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

London, UK | Seven London record stores have been named the ‘greatest in the world.’ Bursting with thousands of records, these are the best spots to bulk out your vinyl collection. Writers at the Financial Times recently published an impressive list of the top record stores on the entire planet – and in great news for London’s audiophile community, several stores in the capital made it into the mix. The FT’s list spanned some of the world’s biggest music cities, from New York and Paris to Sydney. Several places in the UK, including Leeds, Edinburgh and Stroud, also made the cut – in other words, London’s record shops were in very good company. So, which shops featured?

Edinburgh, UK | We visited the Edinburgh record store named in list of ‘best in the world.’ After The Financial Times named a Bruntsfield record store among the best in the world, we headed over to see what all the fuss was about and spoke to owner Mark Thorne who told us the secret to his success. An Edinburgh record store has been named among the best in the world, and we nipped over to Bruntsfield to see what all the fuss was about. Thorne Records was crowned by The Financial Times alongside 37 other record stores across the globe that are ‘go to venues for a vinyl fix’. Mark Thorne, who opened the store back in 2022, feels the key to his success comes from keeping sales in store and forming bonds with the community. We paid a visit to the store on a dour afternoon, that was immediately brightened by the chipper and welcoming yellow walls of Thorne. Mark was happy to take some time to have a chat, something that clearly keeps locals coming back.

Bayonne, NJ | Bayonne is Finally Getting a Record Store: 14a Records to Open 1/24. Although The Hoboken Girl typically focuses its coverage solely on Hoboken + Jersey City, the HG team is shining on spotlight on Bayonne today, as this nearby city is welcoming its first record store in years. 14a Records, which will sell new + vintage records, tapes, CDs, and rare imported vinyl, will be a one-stop shop for all things music. This spot will officially open on Friday, January 24th at 952 Broadway in Bayonne. 14a Records (formerly known as Disco De Facto) is a record business owned by Bayonne resident Robert Henry. Robert, who has over 20 years of record buying experience, according to the store’s website, shared via Instagram that he plans to open a brick-and-mortar shop at 952 Broadway. 14a Records, which will be Bayonne’s first record store to come to the city in years, will soft open on January 24th, 2025.

US | Post Malone named Record Store Day 2025 ambassador: Post Malone doesn’t need any help to be the official Record Store Day 2025 ambassador. In his new role, the rapper-turned-pop star-turned-country star will be encouraging folks to shop in their local independent record stores on April 12. “What an honor,” says Posty in a statement. “Record Store Day is so important, and I really hope to do my part to keep it alive.” “We love hitting local shops when we’re on the road, seeing all the crazy artwork … the whole energy in a record store is just super inspiring,” he continues. “I feel at home. It’s really an unexplainable feeling to hit up a shop and dig through crates, just see what grabs your eye. You can be looking for something super specific and end up finding something totally different. It’s the best.”

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Rapid City, ND | The Growing Appeal of Vinyl Records in 2025: Listening to music is easier than ever, being able to stream from your phone. Yet vinyl sales hit 23 million units sold in 2024 according to Billboard. Listening to music is easier than ever, being able to stream from your phone. Yet vinyl sales hit 23 million units sold in 2024 according to Billboard. Although digital media dominates the music space, physical media still has a place for some people. Some people prefer reading a good old-fashioned book over using a Kindle. The experience at black hills vinyl is similar. People who want to own physical music have a place to find new vinyl records to add to their collection. Michael Calabrese the co-owner of Black Hills Vinyl said, “I think really what it boils down to is being able to actually own something, to have something in your hand, to open it up and hold it and look at the artwork, and really the time invested in the music. And really, whether it’s vinyl or those other formats, those offer something just above and beyond what streaming does. Kind of the difference between like a home-cooked meal and fast food.”

Liverpool, UK | Liverpool record shop the oldest of its kind in England: A Liverpool family-run shop has become the oldest independent record store in England. The Musical Box in Tuebrook has been run by four generations of the same family since it was opened in 1947. The shop first sold toys and LPs to customers before becoming a much-loved record shop. Grandmother Diane Cain has been associated with the shop for its entire 77 year history. The shop was originally owned by Diane’s uncle Jack Lewis, and later by her mother, Dorothy. Today, the business is run by Diane’s son Tony Quinn and his wife Paula, with her grandsons also helping and running the social media accounts. Paula says the family are delighted that their independent record shop is the oldest in the country. “We were aware that we were Liverpool’s oldest record shop, but with so many customers constantly saying we must be the oldest in the country, we decided to enquire. “We thought it would be fitting for Diane, who is second generation, to be able to know, with her being 87 year sold. Our customers are so happy for us, to know their local record shop is the oldest.

Budapest, HU | Hungarian record store proudly makes it to world rankings: A Hungarian record store has achieved notable recognition by being included in the Financial Times world rankings. Kalóz Records, based in Budapest, has earned a spot on the prestigious list, joining renowned stores in New York, London, and Stockholm. The Financial Times praises the Budapest shop in a brief review, describing it as small but a place where visitors can spend hours browsing. The store offers a diverse range of music, including Hungarian progressive music, techno, classic Indian raga and a unique selection of records from behind the old Iron Curtain. While there are no dedicated turntables for listening, the staff will gladly play a record of your choice upon request. Kalóz Records expressed their delight on Instagram: “The Financial Times, a prestigious music magazine, has published a list of the best record shops in the world, and we’re in it…”

Los Angeles, CA | Album donation drive: Help this record shop help fire evacuees find their music: Record Safari in Los Angeles is accepting vinyl donations, both “new and used”; find how to contribute. A favorite song, a beloved musician, our go-to group, the album we’d take to a desert island: The beautiful ballads and rocking anthems of our lives have bolstered us when we required bolstering and provided some solace when a sense of peace was desperately needed. Alex Rodriguez, the owner of the music shop Record Safari, wanted to help the people who’ve lost their homes and the album collections they held dear. Soon after the fires started, Mr. Rodriguez sent the call out to shop fans and music lovers across Southern California and beyond: Any record donations, “new and used,” would be accepted at the Los Feliz Boulevard shop. These could be “records you haven’t listened to in awhile” or records created by your label or your band, if you work in the music business. Or even a favorite disc that you want to pass along to someone who could find inspiration and hope in the songs you love best.

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Boise, ID | Lifetime of Vinyl: 35-year story of the general manager of The Record Exchange: He tried to stay away from the Boise music scene, but sometimes the best careers aren’t planned. John O’Neil celebrated 35 years at The Record Exchange this week. For some, music is more than a career, it’s a calling. “I lasted 35 years in this business, at this store, by just showing up every day,” John O’Neill said, surrounded by thousands of vinyl records in downtown Boise’s longest-running record store. O’Neil celebrated 35 years at The Record Exchange this week. He’s been in the general manager role for over two decades. …Growing up in a music-filled household, O’Neill found himself drawn to his siblings’ record collections, though he admits with a laugh that he “listened to and ruined them all.” “It’s just been, I hesitate to say, an obsession, but it’s been a focus of me,” he told KTVB.

Sheffield, UK | 5 things you only know if…you’re a record store owner. It’s a Labour of Love: Owning a record shop is a passion. It’s not something where, unless you’re Richard Branson, you’re going to be buying yourself a tropical island anytime soon. You go through ups and downs, but you keep moving forward. For us, it’s not about making millions—it’s about being part of something special and finding the right balance to keep it going. Not All Vinyl is Created Equal: People come in with Elvis records thinking they’re worth a fortune, but most aren’t—unless it’s something really rare, like a first pressing of his debut album. There’s this perception that big names are always valuable, but that’s not how it works. Often, it’s the obscure artists no one has heard of that hold the real gems. I remember once we bought a collection and later discovered a rare 1969 album by a band called July. That was an amazing find. A Life in Vinyl is a Life on Display: When we look at someone’s collection, you can see their whole life in it. It’s fascinating.

El Cerrito, CA | Down Home Music, storied East Bay music store, gets reprieve: Fans of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, the Beatles, early rock, jazz, gospel and bluegrass can breathe a sigh of relief – a 48-year-old El Cerrito music store now expects to be able to buy the building where it is housed. Down Home Music shares a building with two other nonprofits focused on American roots music, Les Blank Films and The Arhoolie Foundation. The building went up for sale in October and the three nonprofits feared they might lose the space they’ve occupied for so long. Happily, “We’ve got great news,” Harrod Blank, the president of the film company founded by his late father in the 1970s, announced on the group’s GoFundMe page. …While Blank and his fellow nonprofits still have to come up with about $2.4 million, according to Blank, they are optimistic they will be able to do so.

Dallas, TX | Record Store Red Zeppelin’s Grand Reopening Party Will Have Live Music, Discounts, Prizes: Just weeks after being forced to move from its old location, the McKinney record store is reopening this weekend (1/18). From the day Red Zeppelin Records opened its doors on the Downtown McKinney Square, it immediately felt like a town fixture. As the sister store to vintage boutique The Groovy Coop, the offbeat record store fit in perfectly with the affably artsy aesthetic that Downtown McKinney has long offered. This was no surprise to owner Katie Scott, who fulfilled her dream of owning a record store when she opened the shop in August 2020. It’s been a strong four years since then, as the store has cemented its place as an inevitable check on DFW music fans’ to-go list with its premium selection of records and underrated late-night live music scene. In December 2024, it looked like its place in the community might be in jeopardy. In a video posted to Instagram and TikTok, Scott said that the store would be forced to move out of its location at 206 E. Louisiana St. by the end of the month.

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Cork, IE | Digital didn’t kill the record store: The vinyl revival was initially niche, but now it’s truly mainstream, writes Stevie G in his Downtown column. …For the major labels, they eventually moved with the times, and now they police piracy quite heavily. The internet is no longer the wild west music-wise, and most people stream music for a relatively small cost, compared to what it was before. Sadly, it’s still a struggle for many artists and labels, but in this digital streaming era, vinyl, and even cassettes, have been rejuvenated by some labels. The vinyl revival was initially niche, but now it’s truly mainstream and forms a huge part of income for major record companies once again. It was DJs and independent labels and passionate music fans and record shops who kept vinyl alive when it was most unfashionable, and while it remains an expensive passion for us all, it’s a format that is beautiful for many reasons. It’s great that we still have many record shops in Cork in 2025, and it’s even better that they sell actual records!

Bellows Falls, VT | Bellows Beats, new music shop on The Square: Attention to all the music enthusiasts in the area – yes, there indeed is a living, breathing music store in downtown Bellows Falls called Bellows Beats, located in the former longtime barber shop space and next to Clutter’s Last Stand, at 2 The Square. Bellows Beats is owned and operated by Lindsay Wilson, a local artist and lifelong music enthusiast whose dream business has always been to combine her creativity with love of music in opening her own music shop. “I’m originally from a small town in central Massachusetts, and for a couple years [early 2000s], I worked in a record store, and it was as much fun as it looks,” Wilson said in a recent interview. …“Bellows Beats is unique in that it is part music store, part music collection,” Wilson said. “I have been collecting various forms of music and music memorabilia since my very first concerts in the fourth and sixth grades, and I will always want to have random and unusual items available in the shop.”

Knoxville, TN | Urban Knoxville: Bookstores, record shops to try as alternatives to McKay’s: …If you’re tired of hearing about McKay’s or already used your credits, it might be a sign to try out a different bookstore to hunt for your next favorite. Local stores (sorry, Barnes & Noble) include Union Ave. Books near the heart of downtown at 517 Union Ave., the Black-owned Bookshop at The Bottom at 2340 E. Magnolia Ave., Addison’s with a cozy tea bar at 126 S. Gay St. or Fable Hollow Bookshoppe in Fountain City for your fantasy needs at 2910 Tazewell Pike. McKay’s doesn’t just sell books! There are movies, records and toys, too. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of movie-specific stores in Knoxville with most major retailers still offering movies like FYE in West Town Mall. Knoxville does have quite a few record stores, some of which sell movies as sell like Basement Records at 5009 Chapman Highway. The other stores are Raven Records at 1200 Central St., Lost and Found Records at 3710 N. Broadway, Magnolia Records at 7 Emory Place and Wild Honey Records at 5415-F Kingston Pike.

Kickstart: Embracing new manufacturing methods for vinyl records: Embracing new manufacturing methods for vinyl records. United Record Pressing says it is the oldest vinyl record manufacturing company in the U.S., but its age isn’t stopping it from updating its production floor just in time for its 75th anniversary. Nashville-based URP completed a $10 million expansion in 2023, which included buying 24 new presses to add to its fleet of 40 refurbished machines. It also said in a December 2024 news release that it has embraced dedicated production cells to improve the manufacturing process, using a team of both veteran and new operations leaders who adapted practices from electronics manufacturing. “This alignment allows URP to handle projects of any size, from large, major label releases to community-oriented indie albums, while reducing lead times, honoring visual creativity and ensuring consistent quality,” URP notes.

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Hudson Valley, NY | Checking in with local record shops to see how things went in 2024 and what 2025 may bring: Since the reemergence of vinyl nearly two decades ago as a popular form of physical media, brick-and-mortar record shops and sellers using less traditional avenues have rolled with economic punches like global pandemics and streaming and found a way to survive and thrive. How was 2024 for local record shops? And what’s ahead for 2025? Doug Wygal owns Rocket Number Nine Records on North Front Street in Kingston. Its name is a tribute to cosmic jazz pioneer Sun Ra’s “Rocket Number Nine Take Off for the Planet Venus,” recorded in 1960 when vinyl was holding strong as the nation’s preeminent means of self-curated in-home music delivery. Rocket Number Nine Records doesn’t stretch that far back, though it hit a key milestone in 2024, celebrating a decade in operation. “I don’t see any evidence that current interest in vinyl is waning,” Wygal said. “As a store, we have experienced growth year after year.”

Crystal Lake, IL | McHenry record shop owner is known for helping others. Now he’s the one in need. Tim Wille, owner of Vinyl Frontier Records, hospitalized with pneumonia. Tim Wille quietly uses a Facebook group he created and the record store he owns to help the McHenry community, those who know him said. “Everybody knowns of his reputation and his generosity to others,” said Sue Low Meyer, McHenry’s former mayor. Through the McHenry, The way we like it. Facebook group and his store, Vinyl Frontier Records, Wille reaches out to its members when a resident needed help. “Tim has used that page and the record store as a central location for a number of community outreach projects that he has done and gotten others involved in,” said resident John Gasek. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Wille posted about a family who was facing eviction, unable to pay their rent, Gasek said. With the help of others on the page, the rent was paid and the residents were able to stay in their home. “He has a good following because he has a good heart…”

Chicago, IL | Dr. Wax and a Bygone Harper Court: …Each Dr. Wax location was said to have a unique character based on its neighborhood. The Hyde Park location in particular was known as a hub for carrying local artists — think Rita J, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, Miz Tiyabe and Tanya Reed. It also hosted a wide variety of alternative and underground music. A third of the inventory was vinyl, which was primarily bought used from one-stop shops and which was dominated by hip-hop and soul lps, according to a 2000 Billboard article. Over the years, the store got a number of visits from artists such as Henry Rollins, Q-Tip, Destiny’s Child, Tony Tough and Bimpadelic. (A farewell video for the store said that Jarrard Anthony shot a music video there.) But it was the shop’s employees that kept people coming back, most notably Charles Williams and Duane Powell, a DJ and music connoisseur who worked at the shop for 12 years.

Washington, DC | Bob Bartlett’s ‘Love and Vinyl’ to play at DC’s Byrdland Records: Site-specific work about browsing for records and romance in the digital age opens in time for Valentine’s Day. …The Helen Hayes Award-winning Bartlett says the idea to create site-specific theater, which he believes has the potential to engage audiences in more immediate ways than theater staged in traditional spaces, came while he was living in a downtown walk-up on Maryland Avenue in Annapolis over a decade ago. “I’ve always been drawn to theater produced in unique locations,” he notes. “And more than simply Shakespeare in the park.” Always on the lookout for compelling locations where acts of theater and storytelling can happen, Bartlett often writes with specific spaces in mind. “I’d long dreamed of inviting audiences to walk into a record store to see a play.”

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Lancaster, UK | Lancaster independent record store to reopen bigger than ever: An independent record store in Lancaster is about to move to a bigger premises and will now be selling drinks as well as music. Forty Five Records will reopen at 7 Kings Arcade on Thursday, January 16. The new bigger store is just a stone’s throw from the previous shop in Kings Arcade, which opened in 2023 and closed in October while the new premises was refurbished. Forty Five Records is run by Martin Collins and Liz Crane, and Martin said they have put in a “big investment” to expand the business. “The new space came up and it’s so much bigger, around seven or eight times the size of the old shop”, said Martin. “It means we can offer more records, and we can also sell coffee, other hot drinks, soft drinks and non alcoholic beers. When we first opened, our plan was to sell every genre of music. I think, over time, we have seen what works really well.”

Austin, TX | Austin’s Waterloo Records changes ownership, relocates: One of Austin’s staple record stores will change ownership and relocate to a larger location this spring, current owner John Kunz announced Jan. 2. Waterloo Records served as a home for Austin’s music scene for 42 years, including 35 years at its current location along West 6th Street and North Lamar Boulevard. The new owners, Caren Kelleher, the CEO of Gold Rush Vinyl, and Trey Watson, CEO of Armadillo Records, will move the store five blocks away to 1105 N. Lamar Blvd. “I would love this company to live on long after me, and I think we are on the runway to be able to do exactly that,” Kunz said. Kunz said he began searching for a new location in 2019 when his landlord sold the building to Endeavor Real Estate Group. He said he was not interested in signing a five-to-ten-year lease for a new building since he wants to retire soon, and if the ownership did not change, Waterloo would have to close entirely.

Lima, OH | Groamy’s music store hopeful for return after fire: Groamy’s CDs and Tapes was hit by a fire early Sunday morning, causing an estimated $200,000 in damage. Lima Fire Department was dispatched to the store at 1206 W. Robb Ave., Lima, at 4:47 a.m. Sunday. According to LFD investigator and inspector Shawn Allgire, the department had the fire under control approximately 30 minutes after they arrived. The total estimated losses are $75,000 for the building and nearly $125,000 for contents inside. The report is not finalized, and investigations are still ongoing, according to the LFD. Owner Gene “Groamy” Frueh explained the uphill battle could’ve been worse. “It’s not a total loss,” he said. “People keep saying that, but it’s not a total loss.” He is encouraging the public to follow the store’s Facebook page for upcoming information as he learns it. Frueh is hopeful to re-open soon, aiming for Record Store Day on April 12.

Victoria, BC | Come for the Records, Stay for the Dad Jokes: Hang out with owner Gary Anderson at Victoria, B.C.’s The Turntable. Spend a little time with Gary Anderson and you’re apt to conclude that the guy has all the attributes of a natural-born entertainer: big smile, massive moustache, big personality, booming voice, gifted storyteller—and a huge laugh. In fact, early in his adult life Anderson spent a fair bit of time on stage—playing drums and providing backing vocals while touring with aspiring Canadian rock bands Hellhound, Fable, and Task Force. For the past four decades, he’s brought music to his customers’ ears as the owner/operator of The Turntable, a record store in the Canadian city of Victoria, B.C. And more recently, he’s added another schtick to his repertoire as the handwritten message on a piece of paper taped to the front window of his store explains: Free Dad Jokes Inside! 

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Berlin, DE | New record shop BIG CHOON to open in Berlin’s Zemin Art Gallery: A new record shop is opening in Berlin. Located within Zemin Art Gallery in Kreuzberg, BIG CHOON is a project that’s been started by two members of the Auslanderbehorde collective: DJ Regret and Potkid. The shop aims to cover a wide range of genres and styles, “from proper electro to IDM, acid techno to ’00s minimal, early rave to ’90s tech-house,” the team told Resident Advisor. “We’re aiming to be a tiny room full of well curated underground electronic music records, and offer a more intimate and unique digging experience.” BIG CHOON also plans to host regular in-store events, parties and workshops.

Stroud, UK | Record shop of the year says vinyl ‘here to stay.’ A Gloucestershire-based record store has won Record Store of the Year 2024. Sound Records, in Stroud, won the accolade despite being up against well-established independent shops such as Rough Trade and Piccadilly Records in Manchester. Owner Tom Berry said he thinks the success of his store lies in selling cheaper records. He said: “The key is having good records—new released and second-hand stock—and making sure we price our records fairly.” Sound Records have been trading for about six years in Stroud and now has three stores. Mr Berry told BBC Radio Gloucestershire he sees people of every age coming into the shop. “We get the 50-something man that comes in and he’s buying the records from his youth,” he said. “But we do actually get an awful lot of young people now as well.”

Manistee, MI | Manistee DJ spins vinyl into thriving resale business: From vinyl records to vintage VHS tapes, local resident Nate Markham is breathing new life into old media. Markham, a DJ and longtime music enthusiast, has turned his passion for records into a thriving business, called Nate’s Records. Operating out of his mother’s booth at Maryann’s Antiques, he has quickly become a go-to source for vinyl enthusiasts in the area. “I started this in March,” Markham said. “I got into it because my mom has an antiques booth at Maryann’s Antiques. She’s been doing that for 10 years, and one day I was like, ‘Hey, how about I put a crate of old records in your antiques booth?’ They ended up selling like hotcakes, and now I can’t buy records fast enough to keep up with how fast I sell them.”

Salt Lake City, UT | How 2 record stores are fostering Salt Lake City’s all-ages music scene: They’re part of an effort to establish “third spaces” for people under 21 to hang out and create community. A crowd of young adults nod their heads in time to a jazz trio as it weaves through its set on the stage at Fountain Records. The dimly lit underground venue at 202 E. 500 South in Salt Lake City buzzes with energy. The place is small enough to create an intimacy that seems to unite the room. While timeless music and old brick walls elicit the past, the space allows young adults to connect, live and in person. …Terry, the store’s owner and founder of the creative label FOUNTAINavm, said bringing musicians and audiences back together has been crucial to redeveloping a community around music after the pandemic pulled many people into solitude and dependence on technology. “I hope these third places get you off your phone and into the world more,” he said.

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San Antonio, TX | San Antonio’s Friends of Sound open new record shop after being priced out of old location: Owners blame gentrification for nearly doubling the record store’s rent at its former Beacon Hill location. Beloved San Antonio record shop Friends of Sound has reopened at a new location after being priced out of its former space. Previously located at 700 Fredericksburg Road, the wax emporium secured a new, larger space just a quarter mile up the street at 823 Fredericksburg. The business started moving after Christmas and turned in the keys on New Year’s Day, co-owner George Mendoza told the Current. The relocated shop held its grand opening Sunday, Jan. 5, though Mendoza said it’s still getting into the groove at its new digs. And after the tumult of the past few months, the dust hasn’t quite settled yet. Mendoza said Friends of Sound’s change of venue was necessary after a substantial rent increase at the old location. “I just saw the whole gentrification thing happen right in front of my eyes,” said Mendoza. “It was pretty wild.”

Washington, DC | Adams Morgan’s Smash Records celebrates 40 years of being a communal hub for the D.C. punk scene: When Bobby Polsky opened Smash Records on July 17, 1984, Prince’s “When Doves Cry” was the number one song in the U.S. and Bruce Springsteen’s Born In The USA was the top album. While conventional retail strategy might say opening up a record store devoted to the burgeoning punk and new wave scenes in the era of these 80s music blockbusters was risky, convention has never been the punk ethos. Smash first set up shop at 3324 M Street NW in a 300 square foot storefront, now occupied by a custom window treatment retailer. …Ian MacKaye, co-founder of the D.C. punk label Dischord Records and seminal bands like Minor Threat and Fugazi, recalls that the neighborhood was full of pizza parlors, movie theaters, and new wave spots like the iconic Commander Salamanders that made it an ideal after-school hub for latchkey kids, young rebels and misfits.

Waterford, CT | Crystal Mall’s FYE store to close, leaving Trumbull as its last Connecticut location: The Crystal Mall in Waterford is losing another one of its tenants. The mall’s FYE store will be closing in the next month or two, according to a store employee, who spoke on the condition that he not be identified for fear of being disciplined. The store, which is located on the mall’s upper level near the former JC Penney anchors store, will close when the sale of its inventory has been completed, the employee said. FYE — which sells record albums, compact discs, videos and collectibles—has deeply discounted the merchandise at the Crystal Mall store and posted signs stating all sales are final and no exchanges are permitted. The closing of the Crystal Mall location would leave the FYE in the Trumbull Mall as the chain’s only store remaining in the state. Stores in the Waterbury, Danbury and Meriden malls are in the process of being closed, employees in those stores have previously told Hearst Connecticut Media.

US | 5 Must-Visit Record Stores In The US: The humble record store never really left the high street. Sure, many of the big names, like Sam Goody’s, have closed their doors forever, but there are still some indies left. If you want to pay homage to the home of music culture, then check out some of these must-visit record stores around the US. The record shop has doubled down on what it is that made them great in the first place. Where the large commercial chain record stores focussed only on sales, indies remembered why they were so special in the first place. A great record store is a hub for music lovers to rub shoulders with peers. Record stores today, to remain successful, need to offer the full package. Not only do they need to sell the best and rarest of new and second-hand records, but also host events, advertise local shows, and introduce their shoppers to new music. This is what makes for a must-visit record store for me.

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UK | Oasis vinyl drives record year for UK music sales: Music fans splash out more than £2.4bn as Manchester band prepares for reunion tour. Oasis fans snapping up vinyl records ahead of the band’s reunion helped drive a record year for British music sales. Consumer spending on recorded music hit almost £2.4bn in 2024—an increase of more than 7pc on the previous year—overtaking the previous high of £2.2bn achieved in 2001, new figures have revealed. Music fans bought or streamed the equivalent of more than 201m albums last year, eclipsing the previous record of 172m at the tail end of the CD boom in 2004. The figures from the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) underscore how the rise of streaming services such as Spotify has driven a renaissance for the music industry a decade after it was driven close to collapse by rampant piracy. Streaming accounts for the vast majority of UK music industry revenues—more than £2bn—with audiences splashing out even more on subscriptions despite the cost of living crisis.

UK | The UK music industry is reporting record revenues. The reality is much gloomier. If the record business has learned anything during those brutal years between 2000 and 2014 when the CD market wobbled and then went into such sharp decline that it halved, it is to seek out good news stories wherever you can. The Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), the UK trade body for music, video and games retailers, has just issued its numbers for recorded music revenues in 2024. The sell is that this marks “a 20-year high and an all-time record, exceeding the pinnacle of the CD era”. Let joy be unconfined. Bonuses all round. But trade numbers can only ever capture what the recorded music business is worth in toto. They tell us little of the depth and of the complexities of what has been happening here since the early 2000s.

Fargo, ND | Customers express sadness over local store, Vinyl Giant and Game Giant, closing: After nearly a decade, a downtown Fargo business is shutting its doors. “It’s just really sad with the different businesses that have been leaving Downtown Fargo. This will be another one that’s definitely going to be hard to fill,” said Matthew Winarksi, Game Giant customer. Vinyl Giant and Game Giant will close for good come February. That’s according to a Facebook post from the owner. “It’d be nice to see where the workers go. They’re always so friendly; they’re always so helpful; you know they’re always willing to help and tell us to tell us the new games,” said Winarksi. Closing sales will kick off on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. About 3,000 records will be brought out from the back. Details on the event are expected soon.

Cardiff, UK | Vinyl galore at Kellys Records in Cardiff Central Market, South Wales: It’s been over ten years since we last sung the praises of Kellys Records in Cardiff Central Market, and it’s great to see the place riding the wave of the vinyl resurgence. The store was founded by Eddie and Phyllis Kelly back in 1969, with nephew Allan Parkins taking over in the 1990s. The store found itself perfectly poised to capitalise on the vinyl revival, as their website explains: The 2010s marked a renaissance for vinyl records, much to the delight of Kellys Records. Streaming services like Spotify initially seemed like a threat but ended up complementing the resurgence of vinyl. As music became more accessible online, people began to appreciate the unique experience that vinyl offered. The tactile joy of owning a physical album and the immersive experience of listening to a record from start to finish brought a new generation of music lovers into the store.

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Romsey, UK | Romsey’s Hundred Records marks ten years with new owner: Romsey’s only record shop reached two milestones this autumn: it has a new owner and it has marked a decade in business. At 47 The Hundred, Hundred Records has a new owner after Mark Wills retired in October after ten years. Matt Foyle, 55, from Hedge End, told the Echo’s sister paper the Advertiser his friends called him “mad” when he chose to step in. Matt said: “Short story, although I’ll make it a long one, I’ve been a customer here for eight years. I came here to pick up some gear at the end of September and he [Mark] said ‘From the end of October the shop will be shutting’. “I went away, had a think and, within four weeks, I bought it.” Matt continued: “I didn’t want to see the place shut, nor did the rest of the customers.” The new owner had no prior experience in retail, having worked for 16 years in catering for a sandwich company.

El Cerrito, CA | Saving El Cerrito’s Down Home Music Store: The holidays brought glad tidings to El Cerrito’s Down Home Music Store after a looming threat that the legendary property might go up for sale and be taken over by the highest bidder. …Down Home had for years served as a shrine for Joel Selvin, longtime pop music critic and writer for the San Francisco Chronicle and the author of a 2023 book compiling Strachwitz’s musical travelogues and photographs. “Any time a new trend emerged and I needed to beef up my information, Down Home was the place I had to go to,” recounted Selvin. “They were always drivers in that culture, not just reflecting it. And Chris was the most admirable person I ever met in the record business because he remained closest to his original bliss.”

Northampton, MA | Couple relocates record store from Boston to Northampton: With an ever-changing retail landscape out in Boston, two record shop owners moved their store to Hampshire County after more than a decade out east. Western Mass News spoke with one owner of Deep Thoughts Record Shop on Market Street to learn what inspired her to reset in Northampton. After nearly 12 years in Boston, Alaina Stamatis and Nick Williams were eager to return to the Pioneer Valley. ”Staring down another winter of making that commute, that was a major motivating factor just being closer to home,” explained Stamatis, co-owner of Deep Thoughts Record Shop. And closer to home is where Stamatis, along with her husband, Williams, brought Deep Thoughts Record Shop. With Boston’s changing retail landscape and the pressure of raising a child, they relocated to Northampton in November. While Stamatis reflects on her positive experiences in Boston, she says this move was only a matter of time.

The Rebirth of The Record Store: Why Your Humble Local Music Shop Is Thriving Despite Streaming Sites Like Spotify. The way we listen to music has changed repeatedly over the past 40 years, moving from vinyl, to tape, to CD, and now digital. However, one thing has stayed constant and weathered the storm—the humble record store. Despite the majority of people now listening to their favorite artists via digital streaming services, there are still many record stores to be found in any city you visit. Despite the big music outlets closing by the day, the indie record store is still going strong. In 2023, vinyl outsold CDs for the second year in a row in the US. The year reported 34.9M sales, with a further increase of 6.2% in 2024. This signifies a massive comeback for vinyl sales, making the record store a valuable business venture for entrepreneurs looking to keep the industry alive.

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UK | Record Store Day confirms details of 2025 edition: Record Store Day is returning for its 18th edition in 2025. The international vinyl event will take place on April 12, 2025. Last year’s edition delivered a significant boost to sales. More than 270 independent record shops across the UK, alongside thousands more around the globe, will participate in the celebration of vinyl releases and independent record store culture. Record Store Day’s upcoming 18th edition coincides with 18 years of growth in vinyl sales, reported in the latest BPI market figures. The vinyl celebration is organised by ERA with its record store members. RSD has partnered with DEYA Brewing Company, based in Cheltenham, who will be brewing a special RSD beer that will be available in participating record stores, bottle shops and pubs in April 2025.

Montreal, CA | Return to Analog’s Pierre Markotanyos: …Pierre Markotanyos, the owner of the reissue label Return to Analog and Montreal record store Aux 33 Tours (which refers to the speed at which an LP spins), has noticed a distinct change in the makeup of who’s buying vinyl these days. “In the late 2000s,” Markotanyos reflects, “it was mostly 55-to-70-year-old guys who were coming in, buying records to play on their high-end stereos that they bought at the audio show in Montreal.” [Sound familiar, Stereophile readers?] “They were the purists and the true believers.” “And then 2010, 2011, the hipsters started really getting hardcore into it. And then, about four or five years ago, we started noticing 15-, 17-, 18-year-olds and a lot of girls. I’d stand in the middle of the store on Saturday and go, “Hey, 10 years ago there were just guys in here and now it’s like 30% women. Today, it’s more like 60–40 on a weekend. You look around and there’s almost as many girls as there are guys.”

Canton, TX | East Texas vinyl enthusiasts give insight into nationwide revival: Young listeners are embracing the nostalgic feel for music through vinyl records, including those in East Texas. For some, it might just be a vinyl on a record player, but for 21-year-old Allie Rives, as well as other Gen Z fanatics, it’s an immersive experience that brings a deeper connection and appreciation to music. “You get to touch them, see them, and listen to them, and I prefer that over digital streaming,” said Rives. According to Luminate Music Consumption Data, vinyl album sales have increased from $13.1 million in 2016 to $49.6 million in 2023. That’s a growth of nearly 300 percent over the last eight years. A high percentage of that consumption are young listeners. “Most of my friends have vinyl and listen that way,” said Rives. “Occasionally we’ll have listening parties using vinyl, and new albums come up that we want to listen to.”

New York, NY | The Music Is Too Loud. That’s the Point. Vinyl-focused listening bars inspired by ones in Japan are opening across New York, attracting audiophiles and city dwellers looking for a respite from the cacophony outside their doors. On one Friday evening, the conversation in the back room of All Blues in TriBeCa, where about two dozen people sat in leather chairs, was overtaken by the music streaming from three large, mid-20th-century speakers. Behind a D.J. booth, Yuji Fukushima, 62, the owner of the bar, spun a set that included 1980s funk and late-career Dizzy Gillespie, which played from a pair of German-made turntables. Around the room were rare McIntosh amplifiers, a tape recorder from a Swiss audio company and the three speakers—JBL products that altogether cost tens of thousands of dollars. The bar’s patrons were enjoying what Mr. Fukushima called a “music massage,” inspired by some of his favorite hangouts in Japan, where he grew up.

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Is vinyl on the decline? Why ‘unrealistic’ pricing is slowing down sales. Is vinyl on the decline? Lately, I have seen a lot of videos on YouTube with people talking about this. Sure there are some valid observations, but there are a lot of wrong assumptions. First of all, the return of vinyl is not a fad. Fads last from a few weeks to a few months such as the Macarena, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Game Boy to name but a few. Trends last longer and are measured over seasons, years, or even decades such as the selfie movement and social media—once more to name but a very few. Many people casually throw about these terms without even understanding what it means. It is like saying an album is a record. Wrong, it is not. Vinyl has grown in popularity and sales from 2007 to this day. That alone does not equate its return as a fad.

Toronto, CA | I went digging in Toronto’s vinyl shops. I found more than music: This hobby encouraged weekend trips to browse through the city’s indie record shops and listen in on customer picks and staff recommendations, soaking in the excitement around the latest releases. As soon as I stepped into Sonic Boom on a recent lunch break, I was drawn to a stack of autographed copies of Texan singer Leon Bridges’ latest self-titled album. He was in town for a show at Massey Hall a few days earlier, so he came and signed a few albums, the clerk told me. I’d never heard of him — my streaming apps had me trapped in a cycle of recommending songs and artists similar to what I already listen to, the kind that peaked in the 2000s thanks to car and khakis ads. I was so out of the music loop I didn’t realize this was the Grammy winner’s fourth album. Forty bucks later, I was hooked.

Leeds, UK | Record Plant, Farsley: Leeds’ newest record store on thriving at Sunnybank Mills and the vinyl revival: In just over a year since opening its doors in Farsley, Record Plant has cemented itself as a thriving hub for music lovers. Initially launched in a modest unit at Sunnybank Mills in October 2023, the store quickly outgrew its space behind The Old Woollen, prompting a move to a larger venue within the same development by autumn 2024. John-Paul told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “It was busy pretty much straight away and has continued to be. So we quickly realised we needed to expand or have bigger premises to stock more items. We moved this summer and opened here at the end of September, in under a year. It’s been quite a big jump up.” With years of experience in the record store industry, opening his own shop felt like a natural progression for John-Paul. However, he initially had reservations about competing in Leeds’ music scene. He said: “There are so many great record shops in Leeds, so I wondered how we’d fit in. But Leeds is such a big city—there’s room for everyone.”

Portland, OR | Eric Isaacson of Mississippi Records Is Retiring From Booking Shows: He wants you to take up the mantle. Mississippi Records has been a beacon for outsider music in Portland since Eric Isaacson opened the doors at the shop’s original location on North Mississippi in 2003. Ever since, the shop and label have played key roles in cultivating the city’s DIY music communities. Though Mississippi Records is known around the world for deep dive vinyl compilations and the attention to detail of each record release—it’s played another, if lesser known, role…He’s organized festivals in Cherry Sprout Park across the street from the shop’s current location and hosted laughing workshops led by ambient legend Laraaji. He’s slotted in the Black cosmic music of Lonnie Holley with Roman Norfleet & Be Present Art Group. In short, Mississippi Records has brought music to this city at a clip that’s hard to match. But times they are a-changin’ at Mississippi Records.

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Austin, TX | Austin’s Waterloo Records to relocate, take on new ownership: For decades, Waterloo Records & Video has been a cornerstone of Austin’s music scene. Now, the business is entering a new chapter—with a new location and owners. Caren Kelleher, founder and president of Gold Rush Vinyl, confirmed Thursday she and business partner Trey Watson (CEO of Armadillo Records) will be taking over Waterloo Records. The vinyl shop has operated in Austin for more than 40 years, including 35 years at its current location along West Sixth Street and North Lamar Boulevard. Following a 2019 property purchase by Endeavor Real Estate Group, the business faced closure or relocation. Now, Waterloo Records will relocate to 1105 N. Lamar Blvd. in the springtime, according to a Thursday release. The upcoming location will feature more space for in-store events and music performances and expanded parking for customers.

Dundee, UK | Why are young people driving Dundee’s vinyl records revival? From Thirteen Records on Union Street to the TikTok generation, we explore why vinyl is striking a ‘retro-cool’ chord with Dundee’s youth—and driving a global resurgence in physical music. It’s the festive season, and the warm glow of nostalgia spills onto Dundee’s Union Street from the door of Thirteen Records. Inside, the earthy and evocative scent of vinyl records fills the air as the jangly guitars of A Catholic Education by Teenage Fanclub – a 1990s Scottish alt-rock classic – blast retro vibes from the speakers. …For 18-year-old Cally Gouldthorpe, a hairdressing student at Dundee and Angus College in Arbroath, vinyl isn’t just about music – it’s about connection. “I like having physical media,” says Cally, a former Monifieth High School pupil. “I can go on Spotify, but I enjoy having the physical album.”

Jonesboro, AR | Vinyl is back at Jonesboogie Records: With vinyl making a major comeback, Jonesboro native Jared Harvey, 52, decided it was time to follow his dream, when he opened his record store, Jonesboogie Records, in early December. “I always wanted to open my own record store and it sounded a lot more fun than being an electrician,” Harvey laughed, noting that he was an electrician by trade. With over 300 new records and new arrivals every week, Harvey said he sells both new and used records, however, the majority of his used records came from his personal collection. “I had a pretty decent collection that I thought would make a good make a good start,” Harvey said. “It’s that point in my life where I needed to find something else to do and everything just kind of came together.” With the popularity of vinyl increasing, it was the perfect time to try his hand at his dream.

Urbana, IL | Urbana record store celebrates tenth anniversary: According to the World Economic Forum in 2020, 34% of small businesses across the United States closed because of the effects of the pandemic. However, a small business in downtown Urbana met the challenge head on and is close to celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2025. See You CD & Vinyl is located at 208 W. Main St. The shop, one of the several staple record stores in the Champaign-Urbana area, is owned by Jesse Grubbs, who opened the store when he was 22. Grubbs is a prime example of mixing passion into work. “I’d been buying and selling records all through high school, selling stuff on eBay to have money to run around on the weekends and stuff like that,” Grubbs said in an interview. “So buying and selling vinyl was something I always did.”

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St. Clairsville, OH | Ohio Sam Goody store, among final 2 stores in US, closing soon. Here’s when. Big Lots and Walgreens announced sweeping store closures this year, and now Sam Goody is going out of business for good. The music retailer is closing down its final two locations, one of which is in Ohio. The record store chain will shut down its Ohio store located at the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville, Ohio, about two hours east of Columbus. Its Oregon location will also close, putting an end to the chain’s 73-year history. While there is no official closing date, the Ohio store closure is set to happen sometime in February 2025. Ohio’s Sam Goody location will begin marking down prices on items leading up to the store’s closing.

Adelaide, AU | Crackle & Pop Records: 10 years in the making. Celebrating ten years of pop-ups this weekend at The Wheaty, we chat with Crackle & Pop Records owner Adam about the business and what the future holds. Unlike other record stores around Adelaide, Crackle & Pop Records has no shop front. Nor do they have an official website selling their wares. For a decade this innovative pop-up has been setting up shop at a wide range of venues across the state slinging the best vinyl records from all your favourite artists. The brainchild of music lover Mark Cnotek, Crackle & Pop Records ran under Mark’s leadership for nine years before he handed the reins over to the Buckley family: Adam, Anita and their son Jack. The trio have taken C&P Records to a new level and are pumped to celebrate the thriving pop-up record store’s tenth birthday with a special event in the front bar of The Wheaty this Saturday, December 21.

Laguna Beach, CA | Longtime Laguna Beach Record Store Up For Sale: A well-loved Laguna Beach record store—is going up for sale, The Orange County Register reported. Roughly six weeks ago, the doors of Laguna Beach record store Sound Spectrum were closed by its owner — this week, news was announced that the longtime music stop is preparing to be sold, The Orange County Register reported. Edith Otto, who operated the record store alongside her late husband Jimmy, told the newspaper that it’s difficult to let the business — located in Laguna Beach’s popular Historical Interesting Places District — go up for sale. “I’ve relived decades of my life over again,” Edith Otto told The OC Register. “That’s why I don’t feel bad. We had such a wonderful life. Jimmy and I were so blessed. I’ve had all these joyful memories.” “It will be hard to really let it go,” she continued. “I’ll just have to do that. That’s how life is.”

Montreal, CA | In Montreal, one man is fighting to stop DVDs from going the way of the dodo: The Luddites were a 19th-century group of British textile workers who destroyed the mechanized looms and knitting frames they saw as a threat to their livelihoods. They were followers of Ned Ludd, an elusive apprentice weaver who had supposedly smashed a stocking frame. Although there’s no evidence that Ludd actually existed, the name stuck around, and the word Luddite has since entered the lexicon to describe anyone who resists new technology. In recent years, peculiar signs have started popping up around Montreal, attached to street lights and signposts. They’re unprepossessing, but intriguing, with just a few words scrawled in permanent marker. “Visit eBay,” they say in French, “Le Pro des DVD.” Unlike Ludd, Montreal’s DVD pro is decidedly real. Jean-François Hall, a self-described “dinosaur” who doesn’t subscribe to streaming platforms, says he has sold more than 50,000 DVDs in the past three years.

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Final Two Sam Goody Stores to Close: Ending a seven-decade run. After a seven-decade run as one of the nation’s premiere record store chains, Sam Goody has announced the closure of its final two brick-and-mortar locations. The stores are located at the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville, Ohio and the Rogue Valley Mall in Medford, Oregon. According to WTRF, the Ohio location will close first, with its final date set for sometime in February 2025 — until then, prices will be reduced. No timeline has been given for the closure of the Oregon location. Founded shortly after the introduction of long-playing records, Sam Goody became a household name for discount vinyl sales in the ’50s, and a mainstay of malls across America and the United Kingdom in the ‘80s and ‘90s. In recent years, though, the brand’s popularity has waned, due to factors like digital music sales, streaming, mismanagement, and more.

Minneapolis, MN | What were the top sellers of 2024 at Minneapolis’ favorite record store? Chappell Roan, Charli XCX and other young pop stars sold well this year at the Electric Fetus alongside former customer Prince. Prince is still a hot seller at Minneapolis’ best-known record store, but in 2024 so were a lot of today’s hottest young pop acts. “Good Luck, Babe!” hitmaker Chappell Roan had the top-selling album of the year at the Electric Fetus, according to a newly issued year-end list from the 56-year-old record shop. …Other big sellers in 2024 at the expansive Minneapolis store were local pop-rock darlings Hippo Campus, Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, St. Vincent, Brigitte Calls Me Baby, Noah Kahan and up-and-comer Taylor Swift. Most of those names eschew the stereotype that kids these days only stream their music instead of buying it. “It’s encouraging to see so many younger music fans craving physical media in addition to streaming,” the Electric Fetus’ Jim Novak said.

Twin Falls, ID | Boise record shop opens pop-up in Twin Falls before the holidays: The pop-up store will be back in Twin Falls on December 21 from 12-5 p.m. at 125 Main Avenue West. For anyone in the Magic Valley looking to surprise their loved ones with the pure sound of a vinyl record this holiday season, you’re in luck. A Boise record shop has decided to set up a limited time only pop-up store in downtown Twin Falls. For the past six Saturdays, the Boise-based Modern Sounds Vinyl and Music has been setting up a small pop-up shop in downtown Twin Falls. If you’re still looking for the perfect gift for the music lover on your list, you still have one more Saturday to check it out. The Modern Sounds Vinyl and Music, Magic Valley pop-up store, will be back in Twin Falls on December 21st.

Salt Lake City, UT | Randy Stinson, the face of record stores in Utah, dies at age 83: Stinson spent his life sharing music with others, before and after he opened his cherished store in 1978. Randy Stinson, founder of the iconic Salt Lake City vinyl record shop named after him and remembered by his family as a “walking Rolodex of music,” died on Dec. 14, 2024, of natural causes at the age of 83. Randy opened Randy’s Record Shop in October 1978 and ran it for four decades before retiring in 2018, when his son Sam took over. The Travel Channel once named the shop as one of “eight must-visit American Record Stores” alongside other greats, like Amoeba Music in Los Angeles. …Connecting people with music, through the store or his own collection, was Randy’s favorite part of all of it. “Whatever culture that Randy brought to the city and the local community, it was just a place for music lovers…”

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