Kiwi author Garth Cartwright is on the shortlist for the UK’s prestigious Penderyn Prize – the Booker of music books – and the winner is announced any minute now*. His subject? A history of the British record shop. I’m often asked, “What inspires you to write books?” I wish I could answer, “Money.” I’d like … Read more
The Spinoff and Spark proudly present Pod On The Couch, a weekly podcast exploring music and the people that make it. This episode: Henry Oliver talks to Ben Howe about Record Store Day and selling LPs to teenagers. Spinoff Music editor Henry Oliver talks to Ben Howe, founder of Arch Hill Recordings, managing director at Flying Nun Records and … Read more
Tomorrow is Record Store Day. Up and down the country music fans will be swarming their local record stores to buy records and see bands play. Here’s what’s happening when and where. Some people love it. Others hate it. Some people used to love it and now hate it but want to love it again. … Read more
This Saturday marks the return of Record Store Day, the annual international celebration of independent music retail. What started as a fun way to support your local record store has become an orgy of price-gouging and corporate greed, says Alan Perrott. We must destroy Record Store Day to save Record Store Day. Which, frankly, is … Read more