Music — it’s everywhere and the way people listen to it is ever-changing these days.
You can hear music in boutiques, coffee shops, gyms, or just walking down the street. We are consuming more music than ever and Mississippi has seen a resurgence of vinyl record popularity in 2022.
The global-wide COVID-19 pandemic gave every generation from Boomers to Gen-X a new appreciation for vinyl and the ability to stop and sit and listen to an album from beginning to end. It’s no surprise that studies reveal streaming music now accounts for more than 85 percent of all music enjoyed at home, businesses, and anywhere else. But now, the end of 2022 marks the first year in more than a generation that record sales — physical vinyl records — have surpassed CD sales.
So, where exactly can you find vinyl records in the Magnolia State?
Whether you’re on the hunt for a new-to-you artist or that elusive album that has escaped you for years, here are the Mississippi stores that are sure to help grow your vinyl collection and please your inner music aficionado.
Little Big Store, Raymond
If you’re searching for more than just vinyl, the Little Big Store just outside of Jackson is the place for you. It’s tucked inside the old train depot so it’s full of culture and history. You’ll want to spend hours combing through the collection of new, used, rare, impossible-to-find, and high-demand records. There are also tons of memorabilia, unique music-related items, and eye-popping posters.
Meridian Underground Music, Meridian
This place is a one stop shop for any artist or music lover. Not only can you find the best of new and used vinyl for your collection, you can catch live shows throughout the year as well as scoop up new and rare instruments.
T Bones Records & Café, Hattiesburg
Good food and music — you just can’t have one without the other. With an on-site DJ dishing out top-notch tunes, you can enjoy discovering new music while digging into awesome eats and searching for your favorite new vinyl addiction.
Maynard’s Music, Ocean Springs
Reminiscent of a traditional music store in terms of look and feel, and touted as the only real record and music shop left on the Gulf Coast, this place has a massive vinyl collection begging to be explored. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, chances are they can get it for you.
Cat Head, Clarksdale
Dedicated to all things art and music, this long-standing music store has one of the most unique varieties of music and memorabilia in the state. Blues is their specialty, and you can tell they take pride in their local culture. You’ll want to keep an eye on their concert calendar, too—they’ve got tons of acts lined up throughout the year so you’re never stuck listening to the same boring bands.
So, vinyl appears to be here to stay despite all technological advances that would have seemed to threaten it and although records might not sell like digital, but their comeback is expected to continue and gain traction in 2023.
Just when we think we’ve come up with a superior means of playing music, the vinyl album comes back, reminding us that high-fi audio and high-res audio really can stand the test of time.
