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

UK | Ahead of Record Store Day, physical sales surge in Q1 as UK artists make a chart impact: Physical music sales have surged in Q1 for 2025, Music Week can reveal. The results come ahead of Record Store Day this month, which has traditionally delivered a huge boost for physical music early in the second quarter of the year. Sam Fender, who is the Record Store Day UK ambassador, had the biggest-selling physical release in Q1 with People Watching (Polydor). The UK singer-songwriter moved 103,101 physical units of his third album (142,419 units in total). People Watching is the biggest album of Q1 among titles released in 2025. It is No.2 overall behind fellow Polydor artist Sabrina Carpenter’s 2024 LP Short N’ Sweet (196,059 units in 2025—596,016 in total). There were also strong Q1 results in the albums rankings for UK acts Ed Sheeran, Central Cee, Elton John and Charli XCX, while Lola Young had the biggest single of the quarter with Messy.

Petaluma, CA | Coming to Petaluma: Record Store Day. April has arrived, and with it—hopefully soon—spring weather. As I write this, it’s a rainy day, but I’m looking ahead to sunnier days, perfect for sitting under a tree with headphones on and reading a book. Good thing we’ve got two big dates coming up this month to help facilitate such leisure activity. Record Store Day on Saturday, April 12, and Indie Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 26. I can’t speak for the record store end of things, but I’m sure our local music vendors—including Rain Dog Records and Paradise Found—are doing plenty of behind-the-scenes work to bring the awesome this year. That’s what we’re doing at the Word Horde Emporium of the Weird & Fantastic and the folks at Copperfield’s are reportedly doing as well. After all, with exclusive products, giveaways, and more, it’s a lot to look forward to each year.

Bemidji, MN | Celebrate Record Store Day with KAXE/KBXE on April 12 in Bemidji: KAXE/KBXE’s Record Store Day sale is 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Rail River Folk School in Bemidji. Shop for gently used vinyl and CDs. Record Store Day began across the United States in 2008. In 2015, there weren’t any record stores in our listening area or even many places to buy vinyl. So KAXE/KBXE started hosting an annual pop-up used vinyl and CD sale at various locations in Bemidji. Join us this year on the internationally celebrated Record Store Day, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 12 at Rail River Folk School in Bemidji. Sift through bins and crates of donated music to find some “new to you” treasures. Even if you are not looking to add to your collection, it’s always a fun community of music lovers gathering with some of our on-air volunteers spinning vinyl throughout.

Adelaide, AU | Seven of the best record stores in Adelaide: Record Store Day is less than two weeks away, so we’ve teamed up with seven of our favourite record stores to give you the lowdown on what they are about and why you should visit them. Crackle & Pop Records: Founded by Mark Cnotek in 2014, Crackle & Pop Records began as a stall at Gilles Street Markets. Arriving at a time when demand for vinyl was on the up, Mark’s side hustle exploded in popularity, with the stall transforming into a mobile pop-up that has since set up digs at pubs, festivals and fairs across the state. Mark handed the Crackle & Pop Records reins over to Adam and Jack Buckley in 2023. The father-and-son duo have relished the opportunity to continue the founder’s legacy, travelling with the pop-up interstate and, most recently, finding it a permanent home at Adelaide’s latest (and biggest) vintage marketplace.

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Davenport, IA | Record Store Day at Ragged Records Store April 12: Ragged Records in Davenport and Rock Island will host a special event for Record Store Day on Saturday, April 12, and open an hour early at 9 a.m. at both locations. The Quad Cities business said its the biggest day of the year for vinyl record collectors. Ragged Records will be ordering an extensive amount of the Limited Edition Exclusive titles for Record Store Day. Ragged Records and Gnar City Clothing will be giving away special Record Store Day tote bags to the first 250 customers—the first 200 at its Ragged Records and Trash Can Annie store in downtown Davenport at 311 E. 2nd St., and the first 50 to shoppers at its Rock Island store at 311 1/2 21st St. The Davenport location will also be giving away an undisclosed amount of official Record Store Day tote bags. All tote bags will be stuffed with swag from Ragged and other area businesses.

UK | Record Store Day 2025 – Which Kent and East Sussex stores are taking part? More than 270 independent record shops across the UK. Mark your calendars! Record Store Day (RSD) returns for its 18th edition on Saturday 12th April 2025. More than 270 independent record shops across the UK will gear up for a huge celebration of vinyl releases, in-store parties and independent record store culture. Now in its 18th year, RSD brings together artists, labels, and record stores across the country to celebrate the unique culture of independent shops and the enduring art of vinyl. Fans can expect a stacked list of collectible and limited-edition records from some of the biggest and most exciting names in music. Hundreds of artists have come together to celebrate the UK’s independent record shops, which are at the heart of local communities nationwide.

Leighton Buzzard, UK | Record Store Day is coming to Leighton Buzzard: Black Circle Records in Leighton Buzzard is excited to be celebrating Record Store Day which takes places on Saturday April 12th. Created to support and celebrate independent record shops this global event has been running since 2008 and this year will be our eighth year celebrating all things vinyl!! We will be stocking approximately 280 limited edition vinyl titles, all of which are exclusive to participating indie record shops, with artists such as Oasis, Taylor Swift, Liam Gallagher, Sam Fender and Charli XCX releasing records especially for the day. We will also have a DJ and live music throughout the day with four local bands playing in store in the afternoon.

Northamptonshire, UK | Vinyl collectors get ready for the return of Record Store Day next weekend: Record Store Day returns next weekend, with hundreds of limited-edition vinyl releases by acts including Charli XCX and Taylor Swift up for grabs In Northamptonshire, two stores will be stocking official releases – Spun Out in Gold Street and Vinyl Underground in Abington Street. Spun Out owner Chris Kent said: “As usual, we’ve had tons of people coming in asking for this year’s releases. “There’s been a lot of requests for the releases by the big pop acts like Charli XCX and Taylor Swift. “Then there’s the usual requests for the Bowies and acts like Madness and everything in between. “Obviously, everything is limited and there’s a lot of stores taking part in Record Store Day, but we try our best to get as much as we can for people.”

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Cardiff, UK | Saying goodbye to D’Vinyl Records—a Cardiff institution: When you approach D’Vinyl Records, the first thing you see is not expensive, neatly arranged vinyl. Instead, adorning the entrance to one of Wales’ best loved record shops, is an unassuming window display consisting of CDs and DVDs. Box sets of Fraiser, Cheers and the Star Wars Trilogy peer through the glass like relics from the pre-streaming age. CD copies of Super Furry Animals’ Fuzzy Logic, The Who’s Quick One and a Sam Cook compilation stare back at you as if Spotify never existed. This unpretentious introduction is a key part of the attraction. On Wednesday morning, the first day of trading since owner Steve Collins suddenly announced that this week would be D’Vinyl’s last, the usually quiet shop was teeming with music lovers. All looking for a bargain and for many, to say farewell to a place they’ve loved over the years.

Long Beach, CA | 33-year track record continues for Fingerprints Music in new Long Beach location: Long Beach’s largest record store, Fingerprints Music, is moving from their well-known downtown storefront. See how the owner seeks to continue building community through live concerts, events and physical music. In a time where digital music is increasingly more popular and convenient, Fingerprints Music owner Rand Foster, 61, opens daily to the general public with an appreciation for vinyl records, CDs, cassette tapes and all things music. Originally opening its doors in July 1992 on 2nd Street, and moving to a well-known downtown location on E. 4th Street 14 years ago, Fingerprints Music has sought to provide a curated repertoire for all genres and generations of music across Long Beach for 33 years. Now, Fingerprints is making another move as incoming construction to the neighborhood limits access to the storefront.

Suffolk, UK | Meet the business owners of Pop Kulture in Beccles, Suffolk: A trio of business owners have opened a new shop in the heart of a market town. Kelly Polley, Kayleigh Lawn, and David Crothers have come together and opened Pop Kulture in 40 Blyburgate, Beccles. From vinyl records, handmade bags, and luxury candles, the new premises in Suffolk showcases products from each of trio’s own businesses all under one roof. The trio, who all live around Beccles, said it has been “going really well” with a “lot of positive feedback.” Ms Polley said: “We all have a laugh and we really love it. “It is really nice that it is local products.” …Ms Polley said the idea of the group opening a shop together has been in the works for last “seven to eight months.” She said: “We thought we would love to have a shop but couldn’t find one until now.”

Bath, UK | Legendary rockers Manic Street Preachers supporting Bath record store: The legendary band are throwing their weight behind a good cause. Legendary rock band Manic Street Preachers have signed vinyl editions of their albums for a charity raffle in Bath next month. All proceeds from the raffle, which is taking place at Resolution Records at Green Park Station in April, will be going to mental health charity Mind. Ruby Lawson, 19, is originally from Wales but moved to Bath for her studies. She juggles her degree with working at Resolution Records three days a week, which inspired her to set up the raffle. Half the proceeds will be going to Newport Mind and half will be going to Bath Mind, in honour of her hometown and her current home. …Getting the Manic Street Preachers on board wasn’t as hard as you might think: “I’ve known Nick [bassist Nicky Wire] since I was quite young. He’s a friend of my family.”

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Spokane, WA | Iconic Spokane record shop takes another spin: Former music teacher buys 4000 Holes as founder retires after 36 years. A new owner is flipping records at 4000 Holes Record Store, the 36-year-old Monroe Street music shop on Spokane’s North Side. Rathdrum resident Isaac Robbins took over the business last month after having acquired it from founder Bob Gallagher, who has retired. The business purchase includes an inventory of about 40,000 vinyl records, nearly 30,000 compact discs, some audio equipment and accessories, and other music-related merchandise. Robbins says the vinyl inventory includes more new records than used, although some of the used records had been in crates on floor and under bins where they weren’t visible. “I am finding a lot of used,” he says. “There was a lot of stuff on the floor that I still need to bring up and display.” Like his predecessor, Robbins continues to market the shop as an independent record store specializing in rock ’n’ roll vinyl and Beatles memorabilia.

Cincinnati, OH | Spinning through local record stores: A search for a copy of ”Rumors” winds through local record shops, reviving memories and cementing a love for vinyl. This week was spring break and Tony McCosham had seen me having so much fun on my adventures with the kids that he decided he wanted in. He planned an elaborate but brilliant road trip to Cleveland and Niagara Falls for the end of the week. Not only did this sound like a good time, but this trip gave me an entire three days all to myself. All to myself. It was the greatest gift of all; major props and points to Tony McCosham. I would rest, I would write, I would eat ice cream for dinner and answer to no one. I would also hunt down an original Rumors album. I have recently gotten into vinyl after not understanding what the big deal was. In college I heard hipsters touting the superiority of vinyl, casually dropping they’d “listened to Paul Simon on vinyl” during a study session.

Owensboro, KY | Displaced Pages opening brick-and-mortar bookstore and record shop in Owensboro: A new independent book and record store is coming to Owensboro this spring, as siblings Virginia and Josh Hardesty are preparing to open Displaced Pages at 1359 East 4th Street. The shop will offer a mix of new and used books across a variety of genres, including fiction, nonfiction, romance, fantasy, and music biographies. While the initial inventory won’t include children’s books, Virginia Hardesty said they plan to offer a wide selection for adult readers, along with book-themed merchandise like candles, tote bags, and tumblers. The store will also carry vinyl records, both new and used — a nod to Josh’s past experience working at The Money Tree and his deep knowledge of music. Hardesty said they hope to stay current with new releases while also providing hard-to-find vintage titles. “I think people are starting to swing back toward physical media…”

New York, NY | Inside the tiny NYC record store where you could run into Bella Hadid, Bono or see Lana Del Rey smoking: When Bella Hadid wants another Broadway soundtrack on vinyl or Bono seeks a rare original Rolling Stones record, they head downtown to see their buddy Jamal Alnasr. Alnasr is the go-to vinyl hunter — yes, those discs that spun in the ’70s have had their popularity revived — for everyone from Lana Del Rey and Carlos Santana to Joe Schmo and tourists alike at his shop, Village Revival Records, in the heart of Greenwich Village. “Especially here in New York. You get the drunk-y, you get the superstar, you get everything when you live in New York,” he told The Post. And he would know. The Palestinian immigrant opened his record shop in 1994 after working at a family friend’s store around the corner for a few years. Over 30 years later, he remains selling records, CDs, cassettes and DVDs from what’s very likely become the city’s most impressive and extensive collection of music.

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Hattiesburg, MS | Album Listening Parties Boost Sales at Indie Record Stores: With vinyl’s resurgence among teens and young adults, independent record stores have experienced a boost in sales. However, these stores continue to struggle to compete with the convenience and selection offered by big-box retailers, which often stock the popular new albums that younger audiences seek. To support independent stores, record labels are now hosting exclusive album listening parties at local shops to drive more foot traffic. Record stores can sign up to receive promotional materials and host listening events for newly released albums. Typically held on the release date, these events feature the full album being played in-store, with fans invited to purchase exclusive products, receive freebies, and enter contests to win prizes, such as signed albums or merchandise.

Mt. Airy, PA | Mt. Airy’s vinyl haven curates Black culture: When you walk into SOOK Vinyl & Vintage in Mt. Airy, you’re stepping into more than Philadelphia’s only Black-owned record store. You’re entering a vibrant time capsule of cultural history. The shop at 7169 Germantown Ave. (whose entrance is actually on Mt. Airy Avenue) is a modern take on Dickens’s “The Old Curiosity Shop.” Every inch of space is chockablock with treasures: more than 7,000 vinyl records spanning 33s, 45s, and even 78 RPMs, alongside vintage CDs, VCR tapes, antique toys, paintings, clothing, books, photos, figurines, and cultural artifacts of every conceivable variety. Proprietor Rashied Amon proudly displays a 45-RPM record on Utopia Records featuring Howard Tate singing “You’re Looking Good” and “Half-a-Man.” His eyes light up as he reveals, “This is one of only two in existence. The other one is in Japan.”

Monmouth, UK | BBC radio presenter and rapper collaborate to open record store in Monmouth: Graham Taylor and Gary Raymond, inspired by their love for music, have opened Grinning Soul Records, a new record shop in Monmouth. Graham Taylor, otherwise known as Graham the Bear from Goldie Lookin’ chain, and BBC broadcast presenter and author Gary Raymond have shared their love of music by opening a new record shop, Grinning Soul Records in Monmouth. The shop sits alongside other long established businesses in the town’s White Swan Court and opened late last year. The owners have been friends since they were at school together in Newport and last year decided to begin a new adventure by opening their very own record shop and putting their passion for the music industry into a career they both enjoy. Graham told the Monmouthshire Beacon: “The welcome in Monmouth was lovely.”

Long Beach, CA | The record store that launched Snoop Dogg wants to become a museum. Can it happen? In his 53 years behind the counter at VIP Records, Kelvin Anderson has watched the natural progression of West Coast music — in style and format — change over the decades. It’s a rich history he has wanted, for years, to showcase in a museum. And where better than in Long Beach, at his shop, which played a pivotal role in hip-hop’s entrance into American art and culture? On Tuesday, Anderson and his family pitched his vision to civic leaders, artists and friends to purchase the lot where his record store sits and convert it into a museum with food and live entertainment. …The event, organized by the nonprofit Creative Class Collective, is part of a yearslong effort to convert the space, and it comes as the World Famous VIP Records sign is set to be restored across the street as a historical landmark.

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Biloxi, MS | Behind the Business: Marley’s Music. In this week’s Behind the Business, we’re in Biloxi where music is medicine. Located in the heart of downtown Biloxi, Marley’s Music has created an oasis for music lovers of all genres— to not only buy nostalgic records, but also sell them. Inside the business, located on Ohr Street, you’re greeted with many objects most consider a thing of the past. “I’ve been collecting records since I was about 10 or 11, and it was something that I was interested in, it was something I knew about,” said owner Marley Roberts. Now in his adult years, Roberts has built that collection into a business— buying, selling, and trading vinyl records and CDs of all genres. “I have people that come into the shop and they’re like, ‘Oh it must be great sitting around listening to music all day.’ But I don’t get to really sit around listening to music because I’m checking records…

Indianapolis, IN | Record Store Day 2025 is next month. Here’s what record stores in Indy are participating: Record Store Day, the day where music lovers and vinyl record collectors line up outside their favorite record store for exclusive pressings of their favorite albums, has been announced for 2025. Here’s everything you need to know if you’re planning to shop RSD 2025 in Indy. What is Record Store Day? Record Store Day (RSD) was started to celebrate the culture of independent record stores, not owned by corporations. By partnering with musicians to release exclusive pressings of records, it encourages record lovers to show up to support their favorite local record stores instead of shopping at big box stores. Record Store Day is celebrated at independently-owned brick-and-mortar record stores around the world.

Dallas, TX | Charley Crockett performs at Good Records, dedicates show to Chris Penn: The shop’s co-founder suffered paralysis after injuring his spine in a recent fall. Texas troubadour Charley Crockett played a bittersweet homecoming set Saturday at Good Records, dedicating his new songs to the shop’s co-founder and manager Chris Penn. Penn — who’s been organizing in-store appearances like this one for 25 years — fell March 17 while working at Good Records, injuring his spine and causing paralysis from the neck down. “Chris, I feel like I owe you some kickbacks for how hard you been promoting me for the last couple of years,” Crockett said in a social media clip filmed at the store. “I want you to know how loved you are …This whole community loves you.” On Thursday, friends launched a GoFundMe page to assist Penn, his wife and children.

Attleboro, MA | Downtown Attleboro store looks to be a hit with throwback to turntable: There’s a new record store in downtown Attleboro. Yes, you read that correctly. And this is 2025, not 1975. Attleboro native Dennis Wagle opened Curmudgeon Records at the corner of North Main and Park streets in October, just recently dropping a part-time job to devote all his efforts to the store and his passion. Wagle, 39, has long been a collector of vinyl, something he said he inherited from his mother, an antiques dealer with a love of music. “I guess I inherited the gene for hoarding,” he said. Wagle loved it when his mom would put a record on the turntable. “I remember staring at it and being mesmerized by it,” he said. “You have this piece of vinyl with grooves in it and you put a needle on it and somehow that makes music.” Last year, Wagle took a look at his life and determined that he needed a change. Why not try something that he knew and loved?

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Cashmere, WA | ‘There’s no bad genres:’ Cashmere Records to open at Side Street on April 12. Cashmere Records will officially open its doors at 111 Railroad Ave. at 11 a.m. on April 12 for all of the music enthusiasts of the area. “It was something that the Thomases were wanting to have at Side Street and had been talking about trying to get someone to come in,” store owner John Mainord said, referring to Side Street owners Andy and Lana Thomas. “It was suggested that I would be a good person to do it for quite a long time. Eventually, I just kind of came around to the idea, but it started with Side Street already having the idea for getting a record store in this building on the project. I’m at home with my records anyways, you know?” Mainord says the store will offer a wide array of vinyl records, cassette tapes and CDs. He also plans to sell record players so that customers can leave the store with everything they could need.

UK | Two Scottish record shops crowned among ‘greatest in the world:’ Music fans will likely know the spots that made the prestigious list. Two Scottish music shops have been named among the “greatest in the world.” The Financial Times recently published a list of “the world’s greatest record stores”. The global list was put together by writers and editors from the newspaper, who shared their top picks for vinyl, CD, and cassette shops. Among the dozens of music stores across the globe featured on the list are two popular Scots venues. Thorne Records in Edinburgh and Assai Records in Dundee are both included in the prestigious list. Thorne Records is located in the trendy Bruntsfield neighbourhood of the Scottish capital. The family-run business, which opened its doors in 2022, is owned by Mark Thorne and specialises in new vinyl from all eras and genres.

New York, NY | Rough Trade’s free music festival iNDIEPLAZA is coming back for Record Store Day: The concert will include live performances and DJ sets. Rough Trade is arguably the best loved record store in all of New York, in large part because they don’t just sell music. Over the past few years, the iconic business has invited dozens of artists and hosted community parties for music lovers, but their crown jewel is their Indie music festival, iNDIEPLAZA, which is coming back for its fourth installment on Saturday, April 12. The free festival includes a pretty stunning lineup this year and will be headlined by Swedish rock group The Hives, with other live performances by the hardrock punk band Scowl, experimental hip-hop group Clipping, raggae artist Pachyman and many others.

San Francisco, CA | The stoner story behind today’s most recognizable record store logo: My son and I are both lifelong vinyl collectors. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, we’ve always noticed that if you spot someone carrying around one of Amoeba Music’s bright yellow shopping bags, they usually have a smile and spring in their step. Makes sense as they have just visited one of the world’s great record stores and on their way to hear some new tunes! According to Marc Weinstein, who co-founded the shop in 1990, the three locations of Amoeba—San Francisco, Berkeley, and Los Angeles—go through 1,500 to 2,000 bags each day. (Yes, that is a lot of plastic but the bags are apparently made from “recycled” materials and don’t violate the state’s ban on plastic bags.) Today’s SFGate tells the story of these ubiquitous bags and the Amoeba logo that’s emblazoned on them…

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Valdosta, GA | Hole in the Wall Records sustains Valdosta’s vinyl revolution: For years, Red Door Records was a beloved spot in Valdosta’s music community for vinyl collectors, music lovers, and locals to connect. When Red Door Records announced its closure, Bryan Gay knew he had to do something to keep the store’s legacy going. …Determined to keep the music playing, Gay transformed a room inside Ashley Street Station, his longtime bar and music venue, into a small record shop. The space was modest—just a “hole in the wall,” as he put it—but it offered vinyl lovers a place to browse and buy records without leaving town. For three years, Hole in the Wall Records operated from within the bar, catering to collectors and casual listeners alike. However, as the vinyl resurgence continued, so did the need for a bigger, more accessible space.

Courtenay, BC | Record store gives back with community music fund: “With music, your curiosity is never over because there’s always something else to check out. So it’s a way of traveling the world in a way, through different cultures, through their music,” said Kip Luce. Kip and Karen, spouses and co-owners of Bop City Records Bop City Records in Courtenay, are launching a brand new community music fund to support the local music scene. Bop City Records sells new and used CDs, records and cassettes, and sometimes when patrons bring in collections to sell, they opt not to take the cash or store credit offered in exchange. Co-owner Kip Luce explained how as a for-profit business, it felt important to find a way to give that back to the community. “I always feel a bit weird about taking tips or freebies and I explain, ‘well, we’re a business so we want to pay you out.’ And then we realized, well, maybe we can just turn that money that people don’t want into something good,” he said.

Winnipeg, CA | Appetite for ‘authentic sound’ pumps up demand for vinyl records, Winnipeg shop owners say: For the past 20 years, Mark Cardy has been buying vinyl records seeking the “real, authentic sound” he can’t find on CDs or streaming services. “[With] a lot of this digital stuff, you lose a lot of the soul that’s involved with all the music,” he said. “I just appreciate how authentic a record can really make you feel.” As a “flower child” son of hippie parents, Cardy grew up watching his relatives collect records. “Once you start collecting one, it’s hard not to collect more,” he said. “It makes you feel like something that your parents did and your grandparents did, and it’s kind of neat to see how they felt when they did it.” Cardy is also part of a shift that in recent years has reshaped the content at some Winnipeg music stores.

Toronto, CA | Futhark Records: Toronto’s Destination for Metal Vinyl: We spoke with Futhark Records owner, Claus Nader, about opening Toronto’s only metal-dedicated record shop and label. In East York, Toronto, Futhark Records is the city’s only dedicated Metal record shop. Claus Nader, the store’s owner and the founder of a budding record label, has built a space dedicated to the overlooked and underappreciated sounds of the global underground metal scene. Nader has always wanted a record shop. His fascination with record stores began in his late teens, where he spent time immersed in music culture but never had the chance to work in one. Years later, after extensive research and exploration of Toronto’s record store landscape, he realized something was missing. While a handful of stores carried Metal sections, none dedicated themselves exclusively to the genre. Given Toronto’s status as North America’s fifth-largest city, Nader saw an opportunity and took the leap.

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Godfrey, IL | Godfrey Business Spotlight: RiverBend Records Promises Rare Finds and Classic Spins: Whether you are looking to start a vinyl album collection, looking for that rare album not found on subscription services, or you just want to talk music with true fans, RiverBend Records is your record shop. Unlike subscription music services like Pandora and Spotify, you can get advice from true music professionals. RiverBend Records can help you start or upgrade your music collection. In addition, they help you find the best equipment to play your favorite music. The store opened in October of 2020. Owner Billy Hurst had a career in doing photo shoots for area schools and local sports teams. When the COVID scare brought about a cease of school activities, the need for taking pictures became mostly unnecessary. At that point, Mr. Hurst decided it was a good time to pursue his dream of owning a record shop.

You Can’t Just Sell Records: A Heartfelt Documentary Celebrating Music, Community, and Vinyl Records: Double Farley Creative Partners is thrilled to announce the release of You Can’t Just Sell Records, a captivating new documentary that delves into the heart of independent record store culture, timed perfectly for Record Store Day on April 12. The documentary tells the story of Ron, a passionate music lover who opens a vinyl record shop in his hometown of Whanganui, quickly transforming it from mere retail, into a vibrant hub for a diverse community of music enthusiasts and collectors. As Ron dreams of expanding his business and competing with larger retailers, he discovers that selling music is about more than just transactions; it’s about fostering connections and sharing the stories behind the records.

Owensboro, KY | Displaced Pages; new book & record store opening in Owensboro: I say a “new” book store is opening in Owensboro, but Virginia Hardesty has been slinging good reads for about a year now. With a former booth at a local vendor mall and pop ups all over town, she even created the first Adult Book Fair at Brew Bridge that was a HUGE hit. In between meetings of her Silent Book Club, Virginia has been searching for the perfect place to home a permanent location for Displaced Pages. “Its kinda been a long time coming…for as long as I can remember, my mother and I used to talk about opening our own store,” she told me. “It seemed unattainable, and one of those “meh. Maybe one day” type of things. But after opening at the vendor mall, doing pop-ups and book fairs, and meeting so many in the book community, it became apparent to me that I could make this happen. And why wait? I’m just gonna go for it.”

Raleigh, NC | Things to know before visiting The Pour House Music Hall & Record Shop: If you’re looking for a place that supports independent music, has craft beers on tap, vintage vinyl records for sale, and a stage where local and national touring artists can entertain an intimate crowd of 289 guests – you need only go to one place. The Pour House Music Hall and Record Shop is a local treasure for music lovers in Raleigh. It’s not just a live music venue, but a record store by day, a bar, and a vinyl record printer, all wrapped up in one. The Pour House isn’t just a place where music is heard—it’s celebrated. So whether you’re looking to flip through the records or dance along with Raleigh’s intimate indie music scene, this guide is everything you need to know about visiting The Pour House in Raleigh. The Pour House Music Hall is a music venue in downtown Raleigh in the historic Moore Square, which also serves as a record shop during the day.

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UK | Generation Z is Driving Vinyl & CD Sales: Why This is Great News for Music Fans. For years, many of us wondered whether physical music—vinyl records, CDs, even cassettes—would slowly fade away, replaced entirely by streaming. But according to a new report from Music Week and the Vinyl Alliance, something incredible is happening: Generation Z is now the driving force behind the resurgence of vinyl and CDs. Yes, the same generation that grew up in a digital world, surrounded by streaming services and instant access to music, is now choosing physical formats in increasing numbers. This is something to celebrate—not just for the music industry, but for the sense of community and connection that comes with collecting physical music. Let’s take a closer look at the report and what this means for music lovers of all ages.

US | Vinyl record sales continue to rise amid music streaming’s dominance: The RIAA says vinyl revenue hit $1.4 billion in the US last year, the highest figure in four decades. Despite streaming services continuing to dominate the business of recorded music, there’s still very much a place for physical media in that sector. The Recording Industry of America said in an annual report [PDF] that sales of vinyl records rose for the 18th straight year in the US to $1.4 billion—the highest revenue for that format since 1984, when CDs started to emerge. …Many fans prefer to own physical copies of music for many reasons, such as their belief that vinyl offers better audio quality and an all-round superior listening experience to streaming services, as well as a way to perhaps better support artists.

UK | New documentary explores impact of record shops that specialise in Black music: The documentary will feature appearances from Jazzie B, Trevor Nelson MBE, DJ Rap and many more. …The Record Store & Black Music: England’s Tastemakers documentary features appearances from Jazzie B, Trevor Nelson MBE, Marcia Carr, Claudia Wilson, Ammo Talwar MBE, DJ SS, DJ Rap, DJ Spoony, Wookie, Jeff Smith, Simon Dunmore and Carol Leeming MBE. Made with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the documentary and website are a collaboration between Leicester’s 2Funky Arts alongside London’s Sound/Image Research Centre (University of Greenwich) and Manchester’s Brighter Sound and music:defined. “This film and website are the culmination of research from across the South, North and Midlands,” says Vijay Mistry. “It’s a unique opportunity to experience this aspect of Black history in all its vibrancy.”

Salina, KS | Gryphon’s Wing Records Ready to Open: A new record store about to open is the result of a Salina couple’s hard work, and love of music. Jonathan Hess and Olivia Hamilton Saturday will open the doors for the first time to Gryphon’s Wing Records in Downtown Salina. Jonathan tells KSAL News he has had a love of music his whole life. He played in the orchestra in elementary school, and jazz band in high school. In high school he started working at Acoustic Sounds in Salina, a world leader in audiophile music. He started in the pressing plant, later worked in the warehouse, and he currently manages the vinyl vault, which is the pre-owned section. Jonathan says while there is an online market for vinyl, there is also opportunity for vinyl sales in a brick and mortar store. He believes the music sales market in Salina right now is untapped, and he’s excited to be come part of downtown.

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US | US Reaches 100 Million Paid Music-Streaming Subscribers for the First Time, Vinyl Sales Hit $1.4 Billion: RIAA 2024 Year-End Report. For the first time, paid streaming subscriptions hit the 100 million mark in the U.S. last year, while vinyl sales continued their nearly two-decade resurgence with $1.4 billion in sales, according to Recording Industry Association of America’s annual recorded-music revenue report. Despite that milestone, streaming growth continues to slow — it was up just 4 million for the year, continuing a slowing trend over the past five years. Streaming numbers grew by nearly 9 million between 2020 and 2021. This trend has led music companies to seek other sources of growth, including such tactics as Universal’s “Streaming 2.0” and a focus on “superfans.” The U.S. recorded music business is now valued at $17.7 billion retail and $11.3 billion wholesale, according to the report, adding adding half a billion dollars in revenue since last year.

Boulder, CO | New Music Venue and Studio Opens in Boulder With Intimate Events: Stone Cottage Studios is the city’s latest music venue that will host intimate concerts, vinyl listening events and so much more. Jamie and Davis Maynard know how to throw a house show. But what the father-son duo is doing at the new Stone Cottage Studios space along Boulder’s Pearl Street is much more than hosting typical DIY gigs in a room full of well-worn furniture and a keg in the corner. Instead, the Maynards offer a highly curated listening experience that welcomes local and touring acts alike for an intimate evening of live music, complete with professional audio and videography. While seats are limited to forty people, all the sessions are livestreamed, too. Between the wall of vintage vinyl, the black-and-white photos of legendary musicians and the antique audio equipment throughout the venue, it’s easy to see that Stone Cottage could put on the most cozy concert you’ll ever experience.

Adelaide, AU | Yorke Peninsula’s new hidden gem sells vinyl records and books: Tucked away in Stansbury on the Yorke Peninsula and only open on select days, Peninsula Records and Books offers an eclectic mix of Australian authors and global vinyl. “We just wanted to provide a place where people could come and buy a brand-new or second-hand book or a record, because there wasn’t really anything like that in the area,” owner Kate explains. The idea grew from the online store, which was already gaining traction for Aussie authors before the couple decided to open a physical location. “We had it online for a while, and it was doing quite well. Then we thought, why don’t we open it up down in Stansbury since we had the space?” says Kate. Less a shop and more a passion project where visitors can come in and rummage through the collection that runs from a small garage space—like a friend’s collection, but one that focuses exclusively on Australian authors.

Fort Myers, FL | Beach Records hosts benefit concert for mother with thyroid cancer: Beach Records hosted a benefit concert for the mother of a 5-year-old battling thyroid cancer in Fort Myers on Friday night. The event, titled “Dude Where’s my Thyroid?” featured five local bands and proceeds from the event went to Emily Meacham, a mother who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in January. Last October, her doctor noticed a lump on her neck. After more appointments, her doctor discovered that there was a large cancerous tumor on her thyroid. Due to the size and placement of the tumor, doctors had to act fast, and on Feb. 14, Emily Meacham had a total thyroidectomy and had one of her neck muscles removed. One month removed from surgery, Meacham said that she was not prepared for how the cancer diagnosis would affect her life. “My life whole life switched to a matter of 180. I wasn’t expecting any of this,” Meacham said.

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London, UK | Miraval’s vinyl pop-up returns for Record Store Day: Record Store Day and Studio by Miraval, in collaboration with War Child, are joining forces to host a pop-up event at Truman Brewery. At the one-day event, which will be taking place on April 10 between 12-8pm, there will be a lucky dip, with the winner receiving a brand-new vinyl and a glass of Studio by Miraval rosé. One winner will also receive the Studio by Miraval Golden Disc, which awards them with a Limited-Edition Magnum by Studio Miraval. There will be a live performance from Brighton band Creeping Jean, who will also be releasing two tracks exclusively for Record Store Day, which is taking place on April 12. All proceeds from the event will be donated to War Child and CALM.

Greenwich, CT | New Greenwich Avenue boutique music store to sell high-end guitars, vinyl records: Whether you’re looking for a new vinyl record or want to find a new high-end guitar, a new music store on Greenwich Avenue is setting out to become a music destination in Fairfield County. Round Hill Music Co. is opening its doors at 398 Greenwich Ave. in May, carrying guitars, records, clothing and other music-related goods. “Opening this store is a great way for me to connect with the community and offer an experience that I’m strongly connected to, while bringing back something that Greenwich Ave. has been missing for a long time—a music store,” Josh Gruss, founder of Round Hill Music Co., said in a news release. Gruss is both the founder and CEO of Round Hill Music, a private equity firm that owns and manages the rights of nearly 200,000 songs from artists like Whitney Houston, Morgan Wallen, The Killers, Meat Loaf and Madonna, according to the news release.

FL | Women ready for business: South Florida women entrepreneurs on the rise to success: Being an entrepreneur hasn’t been easy for women historically, but with over 45% of businesses in South Florida identifying as women-owned, these women’s stories demonstrate their resilience. …Natalie Martinez, Connect Record Store: Navigating often untraditional spaces is nothing new to Natalie Martinez, musician and owner of Connect Record Shop in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Martinez started her career at 14 playing music at different shows and events. …In South Florida, Martinez worked at Revolution Live, a rock music club in Ft. Lauderdale, selling show tickets. She would soon come across Radioactive Record Store, a longtime Ft. Lauderdale staple to the South Florida record industry, where she worked for over 15 years. After 30 years of working for the company, Radioactive Records announced they would finally close their doors in Aug. 2024. Martinez explained that although the closure was heartbreaking, it allowed her to put her business idea to fruition.

Winnipeg, CA | Mega music fan searches for forever homes for his epic collection: Winnipegger Doug Kretchmer’s home is floor-to-ceiling vinyl, CDs, cassettes and movie DVDs. It’s a good thing Doug Kretchmer isn’t enthralled with cats. Instead, the Winnipegger is passionate about, or possibly obsessed with, music. Inside a north Winnipeg warehouse that is also his home, Kretchmer came to a realization. He needed to dramatically downsize his music collection, estimated at more than 10,000 pieces. “The main living area is 14 by 14 [feet, roughly four metres by four metres]. The left wall is all records. The right wall is all records. The front wall is all CDs. And we’re talking about a 12-foot-high ceiling, so I’m surrounded by it,” he said. But shortly after moving into the warehouse, he was in two major car accidents within two months. “I could not walk for a while,” said Kretchmer. “My life kind of really changed. And you really rethink everything, and I’m thinking, ‘Wow, if that was fatal, my family would have had to deal with my whole collection,’ and where would it have ended up kind of thing.”

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Monmouth, UK | Grinning Soul Records open in Monmouth: Goldie Lookin’ Chain rapper Graham Taylor and novelist and broadcaster Gary Raymond are using a start-up loan from the Development Bank of Wales to share their love of vinyl records in Monmouth with the opening of Grinning Soul Records. As Monmouth’s only vinyl record shop, Grinning Soul Records can be found at White Swan Court on Priory Street. The micro loan from the Development Bank has been used to part-fund the kit out of the new shop and purchase stock. Having been close friends since their school days in Newport, Graham Taylor of Welsh rap group, Goldie Lookin’ Chain and BBC presenter and author Gary Raymond had a childhood ambition to open a record shop. Gary Raymond said: “Music fans come from all over the world to visit Monmouth as the home of Rockfield Studios, the legendary Welsh recording studios. Bohemian Rhapsody was recorded here yet there was no record shop in the town.”

Sussex, UK | Business secretary visits vinyl and bottle shop as he launches trade board: A secretary of state visited a Sussex town to launch a new initiative for small businesses. Jonathan Reynolds, secretary of state for business and trade, took a trip to Shoreham yesterday, March 13, visiting local traders. Mr Reynolds also unveiled the new Board of Trade yesterday, made up of CEOs and business leaders including Apprentice star and entrepreneur Mike Soutar, BT Group chief executive Allison Kirkby and Michelle Ovens CBE, the founder of Small Business Britain. Members of the board will strive to be “advocates and ambassadors for their sector, supporting businesses so they can trade more and grow.” During the trip, Mr Reynolds and members of the board visited a number of small businesses in Shoreham town centre, including Slipped Discs record shop, Fresh Cut Flowers and Palate, a specialist wine and beer shop.

Edinburgh, UK | Avoiding the rookie mistakes in Record Store Day stock up: There is nothing more frustrating than seeing people make the same mistakes over and over again, so last week’s episode of The Apprentice, pictured, was particularly annoying. Many of the candidates each year claim to be fans of the show and yet regularly go on to make the same mistakes that have happened in the previous series. Even if they haven’t particularly watched the programme before you would think that once they knew they were going to be on they would swat up on the tasks which are generally the same in each series. …I’m starting to get the same feeling as we are told the numbers we will receive for Record Store Day releases. There are always some cutbacks on some of the bigger titles and our aim is always to try to make sure that we at least have all the big releases for most if not all the day, as we don’t want to return to the bad old days when we would spend most of the day disappointing people that we didn’t have what they wanted.

Toronto, CA | The history of the iconic Sam the Record Man in Toronto: When it comes to legendary Toronto retail landmarks, few could truly rival the cultural significance of Sam the Record Man, where stepping into the store felt like you were entering the heart of the world’s vast musical catalog, and the knowledgeable staff there could effortlessly find you any record—no matter how obscure—with just a few hums of a tune.A staple of the city’s music scene for half a century, the iconic record store became much more than just a regular place to buy albums, it became a gathering spot, a symbol, and eventually, an institution, with its towering neon sign of two spinning discs above Yonge Street. Born in Toronto in 1920, Sam Sniderman’s journey into the world of music retail began in 1937, when he started selling records in his brother Sidney’s College Street store, Sniderman Radio Sales and Service. The two brothers convinced the family to designate a corner of the store for records under the name “Sniderman’s Music Hall,” and by 1959, the business was booming.

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Fort Myers, FL | Record store, music venue Beach Records to close after 6 years: Beach Records, a record store doubling as a music venue in Fort Myers, is closing after hundreds of shows and many more records sold. Owner Martin “Marty” Bourgeois is going on sabbatical after six years of serving the community with shows and records, reciprocating his love for live music and giving the scene a place to play and buy records. The shop has a vintage feel. Rows of used and new vinyl are packed in wooden boxes labeled in marker over recycled vinyl. Bourgeois sees this as more of a sabbatical than a closure. However, this location, 15560 McGregor Blvd., Unit 8, which has been active since 2019, will close for good. Bourgeois was going to close down temporarily starting in June or July, but his landlord sought to raise the rent by 30% and have him sign a three-year lease, WINK News reports.

Miami, FL | Sweat Records, Miami’s beloved vinyl shop, celebrates 20 years: When Lolo Reskin opened Sweat Records in 2005, she had “no long-term plans” for the vinyl shop. She was 22 years old; her best friend and cofounder, 24. “We just wanted to build this cool thing together because we loved music and we loved our city,” she said. Why it matters: Twenty years later, the Little Haiti shop is central to the community, having grown into a local hub and safe space for residents and tourists alike. Fittingly, ahead of its 20th anniversary Wednesday, Miami-Dade County declared March 12 to be “Sweat Records Day.” Flashback: The independent shop’s first location opened in Edgewater, less than a year before Hurricane Wilma hit Miami. The storm destroyed the building, forcing Reskin to relocate to a temporary space behind the Churchill’s Pub—”a complete landmark” at the time, Reskin told Axios.

Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis’ Outta Wax is keeping vinyl alive and well: Lovers of old-school records in the Twin Cities, listen up: you can get a record made in your own backyard. Alex Stillman is a record presser with Outta Wax. The small business got its start during COVID when Stillman’s business partner, Sara Pette, decided to give record-pressing a spin. “My job at the time was non-existent because of COVID, so I sort of freaked out and wanted to start another business,” Pette said. She also saw a need in the Twin Cities. “When you are an independent artist with no label, it’s really hard to get your foot in the door to get stuff made like this,” Pette said. So, they got their hands on antique lathe machines which grooves music into plastic discs. They also got their hands on a more modern set-up. The record-pressing process begins with a machine called the extruder, which turns plastic into a pre-mold that looks like a hockey puck.

Southampton, UK | HotWax rock record store to celebrate album: An alternative trio rocked a record store in Southampton Wednesday night in a performance to promote their debut album. HotWax performed an in-store gig at Vinilo Record Store in Queensway to celebrate the release of their first album Hot Shock, which was released March 7. The record reached number nine in the mid-week album chart and the band spoke to fans and signed copies after the performance. The alternative rock band members of HotWax are vocalist and guitarist Tallulah Sim-Savage, bassist Lola Sam and Alfie Sayers on drums. When the album was released, the band posted on social media: “After a crazed adrenaline filled year of touring, writing and recording our debut album ‘Hot Shock’ is here. “We’re feeling extremely overwhelmed and proud, from our first gig together nearly 8 years ago to now having our first album out in the world made with the most incredible people feels surreal and we can’t quite believe it.”

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Minneapolis, MN | Electric Fetus owners say Franklin Avenue redesign will hurt business: For more than 55 years, Electric Fetus has stood as a Twin Cities record store landmark along Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. “We draw people from not only just the Twin City community, but from around the world,” Aaron Meyerring, co-owner of Electric Fetus, said. Owners Aaron Meyerring and Stephanie Meyerring said new plans to redesign Franklin Avenue would disrupt their years of success. “This design would be detrimental, not only to our business, but I just think our surrounding community and neighborhood,” Stephanie Meyerring said. Hennepin County’s plans include a reduction to three lanes and additional sidewalks and bike lanes. The county’s goal is to improve safety, accessibility and comfort along the roadway.

Cheshire, UK | Record shop owner says Covid helped realise dream: The owner of an independent record shop in Cheshire said the pandemic encouraged him to realise his dream of selling vinyl. Steve Cook quit his job as an internal auditor in 2022 to focus full-time on Applestump Records in Nantwich – named after the first record shop he went to as a boy. The move into retail began during lockdown when he and his wife Danielle could no longer enjoy their hobby of touring cities in the UK to buy records. “So we decided to try and make the record shop come to us,” said Mr Cook. They initially built a website and bought around 80 records to sell, which customers would collect from the end of their driveway or Mr Cook would deliver after work. He said it was very slow to start, but the “stroke of luck” came after being invited to be part of a pop-up market in a local café, which demonstrated the appetite for a record shop.

Cambridge, MA | Get ready for a Record Store Day walk and show from Cambridge Day and Hump Day News: Walk the walk. Punk the rock. That’s my current motto because on April 12 we’re celebrating Record Store Day with local artists, music merchants, and, hopefully, you! Here are the basics of this two-part throwdown. First, walk the walk. We’ve mapped some of our wonderful local record stores for a patent-pending Cambridge Day Record Store Walk. Construct your own route and see how many you can hit on Record Store Day. You may recall a similar call to action with last year’s “Totally Excellent Mid-January Cambridge Day-Approved Record Store Walk & You Better Dress Warm” article. Similar, except with better weather, on April 12 you can pick up specially marked copies of Cambridge Day’s print edition, The Week, in participating stores (Planet Records, vinyl index. and Big Dig Records).

Fort Myers, FL | Local record store and venue, Beach Records, closing after 6 years: Beach Records, a record store doubling as a music venue, is closing down after hundreds of shows and many more records sold. Owner Martin “Marty” Bourgeois is going on sabbatical after six years of serving the community with shows and records, reciprocating his love for live music and giving the scene a place to play and buy records. The shop has a vintage feel. Rows of used and new vinyl are packed in wooden boxes labeled in marker over recycled vinyl. Entering the store, you’ll feel like you’re in a collector’s garage, immersed in decades of records spanning many genres. It was a place for all music fans. Bourgeois is seeing this as more of a sabbatical than a closure. However, this location, which has been active since 2019, will close for good.

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