Mainebiz

V O L . X X X N O. X I M AY 1 3 , 2 0 2 4 32 S M A L L B U S I N E S S F O C U S A new generation If you thought vinyl records were so 1970s and 1980s, you're wrong because vinyl records are back. Of course, vinyl never truly went away. It's outlived the iPod, cassettes and now CDs. A whole new generation is discovering vinyl, and it's easier to buy records and get into the hobby . While music fans may love the immediacy of streaming music, that hasn't stopped them from mainstream- ing vinyl records. A simple Google search will unveil the treasure trove of record stores in your vicinity. e beauty of indepen- dent shops lies in their individuality. Each store boasts a distinct inventory, offering a thrilling opportunity to unearth rare records that are a chal- lenge to find online. ese shops occasionally boast their own exclusive pressing of an album, a true collector's dream. ey might even surprise you with promo- tional singles or posters accompany- ing the first pressings of an album. Breton told Mainebiz that his brick-and-mortar has patrons of vari- ous ages and generations, but he has seen the younger generation start to show more interest in records. "Record collecting can be a little addicting," says Breton. "When you start, you're like, I might find that special thing I have been looking for if I hit the store now. Vinyl is so popular now. Certain popular, desirable, some- times hard-to-find records don't last long at all; they can sell almost imme- diately, so you'll get the people coming in hoping to hit you at the right time just to find that special something before someone else does." Sales growing e industry's total vinyl album sales for 2023, across all artists in the U.S., finished at 49.6 million records — up 14.2% from 43.5 million in 2022. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, sales of vinyl records totaled $1.4 billion in 2023. For the second time since 1987, sales of vinyl records surpassed those of CDs. While Taylor Swift may be known for her Eras Tour, which broke the Billboard charts, she also ranks as the best-selling musician on vinyl in 2023. According to Billboard, Swift was responsible for 7% of all vinyl records sold in the U.S. in 2023. On her own, she sold almost 3.5 million vinyl albums. Swift is also creating a new art form with her vinyls. Each record is a unique color representing the album and the color scheme. When Swift released her "Midnights" album in 2022, she announced she would be releasing special edition vinyl. Fans could buy the vinyl editions in jade green, blood moon or the mahogany. "Taylor Swift has figured out how to make records more fun," says Chris Brown, vice president of finance at Bull Moose and the creator of Record Store Day. "Everyone remembers the first record they bought, and Taylor Swift is making it special for the new generation who are buying her record as the first vinyl to their collection. And that is what I am extremely excited about." A day for vinyl Record Store Day is celebrated around the world, but its inventor, Brown of Bull Moose, is located in Maine. Held on one Saturday every April and every Black Friday in November, the day brings together fans, artists and thousands of independent record stores worldwide. Brown suggested the idea in 2007 at a conference in San Diego to help com- munity record stores stay afloat. "A lot of chain stores were closing at the time while independent stores were growing," says Brown. "I wanted to let people know that there was probably a record store near them. Record Store Day was a huge success when it first started and a lot of fun. "Record Store Day helped share how fun it is to listen to records and I think it is going super well," he adds. Record Store Day has grown into an international event and hundreds of stores participate in Record Store Day. Finding vinyl in the 2000s Nick Robles, co-owner of Moody Lords Vinyl/Vintage record and cloth- ing store on Portland's Congress Street, started his record collection in 1999 or 2000. He noticed that Bull Moose in Portsmouth, N.H., had a vinyl record by an indie rock band that he liked called the Get Up Kids. "I didn't have a turntable yet, but I was surprised and fascinated that records were still being manufactured, so I bought it anyway," says Robles. "After high school, I worked as a projectionist for years," he continues. "I still bought records, but I occasion- ally sold or traded from my collection to local stores if money was tight or to lighten the load." In the late 2000s, he started adver- tising on Craigslist that he would buy » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E It's easier to protect a customer when you can see them from your window. That's how we work, too. We live and work in the same communities your clients do, so our local underwriters understand their needs firsthand. At Acadia Insurance, our consultative experts listen first and are ready to help by providing fast, responsive service, tailored coverage, and a consistent appetite. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WORKING WITH ACADIA INSURANCE, VISIT US ONLINE: ACADIAINSURANCE.COM MAINE | CONNECTICUT | MASSACHUSETTS NEW HAMPSHIRE | NEW YORK RHODE ISLAND | VERMONT

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