John Peel’s famous surface noise quote is held up as capturing perfectly the sentiment behind vinyl’s unlikely revival in the digital age. Digital music production and playback has allowed us to clean up the noise of analog tape and production techniques to a level of perfection never thought possible throughout most of the 20th century. In many cases, electronic musicians … Read More
It’s Personal. Norman Records are Keeping Independent Online Vinyl Alive and Well
The struggle for independent record stores to compete against large global behemoths—such as Amazon—is a well-documented story. What is perhaps less understood, is the equally challenging position of running an independent online music store. One such outfit is Norman Records, based in Leeds, England. Norman Records started when the internet was in its infancy, and thanks to a huge amount … Read More
Spinning Forward: Record Store Day Observations with Co-Founder, Michael Kurtz
In a recent Sound Matters feature, we asked a cross-section of the industry what Record Store Day (RSD) meant to them. Overwhelmingly, our contributors spoke highly of the RSD, citing the benefit it brings to independent stores and the continued growth in consumer interest for music on wax. The event draws huge crowds each year as people all over the … Read More
What Does Record Store Day Mean to You?
Now in its twelfth year, Record Store Day is one of the most significant dates in the musical calendar. Fans across the globe gather at participating independent shops to discover new releases, watch live performances, and absorb the great atmosphere. The sales numbers are pretty impressive too, with last year’s event helping to shift 733,000 vinyl albums in the US … Read More
Is Vinyl Still Relevant in the Digital Age?
We live in an age of digital convenience; an age of instant gratification with the world at our fingertips. Streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music now dominate music consumption, enabling mass consumer access to a staggering volume of music spanning all manner of decades and genres. And yet, while physical music overall is in decline, one format continues … Read More
The Importance of Music Ownership
If you own your own home, do you not take better care of it? Do you take more pride in your surroundings, perhaps invest more money in maintaining it? If you own something, you have a stake in it. As Martin Luther King JR said, “There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society with a large segment of … Read More
Q&A: HD Vinyl – The Future of Record Manufacturing?
HD Vinyl Pioneer, Guenter Loibl talks to Sound Matters about his ambitions to revolutionize vinyl record manufacturing using lasers. The HD-Vinyl concept first caught our attention back in 2016, when Austrian-based company, Rebeat first filed the patent for a new vinyl record production process involving lasers. Naturally, it wasn’t long before the internet was awash with speculation about the new … Read More
Mutual Appreciation Society: Music, Vinyl & Craft Beer
Two of my interests I think pair extremely well are music (particularly on vinyl) and beer – especially craft beer. Nothing makes a great record listening experience even better like some flavour-packed suds to tickle the taste buds. At first glance, both of these topics could appear distant from one another; after all, what does the revival of vinyl records have … Read More
Don’t Let Amazon Echo or Google Home Control Your Music at Home
As we progress further into the digital age, more of the devices we use on a day-to-day basis become interconnected. This process is often referred to as the “Internet of Things” or IoT for short. IoT affects a multitude of spaces, including infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, and more. But perhaps the most obvious area is home electronics. As time goes on, … Read More
Upcycled Vinyl Record Storage – How to Guide
Record storage solutions is a popular topic across the vinyl community. We’ve covered best practice storage in the past, and we’ve also covered the ubiquitous, and numerous solutions available through IKEA, but what if you’re after something a little more bespoke? The IKEA route is a great affordable way to get started with record storage – I owned their NORNÄS … Read More
