There’s something special about holding a record in your hands – slipping it out of the sleeve, studying the artwork and placing it on the turntable. And there’s nothing better than discovering a vinyl at a record store after flipping through all the LPs; leaving the shop with a tangible piece of your favourite artist or band.
Record stores have always been more than places to buy music. They’re community hubs, attracting like-minded people who spend hours browsing collections and digging out forgotten classics. There’s also the opportunity to discover new artists and gain valuable knowledge from the store owner.
With The BRIT Awards’ arrival in Manchester in 2026, renewed attention on the city’s cultural scene is great news for record shops, with brands such as Mastercard and its long-standing sponsorship of the BRITs helping to shine a spotlight on independent businesses.
Manchester’s Northern Quarter is brimming with an eclectic range of indie outlets, including a cluster of record shops. To celebrate The Brit Awards 2026, Mastercard has partnered with record stores in the city to help drive footfall. Anyone who uses their Mastercard to make a purchase between 23 February and 15 March can enter a prize draw to win one of 24 Mastercard prepaid cards, worth £250, that they can spend back in-store.
Among the participating stores is Vinyl Revival, a stalwart of the Manchester music scene since 1997. Owner Colin White’s love of vinyl dates back to his childhood, as he explains. “My dad had a record stall on Oldham Market in the mid to late-70s. I started working there when I was about 10 or 11, which would be about 1978. That was my introduction to music.”
White was just 10 years old when he saw the Jam, his first live gig; that was followed by concerts at Manchester’s iconic Free Trade Hall, including Blondie. Growing up, there were few records in the house, but the garage was stacked full of vinyl for his dad’s market stall. When he left school, White visited charity shops and flea markets for vinyl – and by his mid-20s, he’d amassed enough records to open a small shop. Within a year, he’d set up in the Northern Quarter, and he’s been there ever since.
In the intervening years, White has seen the ebb and flow of vinyl interest. In fact, the name Vinyl Revival was a response to the popularity of CDs in the 1990s. “Everyone was buying CDs,” he recalls. “Everyone was trying to get rid of their vinyl collections. So, it was a great time to buy them because they were at a really good price. People were just giving them away. It gave me the opportunity to build up stock quite quickly.
“We cross all types of music. I think we have one of the biggest jazz selections in the city. And we go right back to the 50s too, we sell rock’n’roll, blues, reggae, punk and indie – and have a specialist Manchester section. After 30 years, you learn what sells.”
According to White, the vinyl renaissance began more than a decade ago, partly due to young people discovering the charm of physical music. “I’ve noticed a change [in clientele] over the past 10 years. There’s a great female audience now, which we try to cater to. My daughter’s put me on to artists like Chappell Roan and Ethel Cain – I still get educated all the time.”
Today, sales of new releases account for three-quarters of White’s stock, something which he says is replicated in other record shops as well. Music streaming subscriptions account for the lion’s share of money spent on music across the country, but statistics show that vinyl love grew by 9.1% in 2024 (with 6.7m discs sold that year) and by 13.3% in 2025 with sales up to 7.6m discs.
Despite this, it’s still incredibly difficult for emerging artists to break through – which is where record shops come in with their determination to champion new talent. “It’s so hard now for bands,” says White. “You think that you’ve got access to the internet and you’ve got a worldwide audience, but it’s harder than ever to get yourself out there.”
White blames the dominance of major record labels, which eat up coverage of new tracks in print and online, and the struggle to secure radio airtime. White knows what he’s talking about. In addition to owning Vinyl Revival, he’s run a record label since 2007, also called Vinyl Revival, which produces reissues of overlooked Manchester bands and up-and-coming northern artists. Recently, White rereleased the Stone Roses’ debut single for charity and raised £11,000 for Young Lives vs Cancer.
“If new artists want to come in the shop and leave their stuff, we offer sale or return,” he says. “We take a small commission if they sell.” He always explains to artists the importance of getting radio play and really pushing their social media to build a fanbase. He will continue to support musicians who are following their dreams and will continue to provide a vital community resource. “Some people come in the shop and they’d chat to you for a half a day if they could,” he says.
It’s this kind of grassroots connection with local artists and local people, supported by partnerships with brands such as Mastercard and The BRIT Awards, that will translate into long-term opportunities for northern musicians.
The BRIT Awards with Mastercard are being held on Saturday 28 February at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena. Watch live on ITV1 or catch up on ITVX. Mastercard is proud to sponsor The BRIT Awards, supporting music from grassroots to the global stage. Discover more at mastercard.co.uk/BRITs
