Vinyl Sales Continue to Grow, Streaming Dominates Music Industry in 2019

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a brief look at the RIAA, Nielsen and BuzzAngle’s Year-End numbers

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has released their 2019 year-end report Tuesday. With Nielsen Music and BuzzAngle’s reports having come in January, we now have a more complete idea of what the music industry’s revenue and cultural trends were over the last year. A year of growth for the industry, streaming dominated the field while vinyl continued its rapid rise in the physical sales space.

In 2019, the music industry saw its fourth straight year of double-digit growth, taking in more than $11.1 billion in revenue, a 13% increase over 2018’s $9.8 billion.

Streaming was the biggest part of the revenue equation in 2019. Jumping nearly 20% over 2018’s numbers, the format ended the year with more than $8.8 billion in revenue. That means streaming now makes up 79.5% of all revenue brought in by the music industry. It also means, according to Billboard’s reporting, that streaming’s revenue exceeded the music industry’s yearly earnings for every year between 2008 and 2017. Much of that came from paid subscription services (Apple Music, Spotify’s paid tier), which grew by another 25% this year.

While streaming was popular in the US, video was an even more lucrative venture in the rest of the world. According to both Nielsen and BuzzAngle, YouTube outpaced paid services like Spotify and Amazon Music, especially when it came to genres like K-pop and Bollywood.

As for traditional sales, the numbers stayed relatively steady. While there was a dip, the RIAA reports it was only 0.6% over 2018, making up $1.15 billion of the year’s revenue. While CD sales once again dropped, this time 12%, they still made up the bulk of physical sales at $615 million. Vinyl continued to gain on CDs, though, rising 19% to take in $504 million in 2019, the only physical format to experience any gain. That’s the 14^th straight year of growth for the vinyl medium and puts it squarely in striking distance to potentially take over that dominating sales spot from CDs.

Digital sales took a nosedive, however. Following a trend that has been occurring for a few years now, digital single and album sales dropped 18%, taking in $856 million in 2019, the first time that number has dropped below $1 billion since 2006.

In total, digital (streaming and sales) made up 87.2% of the music industry’s 2019 revenue, physical sales made up 10.3% and synch royalties (radio) made up 2.5%.

According to Nielsen, Post Malone, Drake, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande were the year’s top-selling artists. Post Malone’s ‘Hollywood’s Bleeding’ took the top album spot (including track-equivalent albums and streaming-equivalent albums), however Taylor Swift’s ‘Lover’ topped total album sales, digital album sales and physical album sales for 2019. Vinyl sales continued to trend towards catalog album popularity with the Beatles’ ‘Abbey Road’ topping the list. Billie Eilish’s ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go,’ is the only current album in the vinyl top 10, coming in a number 2. Digital belonged to Lil Nas X’s single “Old Town Road” for both sales and on-demand streaming.

In terms of genre statistics, R&B and hip-hop were the most consumed overall. However, when it came to physical album and digital album and song sales, rock came out ahead.

The music industry experienced a lot of growth in 2019. Music consumption grew along with the increasing popularity of streaming. While sales have decreased again, especially in digital, vinyl continues to be a bright spot, gaining year-over-year for a 14-year high. These numbers point to a lot of change in the way we consume musical media and what we can expect to see in the future.

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Get your physical music fix at Vinyl Bay 777. As one of Long Island’s top independent record shops, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres to suit the tastes of most music fans. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what gems you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

New Albums Coming Out in December 2019

December is here! That means the final new releases of 2019 (and the 2010s) are on their way.

With the holidays right around the corner, the release schedule has slowed down a bit, but there are still a lot of highly-anticipated albums coming just in time to be gifted. The Who, The Chainsmokers and Harry Styles are just some of the artists to watch for in the coming weeks.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, loves new music. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of some of the most anticipated albums of December 2019. Here are five (and a few more), to get excited for.

1.       The Who, ‘WHO’: Rock legends The Who release their first album in 13 years, ‘Who,’ this week. The band still has the knack for writing impeccable and exciting rock melodies, as evidenced by the album’s first three singles. “Ball And Chain” is a strong, bluesy track with political lyrics, jangly guitars and grit for days. “All This Music Must Fade,” with its big sound and early rock feel, and “I Don’t Wanna Get Wise,” with its uncompromising stadium rock feel, were made for the band’s larger-than-life shows. This album will definitely be worth the decade + wait. (12/6)

2.       The Chainsmokers, ‘World War Joy’: The Chainsmokers are set to release their third studio album, ‘World War Joy,’ this weekend, just over a year since the release of 2018’s ‘Sick Boy.’ The duo goes back to their electronic, producer roots for the new record, pulling out all the stops with some huge collaborations. Featured artists on the album include 5 Seconds of Summer, Illenium, Lennon Stella, Blink-182, Bebe Rexha, Ty Dolla $ign, Kygo and more. The album’s first single, “Who Do You Love,” which features 5 Seconds of Summer in a track that tries to meld the two artists sounds but ends up electronic-heavy, has already gone platinum in a handful of countries. With fresh hype following the announcement of their Blink-182 collaboration dropping before the album, ‘World War Joy’ could be a big seller. (12/6)

3.       Various Artists, ‘Hannukah+’: Hanukkah compilation album ‘Hannukah+’ is getting a physical release this month, just in time for the holiday. The album features traditional songs, covers and new compositions from indie-rock darlings like Yo La Tengo (who are known for their Hanukkah shows), Haim and the Flaming Lips among others, as well as two very odd contributions from comedian and Tenacious D frontman Jack Black. You don’t come across a lot of mainstream Hanukkah albums, so this one stands out. (12/13)

4.       Harry Styles, ‘Fine Line’: Harry Styles has been defining his own path since the dissolution of One Direction. His 2017 self-titled debut found a whole new audience who found his new, more indie-rock-leaning sound to be of a much higher level than his previous work. Styles looks to build off this success while exploring new sounds on his sophomore album, ‘Fine Line,’ out later this month. The album’s first single, “Lights Up,” is a dark pop track with a deep groove and an ethereal aura that covers the entire composition. “Watermelon Sugar” has a similar 70s groove-meets-dark, sweaty pop feel. (12/13)

5.       Kanye West, ‘Jesus Is Born’: Kanye West released ‘Jesus Is King,’ his first album of gospel music, in October and is already gearing up to release its follow-up. ‘Jesus Is Born’ will be an extension of his Sunday Service events, which he has been performing all over the US this year with an “esteemed choir” backing him up. There doesn’t seem to be too much more information about the album yet, other than its intended release on Christmas day, which is surely going to peek the curiosity of fans come release day. (12/25)

Further Listening:

·         Camila Cabello, ‘Romance’: (12/6)

·         Cro-Mags, ‘From the Grave’ EP: (12/6)

·         Liam Payne, ‘LP1’: (12/6)

·         Ashland, ‘Over the Moon’: (12/13)

Even with the holidays and end of the year upon us, there are still plenty of new albums to look forward to in December. Check out our list above and let us know what new album you’re excited to get your hands on in the comments below.

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Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide variety of genres. Browse our growing selection of new and used vinyl records, CD, cassettes, music DVD, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking for something new to you or to rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

New Albums to Watch For in October 2019

Fall has begun and so has the fall album release season. There are some big releases happening in the month of October, with new music expected from the likes of The Darkness, Jimmy Eat World, Yungblud and more.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, loves new music. That’s why we’re taking a look at some of the new albums coming out over the course of this month. Here are eight (and a few more) that we think will be worth keeping an eye out for throughout October.

1.       The Darkness, ‘Easter Is Cancelled’: Very bluntly, ‘Easter Is Cancelled’ is a fantastic album that you won’t want to miss. The first concept album from British rockers The Darkness, the album examines the musician’s role in culture today, conveying the discussion through dramatic orchestrations that vary from heavy metal guitar ragers to 80s power ballads, sometimes within the same song. (10/4)

2.       FINNEAS, ‘Blood Harmony EP’: Though better known as Billie Eilish’s older brother (you probably saw him accompany her on SNL this past week), FINNEAS is a talented musician in his own right. This week he releases his latest solo EP, ‘Blood Harmony,’ a combination of previously released singles and new recordings. Songs like “I Lost A Friend” and “Shelter” showcase his easy, slightly raspy vocals well as he combines them with subtle dance music beats and jazzy, pop-y melodies. (10/4)

3.       Art Alexakis, ‘Sun Songs’: Everclear frontman Art Alexakis finally releases his debut solo album, ‘Sun Songs,’ this month. If the first single, ‘The Hot Water Test,’ written bluntly and passionately about his MS diagnosis from a couple of years ago, is any indication, the album should be filled with highly personal, upfront lyricism and eclectic melodic influences. I’m excited just as an Everclear fan, but I think there will be something more to the album than what you would typically hear from a singer-songwriter that might make it an interesting listen. (10/11)

4.       BBMak, ‘Powerstation’: UK boy band trio BBMak is back and releasing their first album together in 17 years this month. The singles released from ‘Powerstation’ so far have shown a level of maturity I don’t remember from 2002, while still remaining pop-y and melodic. (10/11)

5.       Waterparks, ‘Fandom’: One of my favorite new pop-punk bands of the last five years, Waterparks releases their third album, ‘Fandom,’ this month. The singles released so far are a little more experimental than what the band has released before, adding more electronic and hip-hop elements into their sound. The new songs, however, remains as fun and energetic as their previous releases, so there is a lot to be excited about. (10/11)

6.       Jimmy Eat World, ‘Surviving’: Alt-rockers Jimmy Eat World are getting ready to release their 10^th studio album, ‘Surviving,’ this month. According to the band, the album tackles self-doubt and overcoming your personal obstacles to better yourself. Lead single “All The Way (Stay)” has a mid-2000s Jimmy Eat World sound to it, falling somewhere between “emo” and garage rock sonically. (10/18)

7.       Yungblud, ‘The Underrated Youth EP’: British rocker Yungblud has been gaining popularity lately and with good reason. His blend of hip-hop-tinged pop-rock is unique and a bit wild. So the expectation for Yungblud’s upcoming EP ‘The Underrated Youth,’ whose release was originally slated for October 11 but was bumped back a week, is pretty high. Single “Parents” is a brash rap-rock jam with a foot-tapping, head-bobbing beat. “Hope For The Underrated Youth” is big and anthemic, like a punk rock grand overture. (10/18)

8.       Bad Wolves, ‘N.A.T.I.O.N.’: Last year, metal band Bad Wolves broke out with their debut album, ‘Disobey,’ which featured their hit cover of The Cranberries’ “Zombie.” The band returns this month with their sophomore album, ‘N.A.T.I.O.N.’ According to the band, the new album will be “more focused” than their last, saying “Basically, it’s like pouring steroids on everything we love about the first record to create an album that’s a roller coaster of emotional experience.” The songs on their last album were deep and personal, so hopefully the new album follows suit. (10/25)

Further Recommendations:

·         The Menzingers, ‘Hello Exile’: (10/4)

·         Wilco, ‘Ode To Joy’: (10/4)

·         Lagwagon, ‘Railer’: (10/4)

·         The Avett Brothers, ‘Closer Than Together’: (10/4)

·         Simple Creatures, ‘Everything Opposite’: (10/11)

·         Kim Gordon, ‘No Home Record’: (10/11)

·         Third Eye Blind, ‘Screamer’: (10/18)

·         Neil Young and Crazy Horse, ‘Colorado’: (10/25)

October is shaping up to be a spectacular start to the fall release season. With a lot of worthy rock and pop albums set to hit shelves, there is a lot to be excited for. Check out some of our highly anticipated albums above and let us know what you’re looking forward to hearing in the comments below.

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Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking for something new to you or to rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

New Albums to Watch for in September 2019

With September here, the summer release season is starting to come to a close, though there is still a lot to look forward to. This month has already given us some big albums from the likes of Post Malone, Alessia Cara and Lindsey Stirling, and there is still plenty more on the way.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, loves new music. That’s why we’re once again looking ahead at some of the highly anticipated and best-bet albums still to come in September. Here are seven (and a few more) that we think will be worth keeping an eye out for this month.

1.       Goo Goo Dolls, ‘Miracle Pill’: The Goo Goo Dolls have a penchant for writing upbeat, feel-good songs and I expect no different from their upcoming album ‘Miracle Pill.’ The title track is an upbeat, piano and guitar-driven track with heavy bass that sounds in line with their most popular tracks. Single “Indestructible” is just as solid. (9/13)

2.       Korn, ‘The Nothing’: Korn releases their 13^th album, ‘The Nothing,’ this weekend. Many have been comparing the darkness and vibe of singles like “Never Gonna Find Me” and “Can You Hear Me” to that of the band’s debut self-titled album, though there is definitely more to it than that. There’s also a harshness to these songs that’s informed by new influences, feelings and experiences that keeps the sound fresh. (9/13)

3.       Blink-182, ‘Nine’: The songs coming off Blink-182’s upcoming album ‘Nine’ has so far been a bit all over the place musically, ranging from upbeat and bouncy (“Darkside,” “Blame It On My Youth”) to punk-y (“Generational Divide”) to low key (“I Really Wish I Hated You”). The only things that unites the songs is how dark and questioning the lyrics are. However, the band seems a bit more cohesive on these songs, finally embracing Matt Skiba’s voice and style, working that into their sound more. (9/20)

4.       Liam Gallagher, ‘Why Me? Why Not.’: ‘Why Me? Why Not.’ finds Oasis vocalist Liam Gallagher continuing the modified Brit-pop sound he cultivated with his 2017 debut solo album ‘As You Were,’ except this time co-writing all of the songs on the album. Songs like “Once” and “One of Us” are nostalgic looks back at the good old days in a very Oasis-like style. “Shockwave” and “The River,” on the other hand, are darker and heavier than his previous music. All are solid tracks that might just make for a strong album.(9/20)

5.       Keane, ‘Cause And Effect’: It’s been five years since Irish rockers Keane went on hiatus. But now they’re back with a brand new album, ‘Cause And Effect,’ out this month. Lead single “The Way I Feel” is upbeat, pop-y and very catchy, the perfect comeback track for the pop-rock band. Latest single “Love Too Much” isn’t as standout, but is still pretty solid. For those who haven’t listened to Keane since the early 2000s (like me), you will be pleasantly surprised. With such solid tracks, this could be an album worth hearing. (9/20)

6.       Tegan and Sara, ‘Hey, I’m Just Like You’: Tegan and Sara look towards the past with their upcoming album ‘Hey, I’m Just Like You.’ Filled with tracks written while the twins were still in high school, the completed songs sound like a blast from their pop-punk-leaning past. (9/27)

7.       Hellyeah, ‘Welcome Home’: Recorded just prior to the passing of Vinnie Paul Abbott in June 2018, ‘Welcome Home’ is the final album to feature the iconic metal drummer. The album was finished in Abbott’s memory and, according to Blabbermouth, “driven by their love, loyalty, reverence and respect for their fallen brother.” (9/27)

Further Listening:

·         Pixies, ‘Beneath the Eyrie’: (9/13)

·         The Lumineers, ‘III’: (9/13)

·         Fitz and the Tantrums, ‘All The Feels’: (9/20)

·         Brittany Howard, ‘Jaime’: (9/20)

We might already be a week into September, but there are still a lot of albums to watch out for in the coming weeks. Check out some of our ones to watch above and let us know what upcoming albums you’re excited for in the comments below.

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Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres to suit most music lovers’ tastes. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking for something new to you or to rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with more titles being added all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Albums to Watch For in August 2019

The new month of August begins this week, which means a whole new batch of albums will be hitting shelves just in time to add to your late summer playlist. With highly anticipated releases from Taylor Swift, Tool, Slipknot and more, August is gearing up to be a great month for new releases.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, loves new music. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of our picks for the albums to watch for in August 2019. Here are six (and a few more) we think will be worth checking out.

1.       Volbeat, ‘Rewind, Replay, Rebound’: Volbeat get eclectic with their upcoming album ‘Rewind, Replay, Rebound,’ out Friday. From the pop-punky “Leviathan” and the classic rock-leaning “Last Day Under The Sun” to the rockabilly “Pelvis on Fire” and hard rocking “Cheapside Sloggers,” there seem to be a lot of different elements being dealt out with this album. However different though, all of these singles are memorable and rock hard, which bodes well for the album. (8/2)

2.       Slipknot, ‘We Are Not Your Kind’: Slipknot will be releasing their sixth studio album, ‘We Are Not Your Kind,’ in August.  Frontman Corey Taylor said to NME in 2018 about the tone of the album, “It’s complicated, it’s dark, it’s heavy, it’s heavy, it’s melodic, it’s fierce, it’s angry, it’s raw as hell.” That seems to check out, as singles “Unsainted” and “Solway Firth” are intense, aggressive pieces of metal. (8/9)

3.       Sleater-Kinney, ‘The Center Won’t Hold’: Sleater-Kinney continues their reunion this year with their upcoming ninth studio album, ‘The Center Won’t Hold.’ Produced by St. Vincent, the album features some of the band’s most biting lyricism and cultural commentary to date. Unfortunately, it will be the band’s last album with drummer Janet Weiss, who announced that she was leaving the band in July. (8/16)

4.       Frank Turner, ‘No Man’s Land’: Whereas much of Frank Turner’s repertoire is self-deprecating rock-tinged folk about himself, ‘No Man’s Land’ gets back to the storyteller nature of true folk. The songs, each about a famous woman in history, range from upbeat, jaunty tunes about tavern owner / “witch” Jinny Bingham and early rocker Sister Rosetta Thorpe to low, brooding tracks about dancer Mata Hari. (8/16)

5.       Taylor Swift, ‘Lover’: One of the most highly anticipated albums of the year, ‘Lover’ finds Taylor Swift engaging the happy, bubbly Taylor she drowned in darkness on her last album, 2017’s ‘Reputation.’ The aesthetic associated with the new album cycle is colorful, as evidenced by the imagery in the videos for “Me!” and “You Need to Calm Down.” Both of those singles landed at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while the album has reportedly set pre-order records on Apple Music, so it’s not a stretch to say that this will be a hot release.  (8/23)

6.       Tool, ‘Fear Inoculum’: After years of lawsuits and slow progress, Tool’s first album of new music in 13 years, ‘Fear Inoculum’ is finally making its way to shelves this August. The wait alone makes this another one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year, and the slow trickle of information on it only adds fuel to that fire. (8/30)

Further Listening:

·         Skillet, ‘Victorious’ (8/2)

·         Half Alive, ‘Now, Not Yet’ (8/9)

·         Killswitch Engage, ‘Atonement’ (8/16)

·         The Hold Steady, ‘Thrashing Thru The Passion’ (8/16)

·         Sheer Mag, ‘A Distant Call’ (8/23)

·         Jesse Malin, ‘Sunset Kids’ (8/30)

From pop darlings changing up their image to industrial titans returning after more than a decade away and more, there are a lot of highly anticipated albums to look forward to August. Check out some of our picks above and let us know what new albums you’re excited to hear in the comments below.

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Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop we have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres to suit the tastes of most music fans. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking for something new to you or to rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Five Trends in Music Reflected in the 2019 MTV VMA Nominations

MTV Logo. Found on Wikimedia Commons.

Nominations for the 2019 MTV VMAs were announced on Tuesday (7/23), celebrating the music videos and artists that dominated over the last year. Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Halsey and Cardi B are the year’s most decorated nominees, earning upwards of six nods a piece. The ceremony is slated to take place August 26 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

This year’s VMAs provide an interesting look into what is going on in music culture right now. From the female dominated nominees list to the heightened inclusion of Latin and K-Pop artists and more, diversity and progression are definitely being highlighted this year.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the highlights from this year’s VMA nominations. Here are five noteworthy trends reflected on the list.

1.       Girl Power: Female artists have hit a new renaissance over the last couple of years and that really shows in the 2019 nominees list. Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift have the most nominations of any artist this year with 10 a piece, followed by Billie Eilish with 9. Out of six nominees for Best New Artist, five are women. Four out of Six R&B nominees are female as well. The only category that doesn’t feature any female nominees is Best Rock.

2.       K-Pop: New this year is a Best K-Pop category, making the VMA’s the first award show to create an entire category for the genre. While shows like the People’s Choice Awards and the Grammys were starting to take notice of artists like BTS last year, the genre has been growing in the United States exponentially. BTS, Blackpink, Monsta X, Tomorrow X Together, NCT 127 and Exo are all up for the award in its inaugural year. BTS is also up for two categories outside of their genre, including Best Collaboration, Best Art Direction and Best Choreography for the Halsey-featuring “Boy With Luv.”

3.       Latin: Latin music is at its most active in the US since the late 1990s when Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias were big. After not having the Best Latin category in 2017 when Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” was tearing things up, MTV brought it back last year and again for 2019. Daddy Yankee, J Balvin and Maluma return to the Best Latin category this year with newcomers like Anuel AA, Karol G, Bad Bunny, Benny Blanco and Rosalia joining in on the mix. Rosalia continues her domination outside of the category with a Best New Artist nod, as well as Best Choreography for her J Balvin collaboration, “Con Altura.”  

4.       Lil Nas X: As the VMAs come before any of the other music award shows, they are the first to be able to give Lil Nas X due credit for his breakout song “Old Town Road.” The song’s remix with Billy Ray Cyrus has racked up 16 weeks at number one, tying the record for most weeks at number one with Mariah Carey & Boys II Men’s “One Sweet Day” and Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito,” and is possibly set to break it next week. The rap-country crossover got Lil Nas X eight nominations, the fourth highest behind Grande, Swift and Eilish, including Video of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist. Even his recent coming out hasn’t stopped his growing popularity like it has other artists in the past, which is pretty progressive. (Because of Lil’ Nas X’s remix, country mainstay Billy Ray Cyrus has also earned his first VMA nominations.)

5.       Videos “Doing Good”: Though MTV has done similar categories in years past, the new Video for Good category is a great way to honor the recent resurgence of videos for a cause. Right now you have a lot of big name artists taking a stand against injustice and merging it into their art. Taylor Swift, John Legend, The Killers and Halsey are all nominated. Nominations were also given to newcomers Lil Dicky and Jamie N Commons & Skylar Grey, whose videos would likely have gone under the radar without the category.

The nominations for this year’s MTV VMAs are fairly reflective of where music culture is right now. It’s a list that expands on trends highlighting women in music, global influence, inclusion and more. The full list of nominees and online voting can be found on the MTV website.

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Find music from VMA nominees past and present at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Albums Coming Out in July 2019

July is here and the summer release schedule is just heating up. This month will see some hot new releases coming to stores, including highly anticipated projects from the likes of Marshmello, Ed Sheeran, Sum 41 and more.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, loves new music. That’s why we’ve compiled a list highlighting some of the biggest albums and best bets hitting shelves in the month of July. Here are seven albums (and a few more) we think will be worth looking out for.

1.       Marshmello, ‘Joytime III’: Producer / DJ Marshmello has been having a banner couple of years, especially when it came to 2018’s multiplatinum stand-alone single “Happier,” his collaboration with Bastille. The artist releases his third album, ‘Joytime III,’ today, just in time for the long July 4 weekend. Having heard single “Rescue Me,” his collaboration with hard rockers A Day to Remember, and its impressive combination of the two artists’ genres, I think this could be one of the hottest albums of the summer.  (7/3)

2.       Joey Cape, ‘Let Me Know When You Give Up’: Joey Cape, best known as frontman for punk rockers Lagwagon, is releasing his fourth solo album, ‘Let Me Know When You Give Up,’ this week. The sound is a little brighter and more instrumental than his previous solo efforts, which mainly consisted of vocals and guitar. According to an interview with Kerrang, Cape said of the album, “I wanted to say the things I wanted to say, but I really wanted at the core was a guideline to remain hopeful, to try to inflate this idea of things being better to and not control everything and be a positive force.” (7/5)

3.       Ed Sheeran, ‘No. 6 Collaborations Project’: Anything Ed Sheeran touches turns to gold and that is sure to prove true again when the British singer-songwriter releases his fourth album ‘No. 6 Collaborations Project’ this month. The album’s first two singles, “I Don’t Care” featuring Justin Bieber and “Cross Me” featuring Chance the Rapper and PnB Rock, have already amassed huge success on the charts with the latter having already gone platinum in some countries. There is no doubt that this is one of the most anticipated albums of the summer. (7/12)

4.       Sum 41, ‘Order in Decline’: Early 2000s punk rockers Sum 41 are back this month with their most anticipated album in a while. ‘Order in Decline’ is set to feature some of the band’s heaviest work to date, and that’s not just talk from a press release. The album’s first single “Out for Blood” reached number 18 on the Mainstream Rock chart, their first single in nearly 15 years to do so. Their latest single, “Never There,” about frontman Deryck Whibley’s non-existent relationship with his father, is one of the most emotionally songs he has ever written. (7/19)

5.       Violent Femmes, ‘Hotel Last Resort’: Making up for lost time, the Violent Femmes release their latest album, ‘Hotel Last Resort,’ the follow-up to their first album in 16 years, ‘We Can Do Anything’ (2016), this month. The band told Rolling Stone that this is one of their most cohesive albums to date, saying “It’s a classic album, in the sense that people should actually sit down and listen to the whole thing. It’s not too long. It’s short, it’s punchy, it’s solid, it’s to the point, goes a few different directions but it always comes back to the core approach and then it’s over.” (7/26)

6.       NF, ‘The Search’: NF has been making a name for himself in the rap game over the last few years with his honest, upfront and personal lyricism. His single “The Search,” from his upcoming album of the same name, is as impressive and captivating as it is deep, discussing his mental health issues in the wake of his sudden fame. If the other tracks on the album are this special, ‘The Search’ could end up being a great album. (7/26)

7.       Sugar Ray, ‘Little Yachty’: It’s been more than 10 years since 1990s rockers Sugar Ray released their last studio album, the middle-of-the-road 2008 flop ‘Music For Cougars.’ The band ends this decade-long recording hiatus this month with the release of their upcoming seventh studio album ‘Little Yachty.’ According to Billboard, frontman Mark McGrath said the band took their time with this album, trying to recreate the beach-y vibe of their heyday. “So we just decided to make a record our fans wanted to hear. It was a fun record to make, top to bottom.” (7/26)

Further Listening:

·         Machine Gun Kelly, ‘Hotel Diablo’ (7/5)

·         311, ‘Voyager’ (7/12)

·         Andy Grammer, ‘Naïve’ (7/26)

·         Of Monsters and Men, ‘Fever Dream’ (7/26)

With a lot of highly anticipated albums and other interest-piquing new releases, July is gearing up to be a good month for new music. Keep an eye out for some of our picks above and let us know what albums you’re excited to get your hands on this month.

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Discover music new and old this summer at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres to suit most music fans. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking for something new to you or to rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what gems you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Albums Coming Out June 2019

June is here and so is the summer new release season. There are a lot of highly anticipated albums coming out this month, including projects from the likes of Avicii, the Jonas Brothers, Madonna, The Raconteurs and The Black Keys.

With the first New Music Friday of the month coming up this week, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the biggest albums and best bets set to hit shelves in the month of June. Here are seven albums (and a few more picks) we think will be worth keeping an eye out for this month.

1.       Avicii, ‘Tim’: Just over a year after electronic music producer Avicii’s (nee Tim Bergling) untimely death, his posthumous third album, ‘Tim,’ is being released. Work on the album had started before his passing with some of his collaborators pitching in to help finish it. Proceeds from the album’s sales will go to the Tim Bergling Foundation, which helps “treat mental illness and prevent suicide.” (6/6)

2.       Jonas Brothers, ‘Happiness Begins’: After six years of leading separate lives and prosperous solo careers, the Jonas Brothers have reunited and are releasing a new album to make it official. The band of brothers has already released two highly successful comeback singles, with the sleek and catchy “Sucker” debuting at number one on the Billboard charts. The release also coincides with the premiere of their new Amazon Prime documentary, ‘Chasing Happiness.’(6/7)

3.       Perry Farrell, ‘Kind Heaven’: Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell releases his first solo album in 18 years, ‘Kind Heaven,’ this Friday. Based on his Las Vegas destination venture of the same name, the album was produced by Tony Visconti (David Bowie) and features collaborations with Dhani Harrison, Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins, The Cars’ Elliot Easton, Tommy Lee and more. (6/7)

4.       Madonna, ‘Madame X’: Madonna has been releasing music consistently throughout the last four decades, somehow molding herself to fit into the popular music of the era. Her upcoming 14^th studio effort, ‘Madame X,’ finds her doing the same. It’s almost uncanny how much singles “Medellin,” “I Rise” and “Crave” find the “Queen of Pop” sounding like all the other female singers that are popular right now. (6/14)

5.       Noah Kahan, ‘Busyhead’: This month he finally releases his debut album, ‘Busyhead.’ The culmination of years of slowly building up a fanbase with his folk rock sound, singer-songwriter Noah Kahan releases his debut album, ‘Busyhead,’ this month. Tunes like “Young Blood,” “Hurt Somebody,” “False Confidence” and “Mess” are catchy and honest, giving me high hopes that the album will be one not to miss. (6/14)

6.       The Raconteurs, ‘Help Us Stranger’: The Raconteurs return this month after a more than 11 year hiatus with their third studio album, ‘Help Us Stranger.’ Featuring singles “Sunday Driver” and “Now That You’re Gone,” which were originally released as part of the tenth anniversary rerelease of ‘Consolers of the Lonely,’ the album continues the band’s mission to “push rock n’ roll forward into its future” through “prodigious riffs, blues power, sinewy psychedelia, Detroit funk, and Nashville soul.” (6/21)

7.       The Black Keys, “Let’s Rock”: The Black Keys return after five years this month with their ninth studio album, “Let’s Rock” (stylized with the quotation marks). Self-produced by the duo of Pat Carney and Dan Auerbach, the album is said to harken back to the band’s more rock-influenced roots. Featuring no keyboards on it whatsoever, Carney told Pitchfork that the album more of “an homage to electric guitar.” (6/28)

More Album Picks:

·         Santana, ‘Africa Speak’: (6/7)

·         Bastille, ‘Doom Days’: (6/14)

·         Bruce Springsteen, ‘Western Stars’: (6/14)

·         Chris Shiflett, ‘Hard Lessons’: (6/21)

·         Mark Ronson, ‘Late Night Feelings’: (6/21)

·         Willie Nelson, ‘Ride Me Back Home’: (6/21)

·         Lil Nas X, ‘7’: (TBA)

With many highly anticipated albums to look forward to, June is going to be an epic month for new releases. Keep an eye out for some of our picks above and let us know what new albums you’re looking forward to getting your hands on this month in the comments below.

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Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide variety of genres. Browse our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking for something new to you or to rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

New Albums Still to Come in May 2019

We’re already one week into May and we’ve already seen some pretty important new albums hitting shelves. Last week saw the highly-anticipated release of Vampire Weekend’s ‘Father Of The Bride,’ as well as albums from Judah & The Lion, L7, Dream Syndicate, Bad Religion and Ashley Tisdale. And there’s still more to come as the month soldiers on.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the new albums we can expect to see coming out in the next month. From rock and metal to pop and hip-hop, here are seven albums worth watching for in May.

1.       Charly Bliss, ‘Young Enough’: Up-and-coming pop-rock band Charly Bliss is getting ready to release their sophomore album, ‘Young Enough,’ this week. The follow-up to their well-received debut full-length ‘Guppy,’ the new album has a lot to live up to. However, with upbeat, catchy-yet-thought provoking singles like “Capacity,” ‘Young Enough’ could prove to be just as powerful. (5/10)

2.       Whitesnake, ‘Flesh & Blood’: After a year-and-a-half of delays, Whitesnake is finally releasing their new album ‘Flesh & Blood.’ The band is still at the top of their game after more than four decades, coming out swinging with hard-rocking tracks like lead single “Shut Up & Kiss Me.” According to frontman David Coverdale, that song is supposed to be a light love song to counteract all the darkness in the world right now. (5/10)

3.       Carly Rae Jepsen, ‘Dedicated’: Carly Rae Jepsen has proven herself to be a force in pop music over the last 10 years, producing hit after hit to compete with the bigger pop stars. Her upcoming fourth studio effort ‘Dedicated’ is shaping up to be another hit with singles “Party for One” and “Now That I Found You” having made their way to the top 30 in the US. (5/17)

4.       DJ Khaled, ‘Father of Asahd’: DJ Khaled has broken out over the last three years, releasing two highly popular albums and working with several of today’s hottest hip-hop artists. He plans to do it all again with ‘Father of Asahd,’ his 11^th studio album. From what we already know, the album features appearances from Beyonce, Jay-Z, Future, Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper, Migos’ Quavo and more. (5/17)

5.       Rammstein, ‘Rammstein’: Rammstein’s first new album in a decade, the band hasn’t shied away from controversy in promoting it. The German metal band has released two singles so far, both with videos that have had people talking. “Deutchland” in particular raised concerns of anti-Semitism with its video, which chronicles hundreds of years of negative German history, including the Holocaust. With that being said, “Deutchland” and second single “Radio” each have strong melodies and pointed lyricism that push the envelope and make you think. The rest of the album should be interesting as well. (5/17)

6.       The Stray Cats, ‘40’: It’s been more than 26 years since The Stray Cats have released an album together. But for the band’s 40^th anniversary, the trio is doing just that. The album’s first single “Cat Fight (Over A Dog Like Me)” swings as if no time has passed. (5/24)

7.       Ionnalee, ‘Remember The Future’: Gaining prominence in 2009 as the highly secretive iamamiwhoami, electro-pop artist Jonna Lee has since taken up the moniker of Ionnalee to release new music, putting out the project’s debut ‘Everyone Afraid to Be Forgotten’ in 2018. A little over a year later Lee is back with that album’s follow-up, ‘Remember the Future,’ this month. There’s something understated yet entrancing about her sound that sucks you in. (5/31)

Even with one week down, May 2019 still has a lot of killer new album releases to look forward to. From highly anticipated projects from the likes of Carley Rae Jepsen and DJ Khaled to ones from artists just bubbling up like Charly Bliss to established rock and metal bands like Rammstein, Whitesnake and The Stray Cats, new music abounds this month. Keep an eye out for some of the titles listed above and let us know what May 2019 releases you’re excited to get your hands on in the comments below.

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Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres to suit the tastes of most music fans. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking for something new or to rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.