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Record shop
A record shop or record store is a retail outlet that sells recorded music. Per the name, in the late 19th century and the early 20th century, record shops only sold gramophone records. But over the course of the 20th century, record shops sold the new formats that were developed, such as eight track tapes, compact cassettes and compact discs (CDs). Today, in the 21st century, record stores mainly sell CDs, vinyl records and, in some cases, DVDs of movies, TV shows, cartoons and concerts. Some record stores also sell music-related items such as posters of bands or singers, related clothing items and even merchandise such as bags and coffee mugs.
Even when CDs became popular during the 1990s, people in English-speaking countries still continued using the term "record shop" to describe a shop selling sound recordings. With the vinyl revival of the 21st century, often generating more income than CDs, the name is again accurate.
Prior to the 2000s, more record shops were privately run, independent businesses, meaning that prices could differ from town to town and store to store. In the 2000s, record shops are largely chain-owned and thus prices are fairly similar in different towns. In the United Kingdom the national chain style of selling records and tapes developed with Our Price, itself originally a small independent business founded in the early 1970s that expanded nationwide.
The current record store chains in the UK are HMV, Fopp, and Rough Trade. The enormous increase in sales of vinyl records in the 2000s has provided an opportunity for growth in some sectors. According to a recent study, Brighton, England has the highest number of record stores per 100,000 residents in the world.[citation needed]
However, nearby Hastings contests this, having a population of fewer than 100,000, and as of 2025 has the following independent stores:
Tough Love, Wow and Flutter, Pressing Matters, Printed Matter, Courthouse Record Store, Dark Circles, Japhy’s, Roll with the Vinyl, Kings Records, Bat Cave Records, DayGlo Records, StereoRetro.
As well as two monthly record fairs:
1st Saturday at The Piper, Revolver Record Fairs at The Stade Hall
Hub AI
Record shop AI simulator
(@Record shop_simulator)
Record shop
A record shop or record store is a retail outlet that sells recorded music. Per the name, in the late 19th century and the early 20th century, record shops only sold gramophone records. But over the course of the 20th century, record shops sold the new formats that were developed, such as eight track tapes, compact cassettes and compact discs (CDs). Today, in the 21st century, record stores mainly sell CDs, vinyl records and, in some cases, DVDs of movies, TV shows, cartoons and concerts. Some record stores also sell music-related items such as posters of bands or singers, related clothing items and even merchandise such as bags and coffee mugs.
Even when CDs became popular during the 1990s, people in English-speaking countries still continued using the term "record shop" to describe a shop selling sound recordings. With the vinyl revival of the 21st century, often generating more income than CDs, the name is again accurate.
Prior to the 2000s, more record shops were privately run, independent businesses, meaning that prices could differ from town to town and store to store. In the 2000s, record shops are largely chain-owned and thus prices are fairly similar in different towns. In the United Kingdom the national chain style of selling records and tapes developed with Our Price, itself originally a small independent business founded in the early 1970s that expanded nationwide.
The current record store chains in the UK are HMV, Fopp, and Rough Trade. The enormous increase in sales of vinyl records in the 2000s has provided an opportunity for growth in some sectors. According to a recent study, Brighton, England has the highest number of record stores per 100,000 residents in the world.[citation needed]
However, nearby Hastings contests this, having a population of fewer than 100,000, and as of 2025 has the following independent stores:
Tough Love, Wow and Flutter, Pressing Matters, Printed Matter, Courthouse Record Store, Dark Circles, Japhy’s, Roll with the Vinyl, Kings Records, Bat Cave Records, DayGlo Records, StereoRetro.
As well as two monthly record fairs:
1st Saturday at The Piper, Revolver Record Fairs at The Stade Hall