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

Berlin, MD | Berlin Record Store Day set April 20: Town council votes 3-1 to approve new event. Berlin town officials have added Record Store Day to the 2024 events calendar. On Monday, town councilmembers voted 3-1 to approve the event, a collaborative effort between the town and several downtown businesses, for April 20. “Sound Storm Records celebrates this every year, they just wanted to do something a little more this year,” said Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director. Wells told the council that during the last merchant meeting, the connections of Sound Storm Records suggested the idea of celebrating Record Store Day in Berlin. Wells said the concept has grown in recent years and the day is marked by record stores around the country. “We really liked the idea,” she said. Wells said the event, which will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and would include closures on Pitts and Gay streets.

Vancouver, CA | Record Store Day Canada 2024 unveils its picks and participating stores: Music buffs and record bin hunters—it’s the day you’ve been waiting for. Record Store Day Canada has unveiled its list for 2024, promising limited-edition releases, B-sides, and special albums that you can’t get anywhere else. Take that, Amazon. The annual celebration is marking its 17th year, bringing attention to independent record stores globally by stocking the limited-release vinyls and other goodies. In Canada this year, Record Store Day takes place on April 20 with a bevy of releases from homegrown and international musical outfits. Arrive early, as there are usually lineups! Among this year’s releases is a live album from iconic Canadian alt-rockers The Tragically Hip (who are the Canadian ambassadors for this year’s event) from their 1993 performance at CBGB’s—the famed NYC venue and record shop that kickstarted the careers of bands like The Ramones and Blondie.

Dubai, UAE | Crate Digging in UAE: Dubai’s Best Vinyl Stores. With a universe of digital streaming platforms at our fingerprints, accessibility to music has never been easier. Despite this overwhelming supply of algorithmically-curated content however, our desire for analog hardware remains fixed in our DNA. The crate digging expeditions, the pop and crackle of the needle, and even the spine-curling sound of a scratched LP contribute to the overall tactility of the vinyl experience; the nostalgia emanating from a record is deeply ingrained in the interaction between the listener and equipment. With a growing demand for retro sound systems, the crisp and warm imperfections of spinning discs have become a physical manifestation of history in its sonic form. Hopping on this trend, vinyl advocates across Dubai strive to recreate this authentic experience with various spaces catering to this growing demand.

Stroud, UK | Stroud’s oldest record store to close: Popular record shop owner Simon Vincent has announced the closure of a record shop that has been part of the Stroud music scene for four decades. Trading Post on Kendrick Street is to close next month after 47 years of trading, but will operate online through its eBay Shop, Facebook page and www.tradingpostrecords.com. Simon also plans to have a presence at The Subscription Rooms. Popular record shop owner Simon Vincent has announced the closure of a record shop that has been part of the Stroud music scene for four decades. Trading Post on Kendrick Street is to close next month after 47 years of trading, but will operate online through its eBay Shop, Facebook page and www.tradingpostrecords.com. Simon also plans to have a presence at The Subscription Rooms. “The Trading Post has been part of Stroud for 47 years and I know that so many of us have grown up with it and, like me, have many fond memories of it.”

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Record Store Day 2024 List Is Announced! Indie Stores Celebrate With These Titles on Saturday, April 20th: Those are just a few of the artists who are proclaiming their love for the culture of indie record stores by having a special release available as part of this year’s Record Store Day. Now in its seventeenth year, Record Store Day 2024 on April 20 is looking to be one of the best parties record stores have ever thrown. A complete list of the releases (and other exciting elements of the world’s largest single-day music event) can be found at recordstoreday.com.

Dundee, UK | Keith Ingram on championing local bands: ‘We’re trying to do the things that record shops should do.’ With a third branch of Assai now up and running, owner Keith Ingram tells us how he founded Scotland’s fastest growing record shop. After a decade working at HMV, Dundee-based music-lover Keith Ingram was determined to start his very own record shop. When a first attempt in Stirling didn’t quite go to plan, Assai got its start online. ‘We were a top ten Amazon seller but completely under the radar. Nobody really knew much about us,’ recalls Ingram as we speak in the recently opened Glasgow shop, Assai’s third branch since the flagship Dundee store opened in 2015. Now having built a large community of record enthusiasts, Assai caters to a wide variety of genres, including pop, metal and hip hop. ‘We curate what’s in the shop so there is something for everybody,’ explains Ingram.

Dallas, TX | Good Records Celebrated Its 24th Anniversary With Brainiac’s First Dallas Show in 27 Years. Balloons, Buc-ee’s and Brainiac: the Good Records anniversary had it all. This week, Good Records celebrated a milestone. The shop turned 24, its third anniversary of being able to legally drink and its last year of being eligible to date Leonardo DiCaprio. On Saturday, one of Dallas’ most venerated record stores—which long stood on a Greenville Avenue corner before moving to Garland Road—celebrated the occasion with a big bash at Deep Ellum Art Co. The party was headlined by none other than Brainiac (also known as 3RA1N1AC), the first appearance in Dallas by the Dayton, Ohio, experimental rock greats in 27 years. Opening the stacked bill were Cincinnati cello rockers Lung (who are opening the bands’ tour) and Dallas’ own Baboon and Def Rain.

UK | As HMV eyes expansion, owner Doug Putman talks new opportunities, vinyl, CD and the first five years: Since its rescue by Doug Putman five years ago, the entertainment retail chain has got to a point where it’s now expanding once again, having survived the impact of Covid on High Street retail. Following its return to the London flagship store in November 2023, and Music Week’s report on a rare CD sales increase, the company recently issued positive financial results. For the 12 months ending May 30, HMV’s parent company reported that revenue increased by 18% year-on-year to £177.9 million. …The company has transitioned HMV to a contemporary retail offering with 43 HMV Shop concept stores, which now accounts for the majority of revenue. As well as exporting the concept to Ireland and Belgium, the business is “actively seeking to open both HMV and Fopp stores in new locations.”

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Sudbury, UK | Rewind Records opening new shop selling vinyl in Sudbury: A new shop selling vinyl records from ABBA and AC/DC, to Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift, is set to open soon in a market town. Martin and Jenny Hay met when they were working at Compact Music in Sudbury and bonded over their love for music and desire to open their own record store. After leaving to work for Royal Mail and as a teaching assistant, the couple are taking back their passion for music and are opening up a new store. “I just wanted my music shop back and with vinyl sales on the rise again it just felt like the right time,” said Mr Hay. “This has all happened so quickly. We only spoke to the current owners of the unit last week.” The shop, called Rewind Records, will sell new and used vinyl records from a wide range of solo artists and bands. “Others in the area have been great with helping grow the collection, especially Gary at Groove Yard in Felixstowe,” said Mrs Hay.

Alhambra, CA | Str33t Records In Alhambra Curates Music, And Creates Community: Being a business owner in Alhambra is a full circle experience for Angelle Laigo. She grew up here, took piano lessons in this neighborhood at Pedrini Music when she was a kid and still sings in the choir at her local church. Her father started a community newspaper here after immigrating to the U.S. from the Philippines. He called it Street News. And here, on Main Street, is Str33t Records — Laigo’s homage to her father’s newspaper, community and her love of vinyl (Fun fact: the full name of the shop’s logo is Str33t Records ⅓, which is a nod to the revolutions per minute that records spin). “Str33t Records is the continuing legacy… of my family,” she says. “It’s a family passion project. I really couldn’t have done this without my entire family.” …Record stores “are gems in the communities that they’re in because they will have music that you won’t see” on modern streaming platforms, Laigo adds.

Wellington, UK | Wellington-based vinyl shop to join Record Store Day: A record store that opened last year has been the only one between Bristol and Exeter to be selected for Record Store Day. The 303 Records shop, based in Wellington, was accepted for the prestigious event. The store originally opened outside Ilminster in 2022 but owner Andy Ware thought a high street location was key to the business’s success. He said: “We set up the shop in November 2022 on a business park just outside Ilminster, after a few months we decided a high street location was going to be key to its success, we looked at a few different shops in Taunton, but high rent and crippling rates meant things were not going to be viable. “This is when we found the emporium in Wellington, we liked the ethos behind the workings and opened in Wellington in September 2023. “Wellington is full of independent shops and has free on-street parking for shoppers, what’s not to like?

Newcastle, UK | Dizzee Rascal visits Newcastle record store for album signing event with fans: The rap star visited Reflex records in Newcastle city centre on Tuesday night to sign copies of his new album, ‘Don’t Take It Personally’ Dizzee Rascal delighted Geordie fans when he visited a Newcastle record store to sign copies of his new album. The ‘Bonkers’ hitmaker held a special event at Reflex record store on Nun Street in the city centre on Tuesday night (February 13) to mark the release of his new album, ‘Don’t Take It Personally.’ The event, advertised on his Instagram page, drew a large number of fans who queued out the door to meet the rapper. Wearing a black and silver tracksuit and matching cap, Dizzee cut a cheerful figure as he greeted the crowd before heading inside the store. The event was part of the promotion of his ‘Don’t Take It Personally’ tour which saw him perform to a sold-out Liverpool crowd earlier this month. The 2003 Mercury prize winner is also set to perform sold-out shows in Brussels and Amsterdam on the European leg of the tour later this month.

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Brighton, UK | Crowd surfing and moshing in Brighton record shop: On my journey to Resident record shop in the heart of North Laine, I was pondering as to how on earth local heroes Snayx (stylized as SNAYX) would be going about their business for the launch of their brand new ‘Better Days’ EP, which had dropped on Friday 9th February. Surely they wouldn’t be up to their usual antics, would they? I mean, it’s an event inside a record shop, you know the sort of thing, where the likes of The Last Dinner Party sit on stools and play a four tune acoustic set lasting 18 minutes, you know just like that! Maybe the terrible trio of Charlie Herridge, Ollie Horner and Lainey Nix-Watson aka ‘Lainey Loops’ would also be politely sitting in a row by the counter with Charlie quietly singing to us, Ollie carefully plucking his bass and Lainey maybe tapping away at a record box or something.

Cambridge, ON | Cambridge vinyl market aims to keep love of records alive: Farm League Brewing is hosting a vinyl record market on March 9. When Harold Jacques looks back on his childhood he doesn’t visualize the memories, he hears them. Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers and Elvis Presley on the record player were the sounds of his youth thanks to a father who was obsessed with music. It didn’t take long for Jacques to form a love of his own as he began collecting vinyl records as a teenager. “When I was growing up, my dad was a big music guy and it was always playing in my house,” Jacques said. “I started buying vinyls when I saw my dad’s collection.” In the years since, his goal has been to share his love with others, including at an upcoming event at Farm League Brewing on March 9. The vinyl market features vendors sharing, selling and spinning their collections with the community. The entry fee is $2 with the proceeds being donated to the Cambridge Food Bank.

CA | Remembering Sam the Record Man as the last store closes: Like a lot of Canadians, I received a lot of music music education by wandering around a Sam the Record Man store. In my case, I’d be dropped off at the Garden City Shopping Centre in Winnipeg while my mom took my sister to music lessons. I spent untold hours flicking through the racks, watching what other people bought, examining the Top 40 singles display, and paying attention to what was playing on the store stereo. I could only afford to buy so much on the meagre amount I earned through part-time jobs, but I almost always went home with something. There was also this magical looseleaf book on a metal stand that purportedly listed the artist, title, and catalogue number of every record in existence. Submit your request to a clerk and in a mere three to six weeks, that record would be delivered to the store.

Phoenix, AZ | Phoenix Record Lovers Flock to Inaugural Cactus Music Market in Downtown Hello Lincoln: Phoenix’s vinyl enthusiasts are spinning with excitement as the dust settles from the inaugural Cactus Music Market. Held at the Hello Lincoln event space downtown, this event united record stores from all over the city under one roof, offering a haven for collectors and audiophiles alike. As Phoenix New Times reports, visitors to the market could sift through crates of records, buy cacti to match their plant-and-vinyl aesthetic, and relish in Phoenix’s bustling record store scene. The market, which drew no cost to attendees, is the brainchild of Hello Merch co-founder Sam Means, who, “Our event space was supposed to launch four years ago but COVID ruined those plans. Now that we’re past that we wanted to show off the space and invite all our record store, and label friends to come hang out with us here.” said, in a statement obtained by Phoenix New Times. Means’s love for records shines through in this celebration of the local music community.

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Grand Haven, MI | Couple buys record store to keep the music spinning in the community: After the previous owner needed to sell the shop, current owners Benji and Angie Stone knew they had to step up to keep the doors open. A quick question was turned into a dream come true. “I went home and I said, Hey, do you want to buy a record store? And she said yes,” said co-owner of “Off the Record” Benji Stone. Benji and his wife Angie, both from Michigan, went out and explored later in life but found their way back home. “It’s a really driving force for both of us to make a positive impact on this community,” said Benji. The shop has been part of Grand Haven for nearly 14 years, with each owner adding their own improvements along the way. “This room was kind of just underutilized. It was $1 record bin, it was cold, it was teal, I just wanted a space where I could hang out. And I was like, What do I have to offer? So I thought I could make delicious coffee and tea and just hang out,” said Angie. They say making a safe, judgment-free space for all was top priority.

Houston, TX | Downtown bar Off the Record can now sell vinyl with its cocktails: Veteran DJ and record shop owner Adrian de la Cerda is now overseeing Off the Record’s vinyl inventory. Last Saturday afternoon, the downtown Houston bar Off the Record finally launched its adjoining record store, and there was a lot of crate-digging going on that day. Many vinyl-heads—including veteran DJ Flash Gordon Parks and vinyl vendor Alicia Cannady of Good Stuff Records—showed up to the space that patrons step into first before entering the record-covered speakeasy, thumbing through the vintage LPs and 12-inch promo singles that have been sitting on the shelves since its opening late last year. In the past, customers have hit the bar with armfuls of records that weren’t for sale yet, asking bartenders how much. Sitting in a wheelchair and greeting everybody at the door on this day was Adrian de la Cerda, the store’s new proprietor. Running a record business isn’t new for him.

Seward, NE | Seward’s only record store closing down after just a year and a half: A record store in Seward is closing its doors this month after being in business for only a year and a half. Casey Sorensen-Kindt, one of the owners, says he and his wife have always loved music and discovered the record business while antiquing. From there they opened “Put the Needle on the Record” in Oklahoma, before moving to Seward to be closer to family. “It was profitable, it was fun,” Sorensen-Kindt said. “The closest next record store is in Lincoln and so it was nice to have it here in a small town. Something different.” He said running a small business in a small town can be difficult, but they received a lot of support from both Seward and Lincoln. The decision to close came because of the amount of time it takes to keep the store up and running. People have told Sorensen-Kindt it’s their favorite store they’ve seen in years, so it was a tough decision to close.

Whitchurch, UK | Record shop owner who lost his job turns his passion into a business and couldn’t be happier: “You are only on this planet once,” says Mark Fulton, the proud owner of The Vinyl Countdown in Whitchurch. “And, so, you should do what you enjoy rather than chasing the dollar all the time.” Mark has been true to his word. He’s turned to hobby into a business and he couldn’t be happier. He had, for many years, a job in the corporate world, working in construction sales. It was a good job, well paid and he met some great people. But he confesses he would get up and go out to work for the money rather than fully enjoying what he was doing. Life is very short, Mark says, and so, there came a point when he wanted change. He left his job and, in many ways, that was the spur he needed. Five months ago, music-obsessed Mark decided he wanted to try and turn his passion of vinyl collecting into a job. The Vinyl Countdown was born and the rest is history.

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Newly Independent Paramore Are Record Store Day’s 2024 Ambassadors: “We Are Going To Continue To Have A Long Career” Paramore freaked out fans by wiping their socials and backing out of festival performances, but it turned out they’re getting ready for the next chapter now that their contract with Atlantic Records is up. The band has been named this year’s Ambassadors for Record Store Day, and they put out a statement discussing the honor as well as their new independence from their label. “The timing feels kismet,” they wrote on Instagram, maybe because their latest album This Is Why came out exactly a year ago today. But in the statement, they make it clear that there’s a lot more in store.

Charleston, SC | Monster Music celebrates 20 years of business: If you’re a local music lover, you’ve likely visited the widely loved West Ashley record store, Monster Music & Movies. Though it was opened during a time of declining CD sales, the store has not only survived but thrived over the last 20 years due to a resurgence of popularity in vinyl sales. The record store represents the core of what record collectors all have in common: a deep love of music. And for Galen Hudson, the longtime general manager and, as of this year, the store’s new owner, his life’s path has been guided by his love of music. Hudson said he became a “record nerd” while growing up in the 1980s in Chapel Hill, N.C. “I just couldn’t get enough of it — learning about new artists, new music. There’s this sense of discovery that happens at a record store. When I got out of college, naturally, I got a job at a record store,” he said.

Cheshire, UK | Sadness as much-loved Cheshire record store and bar announces shock closure: The owner of Electric Church in Winsford says the decision has been made ‘with a heavy heart.’ The owner of a much-loved Winsford record store, coffee shop and bar has announced the venue will be closing its doors for good after seven years. The Electric Church confirmed the news last night (February 8), adding that it will remain open for a short period before it permanently shuts. In a post on its Facebook page, owner Jimi Coppack said the decision had been made “with a heavy heart”. He explained: “It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing the closure of The Electric Church. We have had some great times over the near seven year operation of the business. …Thank you to those that have offered their continued support. We will be open for a short while and any support during this time would be greatly appreciated. Here’s to new beginnings and the end of dark days.”

Redwood City, CA | Meet the couples behind 3 vibrant Peninsula businesses: These duos are partners in business and life. Here’s how they balance work and make time for each other. Nudie Records was founded out of Elise and Luke Gasper’s Half Moon Bay home in 2020 and has taken off since then, championing indie artists, spanning genres including psychedelic, honky tonk and rock ’n’ roll, and releasing more than 20 albums (with 11 released in 2023 alone). “We spent a couple years saying yes to everything,” Elise said. …They’ve found that running the label gives them a welcome creative outlet as a couple apart from their busy identities as parents. “It has been really amazing for us,” Elise said, recalling brainstorming for Nudie Records late at night while the kids were in bed and a hectic recent weekday morning scrambling to get children up, fed, dressed and out the door while also preparing social media posts to get the word out on their latest record.

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CA | The Tragically Hip announced as Record Store Day Canada 2024 ambassadors: The Tragically Hip are proud to be announced as the Record Store Day Canada 2024 Canadian Ambassadors, releasing an exclusive standalone live album, Live at CBGB’s, on Record Store Day. The Tragically Hip have been chosen as the Record Store Day Canada 2024 Canadian Ambassadors, releasing an exclusive standalone live album, Live at CBGB’s, on Record Store Day. The global celebration of the culture of independent record stores takes place this year on April 20, 2024, as it has annually for the last 17 years. …Live At CBGB’s features nine live songs that were originally recorded on January 14, 1993, from the legendary New York venue CBGB’s as The Tragically Hip launched their third studio album, Fully Completely, in America with a private event from the intimate space. The band performed the record in full, omitting a few tracks that didn’t fit the bill. This concert recording will be available on April 20th for the first time as a 12” pink vinyl at participating record stores in Canada and the U.S.

Corpus Christi, TX | Why are vinyl records still so popular? According to this report,vinyl sales grew for the 17th consecutive year in 2023. KRIS 6 spoke to the store manager of Disc Go Round, Jason Dubose, to hear why he thinks records are making a comeback. “I’ve almost looked at as there’s a ceremonial aspect to it. You have to pick the record out from your collection. You have to take it out very carefully and gently and touch it a certain way. And you have to put it down just right. Not only do you have to pick a song you want, you’re going to put it down on that first track and it just spins for the next 30 or so minutes,” said Dubose. He also adds the aspect of being able to hold the media physically. Jason Dubs Store Manager Disc Go Round with streaming music, you can’t touch something, you can’t feel it. With records, there’s definitely that sense of I can commune, l can touch with this record. I feel part of the artist. They have a story on the back. They put liner notes where they talk about who wrote the song or what they put into it,” said Dubose.

London, ON | Grooves Records taking over Village Idiot space to open new location in Wortley Village: ‘We came to what I think is a mutually beneficial arrangement,’ Village Idiot’s owner says. One beloved London, Ont., record store is passing the torch to another beloved record store. After announcing his plans to retire last year, the owner of the Village Idiot in Wortley Village has confirmed that Grooves Records will be taking over the space this spring to open a second location. It’s a win-win proposition, says Robert Charles-Dunne, who has operated the store at the corner of Wortley Road and Askin Street for more than 23 years. “We came to what I think is a mutually beneficial arrangement,” he told CBC News on Monday. “Three of the boxes I wanted to tick have been ticked,” he said. “First, was that I wanted to retire — and I’m doing that. The second thing is I wanted it to remain a record store, and it is. And the third thing was that I wanted the staff to have the opportunity to work in the new location, and that’s being extended to them.”

Scotland, UK | Vinyl: Why Scotland’s retro revolution isn’t simply music industry spin: Dave Harvey has a recurring nightmare. In it, a 14 year old is given a gift by an older relative, a round piece of plastic, pressed onto which are formative recordings that could go on to shape the teenager’s musical taste for the rest of their life. Or not, in Dave’s nightmare. “It’s a wonderful present to give your nieces or nephews or sons or daughters: a record that they’ll take enjoyment from for a long long time,” said Harvey, owner of Scotland’s first vinyl pressing plant, Sea Bass. “But my worst nightmare is giving a 14 year old a birthday present of a piece of vinyl that has an issue. We are absolutely determined to make a product that we are proud of, that people take pleasure from, and will listen to over and over again.” Harvey has put his money where his mouth is. The 52-year-old Dubliner, and his French wife Dominique, have self-financed Sea Bass Vinyl, the first factory in Scotland to make vinyl records.

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Belleville, ON | The last Sam the Record Man store in Canada could be closing soon: The store owners says ‘they are exploring options’ to keep the store open after they retire. The last Sam the Record Man store in Canada could soon be closing soon. The beloved Canadian record store closed its Yonge Street location in Toronto in 2007. However, one store location in Belleville, Ontario, that many people might not know about has kept the brand alive all these years afterward. The Belleville store is located in the Quinte Mall and has been the only Sam the Record Man store standing since the Sarnia location closed more than a decade ago. The store owners posted on Facebook that after 45 years in business, they’ve decided to retire. People took to the post’s comments on Facebook to reminisce about Sam the Record Man and congratulate the owners on retirement. In a statement to Quinte News, the shop owner reportedly said, “They are exploring options to keep the store running while they go into retirement.” So the store closing isn’t guaranteed just yet.

Tiong Bahru, SG | Ronggeng Records: This record store tucked away in Tiong Bahru has rare Southeast Asian vinyl: Owner Shahrem used to be the keyboardist in his rock band, YingYang. If you find yourself near Kim Cheng Street from Wednesday to Sunday and catch melodies emanating from a corner, we strongly recommend following the music. That will lead you straight to Ronggeng Records, a charming vinyl store that is stocked to the brim with rare vinyl gems. Vinyl collecting has been quite the rave in recent years – everyone wants in on the analogue experience. Digitalisation being the future is inevitable, but many people find charm in looking backwards instead. The charm and tactility of analogue craft is something digitalisation can never parallel, and Shahrem Selamat, owner of Ronggeng Records, embodies just that, proving that analogue music will live on. “I opened this shop out of passion because I love music. In the late 80s and 90s, I was in a rock band. I still keep in contact with my bandmate. He is now repairing vintage music equipment,” Shahrem shares.

Cape Girardeau, MO | Spectrum Record Lounge hosts first listening session to celebrate Black History Month: A record store in downtown Cape Girardeau is celebrating Black History Month by highlighting artists who have made an impact around the world. Every Tuesday this month, the music played at Spectrum Record Lounge will only be from Black artists, ranging from hip-hop and rap, to jazz and afrobeat, to soul and R&B. Today was Bob Marley’s birthday, so to kick off the listening session, it was a day full of dub and reggae. Owner Travis Tyson said this is a great opportunity to expose people to music they have never heard before. ”Just important to get that silent music out and make sure that people know like the integral part that they were for the history of music as a whole,” he said. Tyson told us all of his staff chose Black History Month picks for customers to enjoy. Taylor Scott, an employee at the lounge, said this month-long celebration is the perfect way to learn more about some of their favorite genres and artists.

New Braunfels, TX | Full Circle: Yard Sale Records set to open first store in New Braunfels: Scottish-born music collector bringing Texas-based vinyl to town on March 1. Soon, New Braunfels residents will no longer have to take a spin over to Canyon Lake or Austin to find a Yard Sale Records booth at a market. In a month, the business will have an in-person location in New Braunfels. While Howard Lovell, owner of Yard Sale Records, was born in Scotland, his Texas upbringing influenced his taste in music. “The store is gonna be very Texas music-based, so it’s kind of like if you take ZZ Top or Doug Sahm and break them down into their influences; that’s the kind of sounds that’s gonna be part of my store,” Lovell said. “So Texas roots, blues, country jazz, everything — kind of Texas focused with a little roots based.” Lovell began his vinyl journey when he was 17 years old. “Records were like $3, $5 apiece, and CDs were $15, $20 apiece, and I thought, ‘Well, I can buy three records for the price of one CD, so I’ll do that,’ and I just never stopped,” Lovell said.

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Los Angeles, CA | A guide to the best record stores around LA: Here is a comprehensive list to dive into the city’s local crate-digging scene. Amoeba Music is undoubtedly one of the best places to shop for anything music along with their wide selection of movies, books and other merchandise and memorabilia. Many USC students are also likely familiar with shopping at The Last Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles for their books and vinyl. However, there are plenty more smaller brick-and-mortar record stores in the L.A. area that can give students a taste of the local music scene.

London, ON | Downtown record store Grooves expands into Wortley Village: The spirit of a beloved Old South record store will rock on as another longtime London music retailer moves into its space. The spirit of a beloved Old South record store will rock on as another longtime London music retailer moves into its space. Grooves Records is taking over the location of the Village Idiot in Wortley Village, a second store the music retailer is hoping to have up and running in the coming months. “It’s a tried and true, excellent spot,” said Troy Hutchison, owner of Grooves. “The Village Idiot’s lease was up so we’re going to slip into the location. . . . The timing of it all just worked out so perfectly. It just seemed like this was meant to be, that it was the thing to do.” …Filled to the brim with vinyl and bolstered by a loyal customer base, the business had been looking to expand to a new spot, Hutchison said.

Flintshire, UK | VOD record store to host events at Mold Daniel Owen Centre: A popular Flintshire music shop celebrates a milestone this week. VOD record shop, in Mold, marks 15 years, with the VOD record fairs now entering their 19th. 2024 will see a concentration of all their record fairs in Mold. Organiser Colin Trueman said: “We have enjoyed taking the fairs on tour over the years but 2024 offers the opportunity to focus on our home town and bring three events to the Daniel Owen Community Centre in spring, summer and winter. “As always all our events will be free entry and the slightly smaller set up of 18 tables allows us to rotate dealers for each event, and also bring in a new guest dealer for all of the three record fairs. “Such has been the interest, all stalls are fully booked for the year, which just shows the interest from the record dealer community.” All genres and formats will be covered for the events, including vinyl, CDs, cassettes, and memorabilia.

Everett, WA | New Edmonds record shop intends to be a ‘destination for every musician.’ Rachel Gardner opened Musicology Co. this month, filling a record store gap in Edmonds. Rachel Gardner was born in the back of a music shop. Now she’s opening one of her own in Edmonds. Musicology Co. opened Feb. 1 at 420 Fifth Ave. S., Suite 107, the former home of jewelry store Elegant Gems. Her record shop/music boutique houses close to 4,000 records in stock on top of CDs, band merchandise, consignment instruments and anything local artists are selling to support their work, Gardner said. She also plans to open an online store. The 45-year-old Edmonds resident said her shop is about much more than making a profit. She wants it to be “something that honors music in general.” It’s intended to be a place where musicians can connect directly with fans. A wooden platform in one corner serves as a stage for open mics, solo performances and workshops.

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CA | Vinyl records outsold (and out-grossed) CDs in Canada again last week: It’s fascinating to read through Luminate’s weekly music consumption stats, especially when it comes to the sales of vinyl vs. CD. Vinyl has been on a tear in Canada since the beginning of the year, selling 43.4% more units than in January 2023. For the month, 127,688 pieces of new vinyl were sold across the country. Compare that to CD sales, which sit at 117,136, a 15.3% decline over the same period last year. And because vinyl is more expensive than CDs (crazy, I know), the revenues it generates are substantially higher. What year is this again? Let’s focus on just last week. Canadians bought 26,023 vinyl albums (+10.3% from the previous week), not counting sales of used records through indie stores and record stores (those are pretty much impossible to track). Meanwhile, 26,701 CDs, just 678 units more and 17.2% more than a week earlier. I’m going to give credit to Green Day for that with the release of their Saviors album.

Oslo, NO | “It was more run by idealism rather than good business sense.” The story of notorious Norwegian record store Helvete. Euronymous quickly built a sense of unity, especially from mid-1991, when, with the help of friends including Stian ‘Occultus’ Johansen (of early Norwegian black metal acts Perdition Hearse, Abhorrent/ Thyabhorrent and briefly Mayhem) and Marius Vold (of Mortem and Thorns), he opened a record store in Oslo. Named Helvete, the Norwegian word for hell, its primary role was as a focal point for the scene, providing a place for those in the scene to hang out in the day and party or sleep during the night. “Øystein told me straight after Dead shot himself, ‘We don’t want to have the house anymore, but I’m thinking to start a shop in Oslo’,” explains Marius. “‘Yes, you should do that, a place where we can hang out’. So he called me again when he started it and said, ‘Come down.’

Danville, IL | Danville’s newest dispensary to sell cannabis with a side of music: Seven Point Danville cannabis dispensary CEO Brad Zerman will take advantage of the vinyl-record upswing when he opens his business this spring. “We’re going to have new and re-released vinyl of all genres throughout the store,” Zerman said. The vinyl will be displayed on the walls adjacent to the cannabis displays. In keeping with the music theme, concert videos will be streamed with music playing throughout the store. Vinyl sales have continued to climb in the last decade and a half. In 2023, American consumers bought more than 49 million vinyl albums, a 14 percent increase from the year before. Zerman said he believes consumers want vinyl because “there’s no comparison between the whole experience.” “There’s no art or special lyrics that bands put on the cover” of CDs and other packaging, he said. Seven Point—named because the leaves of many varieties of cannabis have seven points—will open April 20. “That’s the international pot holiday.”

Winchester, KY | Ale-8-One Releases Popular LoFi Vinyl Featuring Popular ASMR Elements: In collaboration with advertisement and production company Powerfulbeats, Kentucky’s iconic soda brand Ale-8-One launches a unique LoFi vinyl experience. The Vinyl offers a captivating blend of LoFi music coupled with ASMR elements, the ultra-popular sensory audio experience that has taken over social media. Powerfulbeats founder John Power, whose work includes Ale-8-One’s recent musical jingle, played an integral role in bringing the Vinyl to fruition. With an extensive portfolio of big brand creative campaigns, Power delivers an immersive sensory audio experience. Key Features of Ale-8’s double-sided vinyl include a selection of LoFi Beats and a compilation of sounds from the Ale-8-One factory in the ASMR format.

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Toronto, CA | Entertainment brand HMV making comeback through Toys “R” Us locations: A blast from the past is coming to Toys “R” Us Canada. HMV, the entertainment brand that departed the country seven years ago, said this week that it has begun selling merchandise in five of the toy retailer’s Ontario locations. A blast from the past is coming to Toys “R” Us Canada. HMV, the entertainment brand that departed the country seven years ago, said this week that it has begun selling merchandise in five of the toy retailer’s Ontario locations. The rollout will continue across other Toys “R” Us Canada stores this spring, it said. Products for sale in the HMV-branded sections include CDs, DVDs, vinyl, record players and other collector items like T-shirts and books. …David Soberman, a marketing professor at the University of Toronto, said that reviving HMV’s brand this way is “an interesting idea” that takes advantage of current retail trends.

Milwaukee, WI | Bullseye Records will close, reopen under new ownership as Irving Place Records: After nearly 20 years, change is coming to a certain record store at 1627 E. Irving Pl. on the East Side. But don’t worry—the change won’t be too drastic. The venerable Bullseye Records will close its doors on March 31. According to a press release, longtime owner Luke Lavin will “pivot” from the record store game and “go on to a different path which will find him doing some soul-searching and considering new employment.” Enter longtime (and sole) Bullseye employee Terry Hackbarth. With the blessing of Lavin, Hackbarth—along with friend and fellow musician Don Kurth—has bought out Bullseye’s current inventory. Hackbarth and Kurth will reopen the store as Irving Place Records. The pair is aiming for a grand opening on April 20, 2024—Record Store Day. “I mostly look at it as carrying on a Milwaukee tradition,” Hackbarth tells Milwaukee Record.”

Dundas, CA | Popular Dundas record store is closing its doors after 45 years: A gem of a record store in Dundas is closing its doors later this year after almost a half-century in business. Records on Wheels has been a Downtown Dundas favourite for 45 years, located at 34 King Street East since 1979 and serving as a treasure trove for new and used vinyl in a variety of genres. However, shop owner Mike Clasen recently shared news through social media that Records on Wheels will be permanently closing its storefront, with the final date in business set for May 31st. “Thanks to everyone for your continued support over the years,” wrote Clasen in a brief Instagram post. However, it’s not completely the end for Clasen’s career in vinyl sales; he also plans to move to selling records on Facebook and other online platforms beginning this fall, where he’ll surely continue offering new gems and older finds. Ahead of the official closure in May, Records on Wheels plans to have a large inventory sale and discount club. News on that will be shared in the weeks to come.

Starkville, MS | Scott Thomas is keeping music alive: Scooter’s, owned by Scott Thomas, is not just a record store. It’s a dream brought to life. Thomas, known fondly as Scooter, opened the store in 2017. The nickname was an unlikely choice for what would come to be the name of the iconic store, but Thomas has cultivated a space that goes beyond just selling a record. From classic rock to the soundtrack of Wicked, Scooter’s boasts an extensive collection that reflects the diverse tastes of its clientele. Each record tells a story, and Thomas is always eager to share his wealth of knowledge with anyone who walks through the door. For Thomas, it’s all about the music. He always knew that he wanted to own a record store or at the very least be involved in one, but with the popularity of them dwindling and more people turning to CDs or streaming platforms, Thomas just didn’t think that it was feasible. Little did he know that in a decade or two, records would once again be all the rage and he would finally be able to open his dream store.

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Boise, ID | Historical music shop records Idaho’s music history: A shop with quite a lot of music history in the Treasure Valley is turning the tables and helping to document the region’s musical history. The Record Exchange, which opened 43 years ago in Boise, is partnering with Boise State University to create an archive of not only the shop’s history but the Idaho music scene. Musicians who have or had ties to the state are being sought in the effort to archive local history. According to a release from BSU, the project was initiated by Special Collections and Archives at Albertson Library and Cora Lee Oxley, a former employee of The Record Exchange and BSU humanities and cultural studies student. The partnership “aims to highlight and preserve a local music history through the lens of The Record Exchange, which was founded in 1977 and has worked to champion and support Boise and Idaho musicians.”

Los Angeles, CA | In West Adams, High-Fidelity Record Store Serves The Historic Jazz Community: High-Fidelity Records is nestled next to shops and business in a changing area of West Adams, an unexpected sight as you walk or drive by. But when you step in, take in the music in the record shop and meet the owners, you understand why it belongs in this neighborhood. “A lot of the artists and musicians found homes in these areas, West Adams, a little further south, Baldwin Hills. And they’ve become historic neighborhoods for music and musicians,” Ray Limon, co-owner of High-Fidelity, says. Just down the street there’s the headquarters of indie label Delicious Vinyl (and Delicious Pizza) that’s been around for over three decades. West Adams had a popping club scene, attracting musicians from all over the country as the jazz movement swelled from 1920s to the 1950s. Hollywood stars like Hattie McDaniel lived in this area, as racist housing covenants denied people of color from buying and renting in certain neighborhoods.

Amherst, NS | ‘He would have been really proud’: N.S. record store closing soon: Every Saturday morning for the past three years, Brendan Cooney has opened up his downtown Amherst, N.S., record store, but those Saturdays are numbered. The owner of East Coast Records is closing his store in March. A career opportunity has come up that Cooney just can’t pass up and juggling two careers is too much to handle. “The store was always supposed to be a hobby. It was supposed to be just a cool place to hang out and build a community. It’s hard to do that when you’re working full time as well,” said Cooney. …Owning a record store was always a dream for him, so in the fall of 2021 he opened the brick and mortar shop on Havelock Street. “Since I was a kid, my dad got me into vinyl. He was a huge audiophile,” said Cooney. “The first thing I ever listened to was Rush, “2112.” It kind of spiraled from there.”

Shepherds Bush, UK | Shepherds Bush DJ moves soundsystem night to Goldhawk Road pub: A Shepherds Bush DJ is moving his popular soundsystem night to Goldhawk Road. Dan Green – who DJs under the name Daddy Long Legs – is moving his vinyl-only ‘Top Banana’ soundsystem night to O’Donoghues Pub at 174 Goldhawk Road, Shepherds Bush, on Friday (2 February). It follows five years of spinning tunes at the nearby Pocketwatch Pub in Uxbridge Road before the pub recently shut. Dan said: “After five years at the Pocketwatch watching the nights really take off, it’s exciting to move to a bigger venue.” As always, Friday’s party is free and is the start of a twice-monthly night specialising in vintage reggae, soul and funk records played on his custom-made soundsystem. The next night will be Friday 9 February. Doors open at 8pm. When not playing out, Dan also hosts a weekly Saturday radio show on Shepherds Bush-based station HOT 96 from noon to 2pm.

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NY | 18 top vinyl record store destinations in upstate New York: As the Baby Boomers will rightly recall, our lives changed when we bought our first record player and spent our chore money on records, both 45s and albums. Music freedom at last!! Vinyl records are huge right now. New ones are out there in big numbers, and at big prices. In fact, too big in my opinion. So, we settle for the used vinyl that we had, loved, through away, and now yearn for back. They are much cheaper than new vinyl re-issues, and are far more enjoyable to listen to, even with the errant pop, hiss, and dust moozy clogging things up a bit. Where just a few years ago a vinyl record store was a rare and much appreciated thing, today they are in almost every town, village, and shopping mall. In this gallery we find 18 great places to get your vinyl groove on.

Dundas, ON | Celebrated record store in Dundas closing doors after 45 years: Records on Wheels is scheduled to close on May 31. My record collection is something I take pride in, but it got off to a rough start. I was eight years old and a newbie Beatles fan when my dad landed home with a long-playing album that featured two of my favourites from the Fab Four — “She Loves You” and “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.” I played that cherished LP over and over. Drove my family crazy. Many months later, a friend took a close look at the cover. “That’s not The Beatles,” he said. “It’s some group called ‘The Buggs.’ ” Sure enough, it was “The Buggs. With the Beetle beat … The original Liverpool sound. Recorded in England.” They were sound-alike pretenders, hiding behind misleading cover notes and a dimly-lit photo of four mop-topped band members. I’d been had. Talk about misspent youth.

UK | HMV profits jump thanks to vinyl revival: HMV’s profits have more than doubled after a boom in demand for vinyl records helped power a turnaround at the once-struggling retailer. Pre-tax profits at Sunrise Records & Entertainment, which owns HMV and the retailer Fopp, rose from £2m to £5.3m in the 12 months to May 2023, newly filed accounts show. Sales grew from £151m to £178m. Doug Putman, the Canadian businessman who owns the company, said: “Sales growth is representative of the continued revival of vinyl but also of our expanded pop-culture, anime and K-pop offerings, which have growing fan bases amongst younger audiences.” …Nearly six million vinyl records were sold last year, with albums from Harry Styles and Taylor Swift among the best-sellers. HMV has embraced vinyl and now claims it accounts for more than half of sales in the country in some weeks.

Long Beach, CA | VIP Records founder, who helped shape the West Coast music scene, dies at 82: Members of the music industry, especially local fans and artists, are mourning the loss of VIP Records founder Cletus Anderson — a visionary who helped shape the West Coast music scene and created the chain of shops that became a breeding ground for Long Beach’s musical talent. On Sunday, Jan. 28, surrounded by his children, his wife, family, and friends in his home in Mississippi, Cletus Anderson lost his battle with gallbladder cancer, passing away peacefully in his sleep at 82. Anderson opened the first VIP Records in 1967. In 1978, he opened the Long Beach location on the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. He eventually sold that location to his brother, Kelvin Anderson Sr. By the 1990s, and with continued influence from Cletus Anderson, VIP Records became a haven for young people who wanted to escape the violence in the neighborhood by focusing on their musical talent.

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Nashville, TN | ‘It makes me really uncomfortable.’ Business reacts to bill allowing some guns in businesses who prohibit them: A proposed bill would restrict businesses from prohibiting guns. Currently, only a sign can prevent someone from walking into a business with a gun. But even that might not be enough for business owners to keep them and their customers safe. …Vinyl Tap in East Nashville said while employees can’t always prevent people from walking through its door, it can take steps to prevent trouble from arising. “I just feel the need to make it clear that we do not want those in here,” said Todd Hedrick, the bar and record store’s owner. He said he knows placing a sign restricting guns in the businesses may not stop people from bringing in guns. However, he said he has done everything to make sure people know they’re not allowed, or else they may be charged and fined. “It makes me really uncomfortable,” said Hedrick.

Redditch, UK | Redditch independent record shop counting down the days: There is just over a week to go until one of Redditch’s favourite independent shops closes its door for the final time on February 3. Located just off Church Green East, Vintage Trax record shop returned to the town centre in September 2020, amidst the Covid epidemic, after six years on Birchfield Road, Headless Cross. But despite the nationwide increase in sales of vinyl records, the past eight months have been challenging for the business that first appeared in Redditch with two pop-up shops in the Kingfisher Centre back in 2013. Owner Ros Sidaway said: “My bad fall at the end of May 2023 and subsequent time away from the shop to recover, rising overhead costs, the cost-of-living situation leading to a drop in footfall and sales, have all created a perfect storm that, try as I might, I can no longer navigate. “However, this is not the end of Vintage Trax…”

UK | Bruce Dickinson announces album signing appearances at five UK record shops: Want to have Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson sign your copy of The Mandrake Project, his first solo album in 19 years? Then try to keep some time free in early March. Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson is to undertake a series of album-signing sessions in UK record shops in early March. Dickinson will be signing physical copies of The Mandrake Project, his first solo album in 19 years, at five HMV stores on March 1, 2 and 3. The sessions will begin with a midnight signing at HMV Cardiff on March 1, and be followed by similar events in HMV stores in London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Manchester. The HMV website states: ‘Access to these events is limited. Pre-order the album + event entry bundle to secure your place (subject to availability, while stocks last).

Seattle, WA | There’s a huge record sale with tons of vinyl coming to Seattle this winter: If you love records, or collect them, there’s a show happening in March that you won’t want to miss. The Northwest Record Show is back in Seattle, bringing a lot of music-related collectibles to you! According to organizers, “at the Northwest Record Show, you will find tons of vinyl records, CDs, and other music-related collectibles for sale from dealers & stores from all over the PNW.” On March 3rd, you can expect over over 50 tables of records, LPs, 45s, CDs and music memorabilia at the Seattle Center Armory Food Court. As for genres, they include R&B, Funk, Jazz, Rock, Rockabilly, Blues, Country, Hip Hop, Folk, Bluegrass, Punk and more. There are no advance tickets for the Northwest Record Show, and admission will be taken at the door at $3. If your record collection is already overflowing, you’ll also be able to shop other collectibles.

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Vancouver, CA | How Sunrise Records became the last music chain standing: In today’s Big Story Podcast, most of the large record chains of the heyday of physical music are gone now. If the chains haven’t vanished entirely, most of their stores have, and the last few are disappearing one by one. But somehow, not Sunrise Records. In recent years, the chain has been expanding across Canada, buying up Canadian HMV outlets and now boasts more than 80 stores and hundreds of employees. Richard Trapunski is the digital editor at Billboard Canada. He wrote a piece for The Walrus about Sunrise Records and its ability to thrive in the streaming age. “A lot of the people who are still buying vinyl are not necessarily older people who still have their record player and are buying albums by the Beatles or classic rock bands. A lot of them are Gen Z and are young listeners,” said Trapunski.

Stroudsburg, PA | The Record Store: Veteran Owner Tells Us the Only Way to Collect: In this series launch, we’re profiling Main Street Jukebox in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. …An hour from my mountain home outside New York City, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania’s Main Street Juke Box is keeping the old-school independent record store tradition alive and proud, complete with store windows plastered with flyers for local events and faded classic album covers. Through the door and winding around the wide front counter, there are tall stacks of records (presumably to be filed), a collection of magnets, featuring both James Brown’s and Axl Rose’s mugshots, the counter’s front collaged with more classic covers, from The Stones’ Goats Head Soup to Popeye’s Songs About Health, Safety, Friendship & Manners. A red and black Public Enemy poster covers a mysterious back-room door. Under the cash register, a sign reads: “No refunds. All Sales final.”

Decatur, GA | Decatur CD and Vinyl comes through in a pinch: …when my dad requested Dolly Parton’s Rockstar for his birthday earlier this month, I hopped online as usual to place it in my imaginary cart and go about my day. But I quickly encountered a problem: apparently, everyone else was excited about Parton’s foray into the world of rock -n- roll and the CD was sold out on every website I tried. It wasn’t until I was driving in downtown Decatur that it dawned on me to give Decatur CD and Vinyl a go. The store, stuffed to the brim with every compact disc and vinyl record you could imagine, opened in 2003 and has been a staple in the community ever since – even being featured in a New York Times article about Decatur as a place for trendsetters. I breathed a sigh of relief when the clerk told me they had two copies left and quickly bought the gift for my dad. “Thank God y’all are here, I couldn’t find this CD anywhere,” I remarked while checking out. “Next time, try us first,” responded the clerk with an all-knowing grin. Good advice – and good thing Decatur CD and Vinyl saved the (birth)day.

Winnipeg, CA | Vinyl score: Minimalist dream subsumed by newfound infatuation with LP records. Peter Dul was among the scores of music lovers who spun by the late, great Sound Exchange in November, to attend a clearance sale being staged at the one-time vinyl mecca. The Portage Avenue shop, which closed following the death of owner Jeff Bishop a few years ago, boasted close to 200,000 titles during its heyday in the 1970s and ’80s, when Bishop’s dad Tom, Sound Exchange’s founder, was in charge. Dul, the owner of Duly Records, a used-record store conspicuously situated inside an Ellice Avenue flea market, arrived there like everybody else, hoping to score a few hidden gems. The 55-year-old’s mindset began to change, however, when the parties responsible for the sale recognized him, and let him know that besides what could be seen on the main floor, there were tens of thousands more records and assorted treasures in the basement. “I’ll tell you what,” Dul announced after taking a closer look. “You guys finish what you’re doing up here and when the sale’s through, I’ll buy everything that’s left, including what’s downstairs.”

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