Vinyl Futures S1:E5 - Can Record Stores Still Just Be Record Stores?

2025-04-09

Can record stores still just be record stores? On this episode, Vinyl Futures explores how stores across the globe are creating unique spaces for music lovers, beyond just selling records. We speak with three stores each offering an entirely unique experience, from the pop-infused plant haven of Indie Earth in Minnesota, where listening parties spark friendships, to HHV in Berlin, where hip-hop, electronic, and jazz fans converge around a zeitgeisty mix of music and streetwear culture. We then step into...

Can record stores still just be record stores?

On this episode, Vinyl Futures explores how stores across the globe are creating unique spaces for music lovers, beyond just selling records. We speak with three stores each offering an entirely unique experience, from the pop-infused plant haven of Indie Earth in Minnesota, where listening parties spark friendships, to HHV in Berlin, where hip-hop, electronic, and jazz fans converge around a zeitgeisty mix of music and streetwear culture. We then step into London's Raven Records, a heavy metal hub that cultivates community alongside its alcohol-free bar, creating a safe space for everyone.

Each store reveals how they curate their collections, host events, and create environments that resonate with their communities. We explore how these stores exist for more than just retail - they're vital gathering spaces where fans connect, discover new artists, and share their passion. Discover how these stores, each with their own genre focus, are building thriving communities around vinyl. Ahead of Record Store Day 2025, we celebrate the diverse ways record stores are keeping the spirit of music fandom alive.

Vinyl Futures is produced by the Vinyl Alliance, a global non-profit organization formed to support the vinyl format within the wider music industry and culture at large.

Read more about our mission and work at vinylalliance.org.

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