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

Kelowna, BC | For Kelowna record seller, it’s time to face the music: Vinyl’s on the upswing, but the proverbial series of unfortunate events means Milkcrate Records will be closing forever at the end of the month. “We’re being forced out by our landlord (at 527 Lawrence Ave.),” said Milkcrate owner Richard Rafton. “And then, we signed a deal for a location in the North End for October, November and December to get us through the busy and important Christmas season, but the landlord there reneged. Plan C was a location on Pandosy, but that fell through too.” With only 13 days left in the month and all options exhausted, Rafton has no choice but to reluctantly shutter the business. “My wife and I are both turned 65 this year and she was going to retire,” said Rafton. “Instead, she’s going to have to continue working. And I’m going to have to sell off all the inventory because we’re deeply in debt and find another job, probably something in commercial construction, which is what I did before.”

New York, NY | Bushwick’s Daptone Records Will Host a Stoop Sale Friday With Free Beer: Vinyl collectors, fans of soulful Daptone Records, and beer-drinkers will have a field day at this Friday’s Daptone Super Soul Stoop Sale. The record label is credited with the soul and funk revival of the last decade and a half. One of the label’s first major successes was recording the backing music to Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” as the Dap-Kings. You may also remember the Dap-Kings as Sharon Jones’s permanent backing band, recording seven full-length albums with her before Jones’ untimely death in November of last year. The recording studio is nestled into an unassuming converted house at 115 Troutman St., making it possibly the most unlikely hub for world-class soul and funk out there. This Friday, June 30 between 4 and 8 p.m. come down to the studio for $10 LPs, a 5 for $20 deal on Daptone 45s, and a deal on a limited Sharon Jones Record Store Day recording. Plus, there will be free beer courtesy of local Braven Brewing to sweeten the deal.

Bury, UK | Record store launches blue and white milkshakes to help fundraise and save Bury FC: A record store is “shaking things up” to help save Bury FC. Wax and Beans vinyl and coffee shop has added a new limited edition blue and white milkshake to its menu to show its support for the town’s football side and raise vital funds. All profits made by the shakes over the next week will be donated to the club by the shop. Owners Ben Soothill and Louise Jackson came up with the concept together with a customer who is a huge Shakers fan, and thought it would be a great idea for businesses to get behind efforts to save the club. Mr Soothill said: “We’re delighted as a business that is very close to Gigg Lane to be able to contribute in some positive way to help highlight the fight to save the club. “We have conversations every day with customers that are really hurting about the current situation and we need as a community to join together in support to fight this.”

Anthony Bourdain’s Chef’s Knife, Records & Other Belongings to Be Auctioned: Over 200 items will be on the block this October. Nearly 200 items personally accrued by the late Anthony Bourdain will go to auction next month including a custom chef’s knife, some of his personal record collection, apparel, art, and more. The auction—set for October 9 through October 30—is broken into categories the reflect Bourdain’s varied interests in film, music, art, travel, and cooking. Among items up for auction, via online auction house iGavel, are a custom Bob Kramer steel and meteorite chef’s knife, a U.S. Navy bomber jacket Bourdain received while “leaving Beirut in a hurry in the midst of the Israeli-Lebanese conflict in 2006,” and a small record case with vinyl records from Bourdain’s collection including The Kinks and The Velvet Underground… Per the official auction page, 40 percent of the proceeds will benefit the Anthony Bourdain Legacy Scholarship at The Culinary Institute of America (his alma mater) with remaining proceeds benefiting Anthony Bourdain’s personal estate.

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Birmingham, UK | What Bankruptcy? HMV Is Opening a Massive, 25,000 Sq. Ft. ‘Entertainment Store’ In the UK: Venerable British music chain HMV certainly has had its ups and downs in recent years. While HMV has filed for bankruptcy multiple times, including last December, this seemingly has not stopped it from expanding its operations. In February of this year, Sunrise Records in Canada bought the chain for £883,000 ($1.4 million), and now HMV is about to open a 25,000-square foot entertainment store in the English city of Birmingham this October that it is calling the ‘HMV Vault.’ While brick-and-mortar retail stores are closing all over the world, HMV is defying this trend by opening what they say will be “a nirvana for music and film fans.” Located near Birmingham’s city center, the Vault will offer an enormous range of music, film, tech products and other types of merchandise. HMV says that they will offer thousands of LPs. The store will also cater to those who love specialty music.

Whitefish, MT | Electric Record Shop moves to Whitefish storefront: After 15 years and nearly as many moves, Spanky Guzman believes she has found her record store’s forever home. Since moving Spanky’s and Gus to a Spokane Avenue location in Whitefish this summer, she said “I’ve never seen my business like this before.” “It’s a really big change,” said the longtime business owner who has operated record shops, toy stores and Western gear outlets in Whitefish, Kalispell and Eureka since the early 2000s. When the Spokane Avenue location became available, she remembered, “I saw a chance and said ‘I have to take it.’” At the time, she was operating out of the alley behind her current location, after previously moving around between Railway Street and U.S. 93 North. “I’m pretty psyched,” she gushed, and it appears local music lovers and visitors share her excitement. “There’s been an immediate response. I didn’t expect this reaction. “People walk in expecting it to be a typical record store,” but Guzman insisted Spanky’s and Gus is carving out its own niche in the local retail music scene.

Miami, FL | The Six Best Free Things to Do in Miami This Week: Sunpress Vinyl. Music fans know that vinyl sounds excellent and record sleeves look great on a shelf. But how are these musical items made? Learn about the vinyl production process from some of the best in the biz during the Wav.Room Workshop. Sweat Records founder Lolo Reskin will moderate a chat with Sunpress Vinyl cofounder Dan Yashiv to discuss South Florida’s only record-pressing plant and some tricks of the trade. 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, September 19, at Sweat Records, 5505 NE Second Ave., Miami. Admission is free.

Penticton, BC | Okanagan Vinyl Fest spins into Penticton: Fundraiser for Peach City Radio features albums from vendors all over the province. Vinyl collectors and music lovers will be picking through a wide selections of albums from vendors all over B.C. at the eighth annual Okanagan Vinyl Fest this weekend. Organizers said there will also be opportunities to find the perfect turntable and other audio equipment at the event held as the primary fundraiser for Peach City Radio, CFUZ, who will be selling audio equipment donated through its recent audio equipment drive. There will also be other venders selling both new and used audio gear. Peach City Radio is a not-for-profit society with an online radio stream at www.CFUZ.ca, and a terrestrial signal at 92.9FM in Penticton. A member of the National Campus and Community Radio Association of Canada, Peach City Radio strives to promote volunteerism, social engagement, independent music, community capacity building, citizen journalism and diversity.

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Oshawa, CA | One of Canada’s oldest music stores shutting down just shy of 100th anniversary: Wilson and Lee Music in Oshawa is closing in December. Oshawa’s Wilson and Lee Music Store has seen a lot in the last 97 years. The shop was there when player pianos and gramophones were the only way to play recorded music in your home. It was there as vinyl rose to prominence, fell out of favour, and then rose once again. It has been a fixture in the community for almost a century — but now, what is undoubtedly one of the oldest music shops in the country is closing its doors in December. The music business just isn’t what it once was, and so co-owners Bill and David Wilson feel the time is right to hang it up. “I’ve had a few people trying to talk me into another three years to make it 100, but I’m ready to go,” Bill Wilson told CBC News at the shop on 87 Simcoe St. N. “We’re just feeling a difference now. And that’s why we’re going.”

Buffalo, NY | Doughnuts, comic books – and records – coming to former Record Theatre: The redevelopment group that is buying the former Record Theatre complex has signed four retailers as the first tenants for space in the new $6 million mixed-use project. GObike Buffalo and Reddy Bikeshare, Gutter Pop Comics, a new record shop and Fry Baby Donut Co. will occupy more than half of the available commercial space, helping to reactivate the 33,000-square-foot building on Main Street that has been vacant since the store closed two years ago. “We’re excited about the emerging tenant mix,” said Jason Yots, president of Common Bond Real Estate. “We hoped to attract community-focused organizations to this site. GObike and Reddy Bikeshare fit that bill perfectly, given their neighborhood-building activities on both sides of Main Street.”

Dallas, TX | North Texas Record Stores Explain Rising Vinyl Sales Trend: In today’s America, where kids in high school don’t even know what a turntable looks like, the yearly gross of vinyl sales is on pace to pass CD sales for the first time since 1986. The Recording Industry Association of America released its midyear report last week, confirming what vinyl lovers have known for years: That vinyl is worth collecting. Cris B at Josey Records says he isn’t surprised about the midyear report. “Vinyl has been in a resurgence a little longer than people think. … It’s been a process that has been happening over time.” The report revealed that 8.6 million vinyl records were sold during the first half of the year, raking in $224.1 million in sales. CD units doubled the amount of vinyl units sold and made $247.9 million. But vinyl revenue grew by 12.8% in the last six months of 2018 and another 12.9 % in the first half of 2019, while CD sales barely budged. The RIAA report is just like a trustworthy weather report, and the projected forecast pretty much guarantees vinyl will surpass CDs.

North Bay, CA | Nostalgic games, comics draw crowds: Joe Kennedy was feeling nostalgic as he looked through the vintage video games and systems in the Callander Community Centre. He had his children, Logan, 7, and Tenya, 5, with him while he eyed up the old Sega Master System – a game system from the mid-’80s – still in its box. “That’s amazing,” he says, while Logan looks for Pokemon items and Tenya looks for princesses. They were among several hundred people attending the first NostalgiaCon, an offshoot of the Northern Game Expo in Sudbury. Thirty-five tables were set up featuring everything from retro games – the video games older readers may have grown up with – to classic vinyl records and almost everything in between. “It’s pretty well anything nerd,” Brad Davidson, , who with Michael Shanks, Jerrica Leblanc and Ashlee Shanks organized the event, said Saturday as the doors opened and the visitors began to pour in. Nostalgia, particularly for the classic video games and comics, is “huge right now,” Davidson said.

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Kelowna, BC | Milkcrate Records to close at the end of the month: The venue and record shop has presented close to 400 shows over its eight years in Kelowna. Vinyl lovers and show-goers in Kelowna are going to be losing a staple destination come the end of the month. Milkcrate Records, a local record shop and music venue, is planning to shut its doors for good on Sept. 28. In their Sept. 13 newsletter, the shop announced it had been evicted from its current location and the search for a new space was unsuccessful. “Thank you to all the artists, poets, authors, filmmakers, musicians, singers and bands who enriched our lives with their music, talent, passion and artistry,” said owner Richard Rafton. “Thank you to all the arts and music and spoken word fans who came and cheered and clapped and shared the love. For us it always was and always shall be about the music. We’re very proud to have presented close to 400 shows over eight years at Milkcrate, featuring over 1000 artists.” He closed the letter by adding, “as Greg Keelor (Blue Rodeo) closes out their shows: ‘we’ll see you all further on down the road.’”

Birmingham, UK | hmv to open Europe’s largest music and entertainment store The hmv Vault in Birmingham: hmv are bouncing back with a new flagship branch. hmv have announced plans to open Europe’s largest music and entertainment store next month. The hmv Vault will commence business in Birmingham’s Dale End from mid-October in a 25,000sq ft. retail space, a clear sign that the retailer’s resurgence on the UK high street is going from strength-to-strength. hmv was rescued from administration by Canada’s Sunrise Records in February 2019. While 27 stores were initially set for closure, 14 were then saved from shutting their doors for good after deals were secured with landlords. The hmv Vault features a permanent stage area and PA sound system, with plans in place for in-store signings and performances every week. The new outlet promises to be a “dedicated vinyl paradise”, with particular appeal to specialist record collectors with a wider range of classical, jazz, folk, country, blues and world music titles available that in their other stores.

Vancouver, BC | Iconic record store the latest target for downtown Nanaimo thieves: Fascinating Rhythm in downtown Nanaimo had its front door smashed late Thursday night as thieves made away with several guitars. This is the second time in the past couple months that the business has been targeted. There was also an attempted break-in only two weeks ago. “I have never had a break-in since opening 30 years ago,” said Steven Lebitschnig, the owner of Fascinating Rhythm. “I’ve had two this year.” Thieves originally tried to grab poppy donations that were strapped down, but ended up going for guitars instead. Lebitschnig says his store is not the only one that has suffered from a break-and-enter theft in recent months. Nanaimo RCMP say they have seen an increase in theft from businesses in the downtown core, adding thieves seem to be targeting cash on site. “We are strangely recommending that people leave no cash on site,” said Const. Gary O’Brien. “And put up a sign indicating that.”

Calgary, CA | Prairie Records Tops the Charts: Named Top Cannabis Retailer in Canada at Grow UP: Westleaf Inc. is proud to announce its Prairie Records retail stores have been named top cannabis retailer in Canada at the GrowUP Conference & Expo. Singing a different tune in cannabis retail, the award win is a testament to how Prairie Records is offering Canadian’s a truly unprecedented purchasing experience. “It is extremely gratifying to have Prairie Records be recognized at one of the industry’s largest events and to be able to stand out amongst a field of very worthy retail competitors,” says Adam Coates, Chief Commercial Officer at Westleaf and Retail Brand Strategist for Prairie Records. “We set out to make waves in a sea of sameness by creating an immersive experience like no other in the marketplace, and we are pleased and honoured to receive this, the first Grow UP Conference retail award.” Ten companies were nominated in the Grow UP retail category at this year’s event, the first for the industry. Among the nominees were independent stores and well-known national chains. Prairie Records was recognized based on delivering an unparalleled consumer purchasing experience and creating a welcoming brand for cannabis consumers.

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Bridport, UK | Community group unsuccessful in saving Bridport Music from closure: Hopes to save a much-loved record store have been dashed. A community group of investors has been unsuccessful in its efforts to take over Bridport Music. It was announced last month that the shop faces closure, should a buyer not come forward, and a group of interested parties came forward with an interest in taking over the business as a community benefit society. Following an initial public meeting at The Ropemakers, a steering committee was formed. According to campaign co-ordinator Josef Davies-Coates, those who attended had experience in community fundraising, retail in the music market and business start-ups and finance. Following a number of meetings an offer was put forward to the owners but ‘regrettably’ it was not accepted, said Mr Davies-Coates. “In view of the shortness of the time period allowed for negotiations, it has not been possible to reach any resolution,” he said.

Ashby, UK | Retro vinyl records and CDs to be sold off and this is when: If you’re a lover of retro vinyl records, then you will want to put this date in your diary, as tens of thousands of records and CDs are to be sold off. More than 40,000 records and CDs are set to be sold at an auction at The Attic, in Ashby , after the independent music shop closed in August. The Attic was named the eight best independent music shop in the country during its four years in the market town. New and pre-owned vinyls and CDs will be for sale, with everything from 50s classics, Motown, 1980s pop and even death metal on offer. Valuer Stuart Hay said: “The auction is an absolute must for anyone who likes music. “There’s 40,000 new and pre-owned records including picture discs as well as 12ins and 7ins vinyl and there’s also CDs – six lots of 400-plus CDs each. “There’s every sort of music you can think of – 1950s, easy listening, 1980s pop, punk and death metal. “One of the lots features 37 Beatles LPs. There really is something for everyone.”

Chicago, IL | For First Time in 30 Years, Vinyl Records Being Made in Chicago: Andy Weber has always loved vinyl records. Listening to them “allows you to slow down, sit back and listen to a side for 30 minutes,” he says. “Then sit back with your record jacket just like it’s a fine book to read.” As a Chicago DJ at CHIRP Radio, Weber has heard a lot of frustration from artists in the local music scene when it comes to releasing their music on vinyl. “Friends in bands would say they aren’t going to do vinyl because of cost and because of six-month wait times, and horror stories of shipments showing up damaged and the record plants not taking responsibility for it,” he said. So Weber and some friends started their own record plant, the first in Chicago in about 30 years. Production at Smashed Plastic began in February, and they say 90% of their orders have been from Chicago bands and labels. Co-owner John Lombardo also owns a small label. He says it amazes him that vinyl works at all.

Vinyl Record Sales Surging In 2019: Sales of vinyl records continue to surge in 2019 and are likely to outsell CDs for the first time since 1986, according to the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) mid-year report. Vinyl records made $224.1 million on 8.6 million units in the first half of 2019, gaining ground on the $247.9 million on 18.6 million units brought in by CD sales. Vinyl sales have risen 12.9% in the first six months of 2019 while CD sales have been stagnant. If these numbers continue to hold, actual honest-to-gosh records will shortly be earning more money than compact discs. Paid subscriptions to streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music still account for 62% of industry revenue but vinyl is rapidly regaining its popularity as a listening format. It only makes up four percent of recording industry income but fans of the medium are finding vinyl albums to be a more connected and emotionally invested way of consuming music than online streaming. Records are sexy, intriguing, and exotic to those who missed them the last time around and deliver a tactile music experience not attainable via streaming. Also, vinyl has a warmer, clearer sound than streaming technology can produce, which makes listening to records a gourmet meal for your ears

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Glasgow, UK | National album exhibition curated by Lewis Capaldi launches at Glasgow Central: The touring show, celebrating the sounds of Scotland, is part of events leading up to National Album Day in October. A touring art exhibition which celebrates the sounds of Scotland can be viewed at Glasgow Central Station from today. The public show is in the city until next Thursday (September 19), when it will head to Manchester Piccadilly and then on to Birmingham New Street from Monday, September 30 and London King’s Cross St Pancras on Wednesday, October 9. Scotland, the north of England, the Midlands and the south of England will be in the spotlight as part of the extravaganza leading up to National Album Day on Saturday, October 12. Anyone in Glasgow Central today will see the version created for the Scottish audience, which aims to present a “cross-cultural” view of Scotland’s musical landscape, past and present. National Album Day artist champions who represent each area have also been charged with selecting the six albums that inspire them, and the lists will sit alongside picks from local music critics and record stores.

San Francisco, CA | Viking’s Choice: What I Learned From Aquarius Records, A Record Store For Big Ears: …From 1970 until its closure in 2016, San Francisco’s Aquarius Records (often shortened to aQ) not only became an authority on psychedelic, metal and experimental music, but also a home for wayward record collectors with the biggest, weirdest ears in the world. Even across the country, I found community by discussing the latest weirdo jams found on the New Arrivals list with friends. Each record, cassette, magazine or artist-burned CD-R was reviewed with equal parts nerdy insight and outrageously ebullient language. Where else would you read about the “scuzz-drenched doomic plod” of Rusted Shut? Or Twink’s apocalyptic psych-rock masterpiece Think Pink from 1970, a record “packed with droning chant, druidic prophecy, spaced-out psych jams, weird, twisted pop and acid-folk ramble”? …Aquarius Records taught me that you can always dig deeper for weirder, louder music, but unlike the grumpy record store clerks portrayed in movies, you don’t have to be a creep about it. This music is for anybody drawn to the seemingly indigestible, or at least curious about the racket leaking from your headphones.

Atlanta, GA | This Vintage Vinyl Store In Georgia Will Make You Feel Like A Hippie In The 70s: Vinyl records seem to be a thing of the past, but they have been making a come back. There is something very aesthetically pleasing about them and Millenials have been going crazy for them. Surprisingly, there are still a few hidden record shops in Atlanta that are fun to explore and make you feel like you are in another decade. Criminal Records is located in Atlanta and it is massive. It’s a throwback record store that will take you back in time to the 70s and 80s. There are vinyl records, DVDs, comic books and so much more. They even have local bands come play on specific nights. Many famous people, like Raury and the owner of Rapzilla, have stopped by this location, too. When you walk into the store, the smell of old records will hit you in the face. It is like when you open an old book for the first time in a while. The store is filled with rows and rows of vinyl from all decades of music. This location also has a buy/sell/trade system so everything in this store has a story of where it has been…

Prince’s iconic ‘1999’ album reissue to contain 35 previously unreleased tracks: Unreleased concert footage is also included: Prince‘s classic album ‘1999’ is being reissued and will contain 35 previously unreleased tracks. See more details and the full tracklist below. The iconic record – featuring ‘1999’, ‘Little Red Corvette’, and ‘Automatic’ – will arrive on remastered, expanded formats on November 29. It’s being released via Warner Records in partnership with the late artist’s estate. Fans will be able to get their hands on a Super Deluxe Edition (comprised of 10 LPs and a DVD), a Deluxe Edition (2CD or 4LP 180g vinyl/download and streaming), or the standard remastered version (1CD or 2LP 180g Purple Vinyl/download and streaming). The Super Deluxe Edition’s DVD is a full, previously unreleased concert film shot at Prince’s Houston Summit show in 1982. Also included in the top-tier package are 23 previously unissued studio tracks (recorded between November 1981 and January 1983), and a complete live audio performance of the ‘1999’ tour.

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Brooklyn, NY | New York record shop Halcyon opens in new Brooklyn location: It’s attached to the Etiquette Café in Williamsburg. New York’s Halcyon The Shop has a new home. The long-running record store, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this month, opened its new location at 53 Broadway in Williamsburg today. The store is attached to the Etiquette Café. It’ll be open every day from 10 AM to 5 PM, with the usual selection of old and new dance music alongside disco, funk, jazz and more. Halcyon will also sell accessories, merchandise and DJing equipment. The shop’s past location was inside the now-closed Output club complex further north, near the Williamsburg-Greenpoint border.

Bel Air, MD | REB Records opens at Armory Marketplace, Bel Air’s business incubator: Beatrice Orsini and her mother, Amy Bauersfeld, combed through the racks during the grand opening of REB Records in Bel Air, looking for LPs that struck their interest. Beatrice, 15, of Abingdon, smiled as she took in the various album covers, including “An American Treasure,” a compilation album of Tom Petty tracks released after the famed rock singer died in late 2017. “I like Tom Petty a lot,” said Beatrice, a sophomore at Patterson Mill High School. “We have a record player at home, so we always try to find cool records.” The family-owned REB Records sells music on vinyl LPs as well as CDs, cassette tapes and 45s — customers can purchase new or used records. The store had a soft opening July 20 and its grand opening Aug. 31. REB Records is the latest business to open in Armory Marketplace, the Town of Bel Air’s business incubator that has a waiting list to become a tenant and has already seen one former tenant “graduate” to the downtown business district.

Cult Sony Walkman Makes Nostalgic Comeback: To celebrate its 40th anniversary, electronics giant Sony announced the new release of its 80s cult portable cassette player. The news was declared at the annual consumer electronics trade show IFA 2019 in Berlin on Thursday. First released in July 1979, the Sony TPS-L2 Walkman was the first portable personal cassette player, changing the way music was consumed. In 2010, the Japanese retailer had sold 200 million units, with cassettes easily surpassing vinyl record sales. Due to its popularity in the 80s and 90s, the word ‘Walkman’ even made an entry in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1986. Since then, the company has released various iterations of its Walkman including a gold-plated Walkman released in 2016 for a whopping $3,680.

Chattanooga, TN | Back to the groove: Vinyl records overtaking CDs in local popularity: Vinyl records are back in style. Now, their popularity is sparking something that has not happened in more than 30 years. …Dawnia Powers, the media manager at McKay’s, says more people are collecting vinyl records these days. “They want something collectible. Something they can keep that looks nice on their shelves,” she says. But Dawnia says CDs still sustain power. “You can’t put a record in your car. You can’t play a record in your old school walk man that you take around with you.” Although Lora still buys CDs, she says there’s just something about records. That’s why she prefers them. For the time being, CDs are still expected to outsell vinyl record at McKay’s. So far this year, the store has brought in 43,000 records. But the amount of of CDs is more than triple that.

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Galway, IE | Superquinn, Xtra-Vision and Roches Stores: The shops we loved so much: Pricewatch: They may be gone, but the once household names are certainly not forgotten. Star Records: Back in the 1980s, this Galway record shop had three branches in the comparatively small city. Now there are none and there hasn’t been one for a long, long time. To be honest, we could have named any one of the hundreds of record shops which have shut over the past couple of decades after being swamped by a crushing wave of music in the forms of ones and zeroes and by the online retailing giants that stole their lunch and beat them up in the process. Alongside the aforementioned, there was the Virgin Megastore on Dublin’s Aston Quay, Dolphin Discs, Road Records on Dublin’s Fade Street, HMVs all over the place as well as countless others, big and small, in virtually every town in Ireland. There are some that are still standing – notably, perhaps, Golden Discs – and the sale of vinyl has seen something of a resurgence in recent years but, even so, the days of hanging out in record shops, sifting through the stock, listening to the staff picks and making life-changing musical discoveries by chance appear to be gone forever. Mindlessly scrolling through Spotify playlists is not quite the same thing.

Manchester, UK | Woman finds £930 inside a Carpenters album in a charity shop – hands over the cash, buys the record for £3.50: Hannah Fenwick was browsing through the second-hand vinyl records outside Mind’s charity shop in Stockton Heath, Cheshire, at the weekend when she made a shocking discovery. Old bank notes started fluttering out of the sleeve onto the pavement outside the store, south of Warrington, as Hannah was baffled and initially thought it was Monopoly money. The cash dropped to the ground as Hannah scooped it up and, without hesitating, took all the bank notes straight into the shop with the album. Assistant manager Kate Holt, who was serving other customers when Hannah walked in, was astonished by the find. She started to count out the money at the till, watched by Hannah and the other customers. …”I try not to buy anything new and like buying second-hand. I was just flicking through the records outside the Mind shop and I was quite shocked and perplexed when the money fell out.”

Headingley, UK | Premier League referee Jon Moss reveals all about his unlikely new venture outside football. The Premier League referee has opened a new record store in Headingley. Premier League referee Jon Moss’ unlikely new venture is set to feature on Football Focus. The BBC show’s roving reporter Mark Clemmit paid a visit to The Vinyl Whistle, in Headingley, earlier this week to find out about the top ref’s new record store. The shop opened earlier summer and has proved to be popular – not least because of the man behind it. The feature with Moss, who has been a Premier League referee since 2011, is set to air on a forthcoming episode of Football Focus. At the start of the season, Moss spoke to the BBC about the venture and his love of music. “I wanted to create a record shop that people would be genuinely excited about coming into. I don’t think there’s a better indie section in Leeds,” Moss said. “It’s got a big collection of vinyl records. I’m a big indie fan so it’s primarily indie, dance, jazz.”

Graham , NC | Hi Fi in Graham combines love for beer, records: Elon alumnus is spinning records and sipping suds. When walking into Hi Fi Records in Graham, North Carolina, there are many sights and sounds. Whether it be the wall of records along the left side of the store, the bar to the right with record players emitting rock ‘n’ roll, or the wall of music posters hanging in the back. One thing that is not noticeable, but present, is the store’s connection to Elon University. Jon Guza ’97, a Rush fan and owner of Hi Fi, spent over 20 years at International Inventory Management in the Town of Elon. It was not until 2017 that he and his girlfriend started planning to open the store — Guza was looking for a change. “I was getting a little frustrated at my job because I had been doing it for so long and I just didn’t really feel like … I was growing as a person,” Guza said. “I wanted to do something I could really sink my teeth into.” After choosing a little storefront on N. Main Street, the store opened in January 2019. Guza said that his store combines two things he loves: music and beer. He also said the combination brings in customers with different interests.

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The United States is about to become a $10BN recorded music market again—for the first time since 2007: New stats confirmed by the RIAA today (September 5) show that, on a retail basis – i.e. the money spent on streaming subscriptions, as well as physical and digital music – the US record industry generated $5.39bn across all formats (plus sync) in the first six months of this year. That was up by $822m (or +18%) on the equivalent H1 figure from 2018 ($4.56bn), which in turn was up by $383m (+9%) on the RIAA’s retail figure for H1 2017 ($4.18bn). In fact, the US record industry – on a retail basis – is collectively now turning over more than $200m every week, and approximately $30m every day. And with over $5bn generated in the first half of this year, it’s also now clearly on course to turn over more than $10bn at retail in a calendar year for the first time since 2007. …Vinyl albums grew 13% to $224m, but still only accounted for 4% of total revenues in 1H 2019. That $224m was actually close to the revenues generated by the CD format ($248m) in the same period.

Vinyl Is Poised to Outsell CDs For the First Time Since 1986: In the near future, the revenue generated by record sales is likely to surpass the revenue generated by CDs. Sales of vinyl records have enjoyed constant growth in recent years. At the same time, CD sales are in a nosedive. Last year, the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) mid-year report suggested that CD sales were declining three times as fast as vinyl sales were growing. In February, the RIAA reported that vinyl sales accounted for more than a third of the revenue coming from physical releases. This trend continues in RIAA’s 2019 mid-year report, which came out on Thursday. Vinyl records earned $224.1 million (on 8.6 million units) in the first half of 2019, closing in on the $247.9 million (on 18.6 million units) generated by CD sales. Vinyl revenue grew by 12.8% in the second half of 2018 and 12.9% in the first six months of 2019, while the revenue from CDs barely budged. If these trends hold, records will soon be generating more money than compact discs. Despite vinyl’s growth, streaming still dominates the music industry — records accounted for just 4 percent of total revenues in the first half of 2019. In contrast, paid subscriptions to streaming services generated 62% of industry revenues.

A Precise Protractor for Vinyl Enthusiasts: With vinyl records back in demand, setting up a record deck properly ensures you get a clean, undistorted sound without putting unnecessary wear on your beloved collection. The Turntable Protractor is an ideal tool for vinyl enthuiasts, allowing for accurate setup of the stylus, to ensure it runs parallel with each of the tracks – minimising pressure on the sides of the record groove. The Turntable Protractor is made of fibreglass and comes with gold lines on a black background for precise visibility of each measurement. This video shows you all you need to know about setup of the stylus using a turntable protractor. For anyone who’s ever set up a record deck, you’ll be aware there are a number of variables and settings at play, including balancing tracking weights, choosing cartridge types, setting tonearms, and adjusting anti-skip wheels. Everything else you need to know is available in this guide from TechRadar.

Tool’s $45 CD Draws Huge Crowds at Indie Record Stores — With Lines Out the Door at Multiple Locations: Tool’s first album in 13 years, Fear Inoculum, has made a major splash at independent music stores. Mobs of Tool fans lined up for the record’s midnight launch, and countless others appeared during the following days, clearing many establishments’ inventories. Most impressive of all is the album’s considerable sales price: $45. This includes an art book, a high-definition screen, and a pair of speakers. Per a statement released by the Executive Director of the Coalition of Independent Record Stores, Michael Bunnell, Fear Inoculum “was the biggest thing to hit retail in years.” Bunnell went on to say that the album’s remarkable success should serve as reminder that the retail industry is alive and well; artists and manufacturers need only produce quality content and aesthetically pleasing packaging, respectively, to reap the profits.

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Spain’s Music Market Surges in First Half of 2019, With Gains in Digital and Even CDs: Music sales in Spain surged some 27% in the first half of 2019, with subscription streaming services income up 41% over the same period in 2018. According to a new report from Spanish recording industry association Promusicae, Spain’s population spent €140.7 million euros (about $155 million) on music in streaming and physical formats. The increase in music sales from January to June 2019 was the biggest since 2001, when Spain’s piracy-plagued industry took a nosedive, Promusicae reported. What the report calls “the unstoppable rise of streaming,” principally by subscription but also ad-supported, is the main force behind the new figures. …Nevertheless, sales of vinyl and CDs in Spain also increased in the first half of the year. Vinyl record sales increased to €7.7 million (about $8.5 million) over €5.1 million (almost $5.7 million) in the same period in 2018.

Manchester, UK | Wilderness Record Store – Records & Coffee: As long as I can remember, there’s been a record store on Egerton Cresent, just off Withington High Street en route to the post office. But Wilderness Record Store is quite a new development, taking over from it’s predecessor earlier in 2019. I was really surprised the first time I turned the corner and saw the almost tropical exterior of Wilderness, I just had to go in and check it out. The store has been completely revamped since I’d last visited a couple of years ago. They now make a great cup of coffee made with beans from the Manchester coffee brand Grindsmith, so you can sip a cuppa while browsing the records. They also serve toasties, cakes and beer if you’re in the mood for a snack and a drink while you peruse. The vinyl selection is quite varied with lots of new releases as well as second-hand records. They focus on supporting the local music community by hosting small gigs on site and collaborating with other well known Withington and central Manchester venues to host live music events.

Derby, UK | Did you buy your vinyl from Gord’s Record Corner on Derby’s Nottingham Road? Reader Chris Burrows has sent in these great photos of a Derby corner shop which belonged to his grandfather then father. The shop was located at the corner of Nottingham Road and Chequers Lane in Derby. These photos were taken in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The shop was originally a camera shop called Camera Corner, which was run by Chris’s grandad, Harry Burrows. His dad, Gordon, bought the shop off his grandfather and started selling records there. He renamed it Gord’s Record Corner and Chris still has a vinyl record sleeve bearing the shop’s stamp. Chris said: “He used to buy from other record dealers like Dave Surplice/Surplus? on London Road and Richard Felix’s dad. My grandad also used to own a bike shop on London Road.”

Penticton, BC | Styx lead singer Gowan surprises Penticton record store employees: Rocker Gowan dropped in to a Penticton record store for a little shopping. A Penticton record store employee got a surprise on Monday when her favourite childhood pop star stopped in. Gowan, who is the current lead vocalist and keyboardist of the band Styx, was in the Grooveyard in downtown Penticton browsing through the store while employee Stacy Frank was working. Gowan and Styx are performing at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Wednesday with Loverboy. Frank was training a new employee when Gowan came in and Frank said she had a difficult time keeping it together once she realized it was him. “I didn’t know at first because he was just walking around laughing at all the funny T-shirt sayings. He asked about an album we were playing and I was thinking, ‘OK, you have to say something.’ So I said ‘has anyone ever told you that you look like Gowan?’ He said ‘yeah, uh huh’ and I was like oh my god you are Gowan,” said Frank.

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Edinburgh, UK | A Crate Digger’s Guide To Edinburgh Record Shops: The Scottish capital is simply stunning, from medieval lanes to mountainous surrounds shadowed by the beautiful Edinburgh Castle. Beneath Edinburgh’s historically drenched touristic wow-factor lies a diggers treasure trove, with a plethora of record shops scattered across the city that will keep all types of collectors busy. Last week we went on an Irn-Bru powered record emporium marathon and along the way met some fantastic music sellers, visited some insane collections and are pleased to report back this guide of the best record shops in Edinburgh…

Dallas, TX | This Retro Vinyl Record Store In Dallas Is Actually A Full Bar: They’ll bring the music and the beers. Vinyl records are making a comeback but with so many streaming services so readily available to us, it might be hard to remember where the best record stores are. There is a record store in Dallas that knows how to keep the vintage party very much alive. Off the Record is a record store fused with a bar in Dallas that doesn’t only have tons of great music but also tons of great boozy drinks. Off The Record has the coolest old school records but that doesn’t mean you won’t find new albums on there too. The shop has a wide selection of music so there is something for everyone. Often, the shop has tons of events and at times turns into a full-blown party. During their events, you can not only check out the records but listen to them right there too. There is a dance floor in the shop and at times there are even themed nights. You’ll find around 24 different types of beers from both local and international brewers at their tasty bar. Drinks start at around $5 and with 2,000 records to choose from, this record shop can’t be beaten.

Fresno, CA | ‘Not Just a Quilt Store’ comes to Palm and Shaw. Record store to follow. Even as quilting shops around the country close, a Fresno stitchery found education, outreach and even a record store as a way to bring a once-shuttered anchor location in North Fresno alive again. Kiki’s Quilt Shack opened at 5747 N. Palm Ave. Aug. 1, taking over the former Walgreens space that had been vacant since 2012, when it moved to Palm and Shaw avenues. …Alongside the 4,000 bolts of fabric will be a revival of Spinners Records in a separate, soundproofed section of Kiki’s. Massengale closed the Tower District store in 2016 when the Kiki’s venture turned out to be bigger than he expected. Massengale wants to create a “Chicago Speakeasy” feel with a lounge, coffee and juice bar where guys can hang out and “listen to groovy tunes” while their wives shop. Spinners will open in October. He likens the mechanics of record players to the sewing machines used at Kiki’s, and they offer repair services on both types of machines.

Charlottesville, VA | For the record: Let us now praise our local vinyl shops: When I saw that Best of C-VILLE was bringing back its best-record-store category, I was excited, because boy, do I like buying records. But I can’t pick a favorite; I think the right answer is that the town needs them all. Charlottesville is changing in many ways, some for the better. But what I really like is living in the kind of place that can, for now, support multiple record stores—and not just because I like to shop there. …Record shops are places of business, so please go and buy some things from them. That’s the deal: We have to support them so they’ll stay open, which is good for everybody. It helps preserve Charlottesville’s identity as a place that cares about the cultural artifacts these stores sell, and we’re a less interesting place without them. I hear you saying, “But I don’t want to pay for music.” Or, “But I pay for a streaming service, and I can listen to what I want and it gives me recommendations.” I would counter that the people who sell records in this town make better recommendations than the algorithms do, and those recommendations are worth paying for.

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UK | National Album Day launches album artwork exhibition: National Album Day has partnered with Network Rail for ‘The Sounds of…’ exhibitions in the UK’s busiest train stations. In the lead up to National Album Day on 12 October pop up exhibitions will arrive at London Bridge, Birmingham New Street, Glasgow Central Station and Manchester Piccadilly. The album lists have been chosen by NAD artist champions Lewis Capaldi, Elbow, Mahalia and Mark Ronson in collaboration with local music critics and independent record stores to reflect the sounds of each part of the UK. The touring exhibition also includes lists of the best-selling albums since the millennium according to the Official Charts. Artists that appear more than once in the exhibition include Amy Winehouse, whose albums Frank and Black to Black appear on Mahalia’s list and the London and South best-sellers, and The Cure who appear in the London and South music critic list for Disintegration and the London and South record store pick for Seventeen Seconds.

Cork, IE | No vinyl countdown for Douglas record store hit by shopping centre fire: The owner of one of Cork’s most loved record stores is hoping to keep on trading until he can access his unit at Douglas Village Shopping Centre. A car park fire over the weekend has left part of the building structurally compromised and demolition works will be needed to make the rest of the centre safe before traders can return to their stores. It is unclear how much of the building will be demolished and traders have not been given any indication of a timeframe for when the centre will return to trading following a fire last Saturday evening. Estimates for the centre to be reopened to the public vary widely with some saying it could be months before the public can access businesses on the premises. However, businesses are already rallying and helping each other out in the village. Ray O’Brien of Music Zone has said he plans to keep selling records with help from Falveys Pharmacy on the Main Street.

Youngstown, OH | Local Vinyl shop keeps authentic sounds alive: One of a few in the Valley, the record store offers vinyl records of all genres and eras. In a world full of technology, music is available at our fingertips, but finding authentic sound may take a little digging. Geo’s is a record shop in downtown Youngstown. One of a few in the Valley, it offers vinyl records of all genres and eras. “You have people that really like true sound, so they wanna hear that wave, like it’s supposed to be,” said George Case, owner of Geo’s. Case opened the shop in 1997. He started out with roughly 1,000 records. Now, he has thousands. Case said listening to music on vinyl is not the same as listening to it in a digital format. “If you care about real music and how the artist intended for it to sound, a record is the truest, closest thing to a real instrument… it sounds warmer to the ears,” he said.

Fords, NJ | Vintage Vinyl Records hosts Jon Zazula for Heavy Tales book signing and Q&A: Jon Zazula, founder of Megaforce Records, will celebrate the release of his new book, Heavy Tales. The Metal. The Music. The Madness., with an in-store signing at Vintage Vinyl Records in Fords, NJ, on Saturday, October 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. This event will also feature a Q&A session with Jon Zazula. This will be Zazula’s only New Jersey signing. Rob Roth, Owner, Vintage Vinyl Records says, “Jon Zazula is a New Jersey legend who changed the course of musical history.” Says Zazula, who also notes the irony of appearing at Vintage Vinyl, a longtime destination for metal fans throughout the Tri-State area and an early competitor of Zazula’s own Rock N’ Roll Heaven stores in East Brunswick and Clark, NJ, “Ever since the early days of Rock N’ Roll Heaven, I was competing with Vintage Vinyl to be the coolest record store in New Jersey. Now, 38 years later, I am appearing at Vintage Vinyl and everything is coming full circle. I’m so jazzed and I can’t wait to be back in New Jersey with my friends again. This should be loads of fun.”

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Memphis, TN | 15 Memphis albums worth digging for in the record store: While I was having a quick breakfast at French Truck Coffee in Crosstown Concourse, a group of students from the high school just a couple floors up came and asked me a question. “What do you think of when you think of Memphis?” The answer was in the seat next to me: a box of vinyl records, all of which have some connection to Memphis. “Music,” I said, enthusiastically. Memphis music spans all the genres and styles imaginable. And, as a record collector and fan, I am routinely astonished when I spend an afternoon flipping through the racks of a record store, plotting the untold connections between Memphis musicians and labels and the many obscure recordings lost to time. In observance of 901 Day, I want to share some choice selections from Memphis’ lesser known songbooks. It is a list that is not comprehensive in any way. Instead, let it be a legend to help you map out your own Memphis musical treasure hunt. Maybe, like me, you’ll find there are no bounds to Memphis’ musical influence.

Detroit, MI | Record Store-Bar Combo Readies for Downtown Detroit Debut: Paramita Sound starts hosting previews this weekend. More than a year after closing up shop in West Village, record store Paramita Sound preparing to reopening in downtown Detroit with a wine bar. Partners Andrey Douthard, Anna Atanassova, and Zach Poley confirm to the Detroit Free Press that the new location will host previews at the base of the Siren Hotel on this weekend, with an official opening on Friday, September 6. Paramita Sound got its start in 2014 in West Village selling records and holding monthly music events, but noise complaints and low sales forced the shop to move on in 2018. The group is adding a beverage component to the record store to make the business more financially sustainable. At the new 650-square-foot space inside the Siren, Paramita will feature room for DJs, records, and a 15-seat bar serving 30 diverse wines and a handful of beers. Atanassova, whose headed bar programs at Flowers of Vietnam and Rock City Eatery, is taking the lead with the menu.

Ontario, CA | Vinyl rules at The Record Centre, the musical heart of Hintonburg: …The Record Centre has become a place where musicians and music lovers congregate to exchange stories and to connect and to perform. Over the years, he said, hundreds of shows have been played in the tight confines. The performers range from folk singers to rockers to experimental jazz ensembles to classical players. And those shows have been recorded on some of the store’s vintage recording equipment. One day Mike Dubue of the band The Hilotrons approached Thompson. “He was in the store a lot. I started talking with Mike and” one thing led to another and they decided to make a vinyl album. Thompson contacted Quality Record Pressings in Kansas City run by a guy called Chad Kassem to physically produce the record. “He is my hero. He started selling records in his basement. We both started doing the same thing. At the time he had one of the best pressing sites in the U.S. They made that record for us. Phil Bova Jr. mastered it for vinyl and a local guy did the artwork on the record.”

Seattle, WA | Here’s how a Seattle record store unearthed a pre-‘Nevermind’ royalty cheque made out to Kurt Cobain: Easy Street Records sheds more light on the discovery. Yesterday (August 29), Seattle’s Easy Street Records unearthed a precious fragment of rock history: a royalty cheque made out to Kurt Cobain of Nirvana before the release of ‘Nevermind’. The beloved independent record store posted photos of the folded, yellowing cheque to Instagram yesterday. As the caption points out, the cheque from BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc) was dated March 6, 1991, six months before the release of Nirvana’s landmark album, ‘Nevermind’. At that point, the only full-length studio record the band had released was ‘Bleach’. “We’re guessing the next royalty checks were a bit larger than only… $26.57,” Easy Street Records quipped in its post. According to an inflation calculator, $26.57 in 1991 comes up to about $50 in 2019.

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Leicester, UK | 13 quirky places to shop in Leicester: Rockaboom, Malcolm Arcade. Every great city has a great independent record shop. Ours is called Rockaboom. If you have a passion for music, or more specifically playing music on vinyl, then you have to visit. It’s a Leicester institution. So if you’re into rock, reggae, jazz, soul, metal, house, electronica, funk, disco, pop, African, Latin or blues, this is the place to go for new or bargain second-hand stock. Owner Carl’s knowledge and service is second-to-none. Classic CDs are also a bargain. Look out for queues around the block for the annual Record Store Day.

Birmingham, AL | How a small record store made an outsider feel at home in Birmingham: Everything old is new again! Vinyl records are popular once more. Here’s the story of how one small record store made an outsider (me!) feel at home in Birmingham. As a young high school graduate moving to a new city for the first time, I was lost. I had no idea where to branch out, meet people, or explore Birmingham. So I turned to something that had always been a comfort for me – music. Since I was a child, I spent every minute I could listening to music. In the car, doing schoolwork, relaxing in my room, you name it. So as a young newcomer to Birmingham, I found a home at my favorite place to discover music – Renaissance Records. If I wasn’t on the lookout for a record shop, I probably would have missed Renaissance Records. The shop is nestled behind Highlands Methodist Church in Five Points South. Renaissance Records is one of three independently-owned record stores in Birmingham and a host for the annual Record Store Day. Forget the music – what really makes Renaissance Records special are the people. Renaissance Records is home to Gary Bourgeois, owner, and Jimmy Griffin. Both are lifelong, passionate lovers of music.

Joplin, MO | Repurposed Route 66 barn reveals collection of vintage treasures: It’s a unique sound in a unique setting. “It’s the sound, it’s the authenticity of a little bit of pop and crackle–it’s just a more lively experience,” explained Vintage Vinyl Purveyor owner Lynn Brennfoerder. You never know what you’ll hear when you visit a repurposed barn in Jasper County. “This is all new vinyl on this side, I’m buying a lot more new than I ever thought I would,” Brennfoerder added. It’s called “Vintage Vinyl Purveyor” and it’s located inside an old barn that Brennfoerder started rehabbing a few years ago. “This is Muddy Waters,” said Brennfoerder. While most of the recordings inside the business go back years, he’s continually surprised at who does most of the buying, and what they’re after. “The majority of my customers are thirty and under,” Brennfoerder continued. “I’ve had nine and ten-year-old kids come in here and ask me for Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra and it just blows my mind that those are the artists they want to follow and put in their collection.”

Reno, NV | Recycled Records’ owner to sell 3,500 albums before retirement, store to remain open: Paul Doege sifts through boxes of albums that he’s stacked in the back of his office. There’s Elton John’s “Yellow Brick Road” with a yellow vinyl inside. An original Rolling Stones “Sticky Fingers” album with a real zipper on the front. He then pulls out an album by The Who that comes with copies of old contracts, letters and “My Generation” lyrics with handwritten notes by the band. “It comes with a bitchin’ poster, too,” said Doege, owner of Recycled Records for the past 39 years. Doege, soon to be 62, is selling more than 3,500 albums from his private collection on Saturday at Recycled Records, 822 S. Virginia St. in Midtown. With mimosas in the morning, beer in the afternoon and live music, Doege said this is a golden opportunity to get some of the most sought-after records among collectors. “If you’re looking for something, this is your chance to get it,” he said. He’s got Queen, Stevie Nicks, David Bowie, Devo — the list of new wave, progressive rock, glam rock and classic rock pieces goes on and on.

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AU | Cassettes and CDs selling for eye-watering amounts: They’re something a millennial probably wouldn’t even now how to use, but cassettes are still highly sought after. Remember the last time you picked up a cassette? Neither do we. But there are still folks out there who are after the now vintage pieces — and they’re willing to pay a hefty price. Discogs, the biggest music database website in the world, has revealed its 100 most expensive cassettes, and none fall below the $500 mark. Coming in at number one was The Artist (Formerly Known As Prince) – The Versace Experience – Prelude 2 Gold, which sold for an eye-watering $6116. It was handed out to attendees of a Paris Fashion Week show in 1995 and was recently re-released for the first time on Record Store Day 2019. Discogs actually says cassettes are the fastest-growing format of the big three sold on its website — the others being CDs and vinyl.

Seattle, WA | Mexico City’s Georgetown Records keeps Seattle’s indie spirit alive: Six days a week from noon to 8 p.m., Alex Bautista can be found sitting behind the counter at Georgetown Records in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City (CDMX). Spinning his favorite jams on a desktop turntable, he often hands an old-fashioned address book to the latest Amoeba employee to stop in, or talks business with a friend on a well-worn couch against the back wall. During a recent Friday art show, the sound of live music often drowned out chatter in the store. Located next to a store that sells musical instruments and other gear, visitors at CDMX’s Georgetown Records can often hear a rogue guitar or the squeak of a speaker. Posters, album covers and stickers adorn almost every available surface of the store, which opened in 2016 as an informal partnership with Martin Imbach, who owns the original Georgetown Records located in Seattle. “The original idea was to make a bridge, a Seattle connection,” Bautista said.

Williamsburg, NY | Former manager of Record Theatre opens new record store in Williamsville: It’s been exactly two years since Record Theatre shut its doors, but the former manager of the store isn’t done selling music. Joe Igielinski opened a new record store in Williamsville, and he’s even got a couple of former Record Theatre employees working there too. Hi-Fi Hits opened on Tuesday. The new store is located at 5221 Main St.- a location which was home to a Record Theatre store that closed in the mid 1990s. Igielinski, who worked at Record Theatre for 26 years, says he has always wanted to own his own record store. “I felt if I was ever going to do it, now would be the time,” Igielinski said.

Reading, UK | Meet the Reading DJ who has been spinning vinyl for nearly 60 years: Jim B. Donovan – who runs Just Imagine Memorabilia in the Harris Arcade – has been nominated for two Pride of Reading Awards. A DJ who has been carrying hundreds of records to sets across Reading for nearly six decades has been nominated for two Pride of Reading Awards. Jim B. Donovan, who also established the record and vintage toy shop Just Imagine Memorabilia back in the 1980s, has been nominated in both the Cultural Contribution and The Chris Tarrant Award categories. He received the nomination from Rachael Chrisp, Tim Hooper and Pete Wheeler, who jointly recognised Jim for his work in the town. In their nomination, they said: “Jim is an inspiration to many in Reading. “Hundreds of us regularly visit his shop to listen to music, and hear stories, soaking up as much knowledge of Reading’s musical history as one can from his encyclopaedic brain. “He has incredible attention to detail, acknowledging individual players on records, and a relentless appetite to collect and share music with anyone that wants to listen.

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