Longtime record store owner Robbie Petterson only signed a two-year lease for his newest store, Shattered Music, in downtown Ashland. He says he’s not in it for the long haul or to make money — he’s in it to sell music and talk about music. Shattered Music, already a quarter of the way through its lease, is well-stocked with an eclectic variety of records (and CDs and cassettes) and seeing great business, according to Petterson. “I didn’t want to be here longer,” Petterson said. “I just wanted to have a great time here and enjoy the community, bring something good.” Working side-by-side with Beau Dillard, the two aim to create a welcoming environment in their store at 64 N. Pioneer St., between Three Penny Mercantile on the corner of Main Street and Taqueria Picaro at mid-block. “First impressions are huge,” Dillard said.

Grand Rapids, MI | Rock Royalty Roots: Metallica bassist’s nephew opens Grand Rapids record store: Vinyl records are making a comeback. According to the Recording Industry of America, more than 43 million LPs were sold last year. The newest record store in Grand Rapids is hoping to capitalize on the trend. “I opened a couple of Saturdays ago. I’ve always loved records for a long time,” said store owner Ben Newsted. Boomtown Records just opened, and the record store has more than 2500 LPs. Newsted said, “Everybody seems to think I have a pretty good selection.” Despite the technology being from another time, people are still drawn to the format. “People still just like the physical touch of the record. It’s nice and big. The album art is cool, sounds warmer than digital,” said Newsted. Located on Plainfield Avenue, customers are glad to have a record store in the Creston Neighborhood.

Detroit, MI | Record store Somewhere In Detroit now open to public without appointment: Starting from this weekend, the shop will be open every Saturday from 3 PM through 7 PM. Techno lovers can now visit Somewhere In Detroit without an appointment for the first time. Submerge Distribution announced the news on Instagram yesterday, August 13th, confirming that the store will be open every Saturday from 3 PM through 7 PM, beginning this weekend, August 17th. Located at 3000 East Grand Boulevard, Somewhere In Detroit is dedicated to the rich legacy of electronic music in the Motor City. The shop, a concept initially developed by Mike and Bridgette Banks, features labels such as Underground Resistance, Limited Network and Yaxteq. Revisit Roland’s Somewhere In Detroit mini-documentary, and browse Instagram for more information.

Seattle, WA | Chinatown Records: A Music and Memory Project Comes to Seattle: DJ Rochelle “YiuYiu 瑶瑶” Kwan collects much more than vinyl, connecting and preserving Asian American stories through music. A hub for community and truly one of its kind, Chinatown Records is a music and memory project started by cultural organizer, oral historian, and DJ Rochelle “YiuYiu 瑶瑶” Kwan. From Chinatown block parties to listening sessions to collecting family histories, the project has steadily grown and taken on greater cultural significance since its origin in New York City and is going on its first tour — Seattle being its fifth stop. Though some might cast Kwan as just a DJ spinning vinyl of Chinese music, Chinatown Records is more than just a music gig. It’s a tale of preservation, connection, and a way for everyone to unearth the storytellers within themselves. “I’d like to think of Chinatown Records as having quite a few different origin stories,” Kwan says.

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Vinyl Records Business Report 2024: Revival of Retro and Vintage Culture Propels Growth: The global market for Vinyl Records is estimated at US$1.5 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$2.4 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2023 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions. The growth in the vinyl records market is driven by several factors. The increasing demand for physical media in a predominantly digital age reflects a broader trend towards nostalgia and the desire for authentic, tangible experiences. Vinyl’s resurgence is also fueled by the support of independent and mainstream artists who appreciate the format’s artistic and aesthetic value, often releasing special editions and exclusive content on vinyl.

Hudson Valley, NY | A guide to the best record stores in the Hudson Valley: Checking out record stores in Kingston a couple of weeks ago, “Ghost Town” by The Specials came on. I had to smile. It wasn’t so long ago the song could’ve been written about Kingston, but here it was a 93 degree Thursday and the town was humming. Another irony: wasn’t there a corresponding time when record stores and vinyl itself were presumed dead? Every record store I went into was packed. How did this happen? Kingston’s current record store renaissance has been in development for quite some time. John Blue has been selling vinyl (along with sharp hats) at Blue Byrd uptown since 1992. Not too long after that, Ed Butler began selling vinyl out of Wright Gallery on North Front Street (some may recall the yellow “We Buy Records” sign mirroring the “We Buy Guns” sign at Sam’s Swap Shop next door.) About that same time, indie music producer Doug Wygal was in Brooklyn dreaming about moving upstate and opening a record store. When the opportunity arose to buy Ed Butler’s shop, Wygal jumped at the chance.

Fort Lauderdale, FL | End of an Era: Radio-Active Records Announces Closure: Fort Lauderdale’s Radio-Active Records announced it will close its doors and transition to an online store. One of the longest-standing record stores in South Florida has decided to shut its doors. Fort Lauderdale’s Radio-Active Records, a mainstay of the region’s vinyl scene, announced on Sunday that it will close its doors and transition to an online store. According to a post on the shop’s Instagram page, owner Sean Kayes has decided to retire after nearly 30 years in business. “Sean and the staff at Radio-Active offer sincere thanks and much gratitude to the thousands of loyal customers who supported the shop through all its many phases and stages,” the post reads. “It has been an amazing 29-year trip. Again, we wish to offer thanks and gratitude to all who helped make Radio-Active one of the best record shops in South Florida. Your support has been amazing and is appreciated more than you might ever know.”

Evanston, IL | Eclectic new record shop to open next month: Owner Greg Allen hopes to make Animal Records a space ‘for all types of music listeners.’ A spunky new record shop is set to open in Evanston by late September. Animal Records will bring a variety of genres and artists and sport a unique “circus”-like theme. Located at 624 Grove St., the former location of the Music by Alex studio, the store will be selling records and even buying collections from customers, owner Greg Allen said. A longtime Evanston resident, Allen, 55, said he has been an avid record collector since he was around 13 years old. He bought his first record at 5, developing a fascination and love for them. Opening a record store has been his dream for more than 30 years. “Then I bought more records and then I just kept buying records,” Allen said. “I’ve got tens of thousands of records. I’m not even sure that we’re going to be able to fit them all in the store, but hopefully we can fit most of them.”

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