Nielsen SoundScan released a report earlier this month indicating a 14 percent increase in vinyl record sales from 2009 to 2010, with 2.8 million albums sold last year. The Beatles’ “Abbey Road”, Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs” and The Black Keys’ “Brothers” topped the list in sales.
But who’s buying these records? Well, according to the folks at Billboard, “hipsters and boomers” are heading the market. Who would have thought that one day the kid in class with the “The Pains of Being Pure at Heart” shirt and — even more unbelievable — your parents, would help keep the music industry conscious? The jump in sales has also been good for some independent record shops.
“A lot of independent record stores deal directly with labels,” said 23-year-old Caleb German, who works at local shop Hear Again Music and Movies. When people make trips to local record stores, those purchases aren’t only supporting local business but artists and their record labels as well, he said.
With all the hullabaloo about the resurgence of vinyl, your good friends at the Avenue are happy to provide you with some local spots to grab the grooviest, most reasonably priced vinyl records.
Hear Again Music and Movies
201 SE 1st St., Suite 105
Hear Again Music and Movies was up and running for 15 years on University Avenue before moving to Downtown last year. It carries used vinyl ranging from about $2 to $12, and new vinyl ranging from $10 to $25, depending on how many LPs are included
and the number pressed, German said.
Since the move to Downtown, the store has seen an influx of new-regular customers that keep up with the changing inventory using the store’s Facebook page, he said. Some customers may be looking for the better sound quality that comes with vinyl.
“LPs have a much warmer and omnidirectional sound when compared to the unidirectional sound of digital music,” German said.
Fans also get perks like liner notes with info about the album. Not to mention, vinyl records guarantee that purchased music won’t infect
computers with viruses, he said.
The store carries a wide selection of vinyl from post-rock to blues and will order customers any album in print that is currently distributed.
Hyde and Zeke Records
402 NW 10th Ave.
Hyde and Zeke Records has been a Gainesville staple since Bob McPeek and Ric Kaestner opened it in 1977. It’s currently Gainesville’s
oldest record store and has had artists like R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, Red Hot Chili Peppers members Anthony Kiedis and Flea and Radiohead’s Thom Yorke enter its doors over the years, said owner Charlie Scales.
Scales, who began working at the store in 1981 and became the owner in 1990, credits the place’s longevity with its consistency.
“We’ve lasted so long because it has kept the same integrity and policies as it started with,” he said. “Also, by being so small, we are able to adapt with the times.”
The vinyl selection starts at 25 cents, with the records ranging from $4 to $8.
“New records vary according to cost, but we keep our markup as low as possible,” Scales said.
Other Hot Spots in Town for Cheap Vinyl:
Wayward Council
807 W. University Ave.
This volunteer-run shop is perfect for punk rock fans, as it offers vinyl records and hosts some ruthless punk shows.
Goodwill
3520 SW 34th St.
You’ll find dozens of Christmas albums and classical records, or you’ll hit the jackpot and walk away with a stack of records a college grad gave away when he became an “adult.”
