Kristy Wandmaker, co-owner of Wollongong store $4 Vinyl. Picture: SYLVIA LIBER
A new player on Wollongong's music scene is feeding the vinyl revival.
The store, called $4 Vinyl, began trading inside Crown St Mall's Central Chambers building last month, rolling out crates of about 800 cut-price second-hand LPs, 45s, and 12-inch singles.
Owners David St. Quintin, a musician, and Kristy Wandmaker, a contributing writer for music street press Drum Media, say their operation reflects a booming new interest in the once superseded medium.
"Throughout the progression of modern music this century it's been about getting the best possible recording quality and sound," Ms Wandmaker said.
"CDs were seen [achieving quality] but in doing that they kind of lost a bit of the heart and soul of the music.
"I think people are rediscovering the experience of [vinyl], the smell of it, the flicking sides and the thought and effort that went into how an album's presented and how it is compiled."
According to the Australian Recording Industry Association, there were 65,000 vinyl albums sold in Australia last year, compared with 18,000 in 2007. The numbers do not include unsigned bands or small labels.
Ms Wandmaker and Mr St. Quintin will divide the store's profits with the charity Support Act, which offers aid to people with links to the music industry who have fallen on hard times.
They hope to further support the charity by hosting ticketed "listening parties" with visiting and local musicians and music identities who would perform and share their favourite record with a small number of people.
Ms Wandmaker said the events would give young musicians a chance to connect with their musical heroes.
Their LPs are mostly stock from Newtown's Egg Records, to be replenished every month and sold for $4 each or three for $10.