From PREX: The ‘Vinyl Resurgence’ as a ‘Reality Resurgence’ on Record Store Day
On Saturday, April 20, Princeton Record Exchange will be rocking the 14th annual Record Store Day.
Record Store Day (RSD) serves as a vibrant celebration of the culture surrounding independently owned record stores. With each passing year, its popularity continues to soar. On this special day, hundreds of limited-edition titles are exclusively available at brick-and-mortar record stores like Princeton Record Exchange (PREX).
As society becomes ever more reliant on the virtual world, there seems to be a backlash to the sterility of these interactions. Record stores around the country are experiencing some of their best years ever as the vinyl resurgence steams ahead. Jon Lambert, owner of PREX, has been watching this trend closely. “It is heartening to see the growing interest in physical media. Younger folk seem especially to be driving this trend. I can’t help but think that the isolated COVID years were especially difficult on teens. Their joy at being back in a real space, with real objects, among real people is clear”.
The vinyl resurgence is not merely a nostalgic trend; it’s a reality resurgence that has captivated music enthusiasts worldwide.
According to the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), in 2023, U.S. vinyl revenues topped $1.35 billion, a whopping 450% increase from 10 years ago. While many of these records can be found online or in “big box” stores, the main attraction of RSD is a vast number of titles that are not available anywhere except participating independent record stores. At last count, there are over 400 limited edition titles being released.
Adding to the collectible appeal, most of these records have very limited production runs, typically from 100 to 5,000 pieces. They may be previously unreleased recordings or alternate takes, and are often on colored vinyl, are numbered, have unique packaging or are otherwise special. A complete list of releases can be found on Record Store Day’s website.
These records are allocated by the distributors to stores around the country, and the stores don’t know what they’ll receive until just before the day. Typically, PREX orders around two thousand RSD records each year and gets a very good fill. Consistently ranked as one of the top record stores in the country, Princeton Record Exchange has been buying and selling new and used music and movies since 1980.
On RSD, the store opens at 10:00 am, but eager customers often line up much earlier to maximize their chances of snagging the rarer titles. Last year, several hundred people were waiting at opening, creating a real sense of fun and camaraderie among like-minded music enthusiasts. With the ever-increasing base of vinyl fans out there, Princeton Record Exchange trusts that this Record Store Day will be the biggest yet.
Visit their website at www.prex.com and follow them on Facebook for more information.
From TAVI: Allentown Welcomes Spring With Daffodil Days Festival
An early spring has seen daffodils bursting into bloom across the village of Allentown, New Jersey – about 10,000 bulbs have been planted by The Allentown Village Initiative (TAVI) over the last three years. TAVI’s 3rd Annual Daffodil Days will celebrate all things spring the weekend of April 19-21, 2024 with a full schedule of family-friendly events.
Visit www.allentownvinj.org for the calendar of events, including the “Spring Stroll” street festival hosted by the Allentown Business Community Association (ABCA) on Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 150 vendors of handmade crafts, food trucks, kids’ zone, live music and more will fill Main Street. Meet the “residents” of Allentown’s colonial era cemetery and take a walking tour of historic architecture in town. Take the “Earth Day Pledge” and be rewarded with a free garden plant. Meet King Alfred Daffodil and Trenton Thunder’s mascot, Boomer — there’s something for everyone. Our local merchants, crafters, and restaurateurs will be waiting to serve you their finest offerings in celebration of the season.
On Sunday, April 21, 2024, celebrate in style with TAVI’s “Welcome Spring Gala,” beginning at 6 pm and featuring palate temptations, desserts and the live music of the WilloLand Duo. Tickets are available at www.allentownvinj.org.
Daffodil Days comes to Allentown courtesy of The Allentown Village Initiative (TAVI), a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose focus is on local history education and historic preservation, natural resource protection, economic development, and the arts and culture.
A quaint and quiet town of 1,800 residents set apart from the bustle of urban New Jersey, Allentown is conveniently located just minutes from Exit 7a on the New Jersey Turnpike, one hour south of New York City, and less than an hour north of Philadelphia.
