2025 Vinyl Sales Reaches $1B For First Time Since 1983
The U.S. recorded-music industry is reaching a record high of sales for 2025 sales. The RIAA's year end revenue report shows the industry made 11-point-five-billion dollars in revenue in 2025, with vinyl sales surpassing one-billion dollars for the first time since 1983. Taylor Swift leads vinyl sales from her album "The Life of a Showgirl," selling around one-point-six million units. Sabrina Carpenter's last two albums sold nearly 600-thousand vinyl units last year. Vinyl also led last year's physical formats, almost tripling the revenue of CDs.
JERRY GARCIA: "Tiger" Roars Again
Last Thursday, Jerry Garcia's custom-built Doug Irwin guitar, nicknamed “Tiger,” sold for $11,560,000, which was a record price for both a Garcia and Irwin guitar. It was part of the collection of the late Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay that was auctioned at Christie's, and it was purchased by Bobby Tseitlin of Family Guitars in Chicago. 24 hours later, and again on Saturday, the guitar was back onstage in the hands of Tseitlin's friend and partner in Ass Pocket Whiskey, Derek Trucks (who was at the auction), during Tedechi-Trucks' 10-night residency at New York's Beacon Theatre. Trucks played it on The Allman Brothers Band's cover of Blind Willie McTell's “Statesboro Blues,” and The Grateful Dead's “Sugaree” and a few others. He tells Rolling Stone, “It’s funny, you walk on stage with that guitar and the audience is like, ‘Oh [crap]!’ There’s this New York Grateful Dead energy that’s very unique.” He adds that, “It’s a really heavy guitar, but it’s really articulate when you play it. So there’s no hiding anywhere. You’re going to hear all of it, every note. It almost speaks like a piano in some ways, where everything’s clean and even. It’s not for the faint of heart. You need to know what you’re doing to play that guitar. I wasn’t worried about hurting that thing. It’s a big old heavy beast, and he can handle it.”
"Tiger" is no stranger to being played following Garcia's death in 1995 as Irsay, who bought in 2002 for $850,000, has loaned it to another former Allman Brother, Warren Haynes, who played it on the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration tour in 2016. At that time, Irsay said, "'Tiger' needs to be available for future generations to see and hear. I know this instrument, in the right hands, can produce sound capable of moving the human spirit to dance, to tears, and every emotion in between.” And that is exactly what its new owner intends as Tseitlin's Family Guitars is not a museum. He says, “We don’t want them behind glass. We want them to live and breathe. And that’s why we wanted 'Tiger'. We knew that if 'Tiger' went somewhere else, it was most likely going to be left behind glass. Or if it goes overseas — because I’ve seen a lot of instruments disappear overseas — you won’t see them again. It’s just terrible. They deserve to be out there, and people want to hear them. Those guitars bring out something in players.”
Garcia paid Irwin $5,800 for the guitar, which took six years to make.
R.E.M's Michael Stipe Give Update On Long Awaited Debut Solo Album
R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe is giving an update on his anticipated solo album.In a New york Times article, the musician said the project has taken longer than her wanted, noting "Covid didn't help, but I'm finishing it." Stipe added,"I want it to be great, but I've got the pressure of having been in R.E.M. and it's a high bar." According to the article, the singer still needs to write lyrics for eight songs before the album's done. The official title has yet to be announced.
BILLY JOEL: He's Hanging In
Billy Joel is working hard to overcome normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain condition that can cause balance, vision and hearing problems. His daughter Alexa Ray tells The Hollywood Reporter, “He’s doing physical therapy regularly and he’s doing great. He’s lost weight as he’s on his diet. I’m so proud of him. He’s such a trooper, so resilient and committed to being healthy and proactive. He’s a fighter. He’s always been a fighter." While Joel did take the stage in January, sitting in with the Billy Joel tribute band Turnstiles -- named after his fourth album -- in Wellington, Florida, where he has a home, he did not perform at his tribute show last week at New York's Carnegie Hall, despite being in attendance. Alexa says she made sure he showed up. "I said, ‘Dad, you better be there! This is Carnegie Hall. Everyone’s paying tribute to you, and it’s an amazing group of artists.’ He was like, ‘Let me mark that down.’ He’s very organized with his little calendar. “He was so excited when he first played Carnegie Hall in the '70s, so it’s exciting for him to come back decades later and see amazing artists and his daughter pay tribute to him. It’s a full-circle moment.” The Music of Billy Joel featured his band backing the likes of Rob Thomas from Matchbox Twenty, Pat Monahan of Train, Marc Roberge of O.A.R.
and Alexa. Billy posted videos of the night on Instagram.
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM: Time To React ... Again
This Wednesday, Lindsey Buckingham will unveil the first episode of season two of his YouTube series, Lindsey and Leelee React, in which he and his daughter share their thoughts on videos that he or others made. Last year father and daughter examined and reacted to:
- Florence + the Machine's cover of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain"
- Fleetwood Mac's "Big Love"
- “Tonight” by Phoenix featuring Ezra Koenig
- Buckingham's video for his 1984 song “Go Insane”
- Charli XCX’s "Von Dutch"
- And Buckingham's "Slow Dancing" off his second album, 1984's Go Insane
Joining them this year is his oldest child and only son, Will.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Born to Eat
Bruce Springsteen's private chef, Andre Fowles, is plugging his debut book, My Jamaican Table, for which his boss wrote the foreword. He's been cooking lunch and dinner for Springsteen and his wife Patti Scialfa for over five years at their Colts Neck, New Jersey estate, and he tells Rolling Stone lunch is between noon and one, with dinner between six and seven. Here's some of what he had to say about what Springsteen likes to eat:
Favorite dish: "I keep going back to one particular dish that I’ve made quite a few times that he enjoyed. It’s a curried lobster with coconut rice, roti to dip into the sauce, some mango chutney and sweet plantains. You have the spicy from the curry, the sweetness from the chutney and the coconut rice, so it’s a really lovely spread. I would say that’s his go-to." Does
Springsteen talk food? "Oh yeah, all the time. He wants to talk about what’s on the menu, what’s going on, how is he feeling? He’ll get up and have feelings for certain dishes. A few days ago I was there and he was like, 'Hey Andre, let’s make some Philly cheesesteak sandwiches.' It’s a fun balance of having these conversations about different cuisines. We talk about food quite a lot. And he loves talking about Jamaican food." Springsteen's go-to food vice: "He has his moments where he craves seafood for a few days, or it’s just meat, or it’s just dinner and no lunch. He goes by his own tune at times. He loves his classics: a great cheeseburger, hot dogs, fried chicken.
Famous friends of Springsteen he's cooked for: "Sting and Bruce are great friends. I’ve cooked for the Obamas as well. That was top of the top in terms of, 'Oh my gosh, I’m cooking for the Obamas.'" And the menu was "Mediterranean because we were actually in Spain at the time, so it was more of a Spanish theme: paella, seafood." Fowles doesn't cook breakfast for Springsteen, but he knows what he likes. "[He] loves his eggs. Sunnyside up and toast. Loves a nice strawberry banana shake with some protein powder in it to keep him going. He loves a nice breakfast sandwich as well. Very straightforward. He loves his granola. I make a killer granola from scratch and he has that with his yogurt." In addition to cooking at Springsteen's home, Fowles also goes on the road with him. Oh, and the irony of Springsteen liking Jamaican food? He's never been to Jamaica.
VIOLET GROHL: Spirit of Grandma on Debut
Violet Grohl says that her late grandmother Virginia Grohl -- Dave's mom -- was a big influence on her debut album, Be Sweet to Me. Grohl has her grandmother’s portrait tattooed on her arm and told Kerrang that one song on her album, "Bug In A Cake," is about living in Virginia's house now. She says, "Her presence on earth was so strong and so vibrant that it feels like she’s still here and I feel very close to her all the time. Moving into her house was all I wanted to do. The thought of it being torn down and turned into some developmental property broke my heart, so I couldn’t let that happen. "My grandmother had kept the most amazing family heirlooms, like my great grandpa’s World War II dog tags, and all the letters he wrote to my great grandma when he was serving in the navy. The song 'Bug in a Cake' is about how the house is haunted, because my grandmother is still very much there. There’s a lyric, ‘Turn the TV off so it turns back on,’ about when I came home and despite switching everything off, the TV was on in the bedroom, with MSNBC on, which was my grandmother’s favourite channel.” Be Sweet to Me will be out on May 29th.
GENE SIMMONS: Even He's Not This Greedy
It's no secret that Gene Simmons loves his money, but even he has his limits on how much he would charge ... or, in this case, you would think so. Vinnie Vincent, a hired-hand guitarist in KISS from 1982 to '84, who charged $200 a few months ago for his new song "Ride the Serpent" -- for which there were little to no takers -- is charging $2 million for his new album, Guitarmageddon. That's right, $2 million.
He says, "It's been a long time in the making. I am very proud of this very special album. The entire album will be offered in master format only for $2 million. This includes 10 songs mixed in master, final product format, all the master files of the artwork, related posters, and 10 separate vinyl and CD packaging art for each individual song, should the buyer choose to release the album on a per-song basis. "The buyer can choose to release the entire album in any format they desire...vinyl, CD, or any other configuration, in whole or in part, at their discretion. All marketing plans and ideas require approval by Vinnie Vincent. The price does not include any right, title, or interest in the copyrights and/or trademarks related to Vinnie Vincent or the product itself. "If the buyer wishes to purchase any associated rights in the compositions, a separate agreement can be arranged and negotiated. The price will also include a perpetual license to use the brand name Vinnie Vincent Invasion and Vinnie Vincent for the life of the album." If $2 million is too rich for your wallet, you can purchase each song for $200,000 with the same terms and conditions attached. One other thing: The terms and conditions do not stipulate the royalty rate Vincent expects if the purchaser releases the album. Hey Vinnie, here's a news flash -- One, no one in their right mind is going to pay $2 million for anything you own. And two, if they are that stupid, there's no way in hell they would ever recoup their cost. Good luck.
Disney Workers Board Up Hollywood Studios Location In Orlando Following Closure Of AEROSMITH Attraction
Disney's Hollywood Studios is undergoing major changes as part of a broader effort to update key areas at Walt Disney World Resort. The closure of the iconic Rock 'n' Roller Coaster marked a significant milestone in the park's transformation, ending its nearly 30-year run featuring the music of Aerosmith. While the coaster has vanished from updated park maps, the ride system will be reimagined with a new theme. The closure of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster represents a significant shift for long-time guests who considered it a defining thrill at Hollywood Studios.
Sir Rod Stewart adds more shows to Las Vegas Strip residency
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Sir Rod Stewart has added six more performances to his Las Vegas residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The new dates for "The Encore Shows" are in August. Stewart first launched his residency in 2011 and returned in 2025 due to popular demand. The shows will feature his biggest hits, upgraded production, and deep cuts. Fan club presales start on Wednesday, March 18, with general ticket sales beginning this Friday, March 20.
Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band To Tour
Even though Jimmy Buffett has passed, his legendary backing band, the Coral Reefer Band, will continue on. Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band will head out on a 19-date “Keep the Party Going Tour” beginning July 9th in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with stops include Atlanta, Washington DC and more before wrapping up on August 8th in Boston. Tickets will first be available through pre-sales today and tomorrow, with the general on-sale set for Friday at 10AM local time. See the band's website for ticket info and concert dates. Check out the first ten dates of the tour below.
- July 9 – Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Event Center
- July 10 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
- July 11 – Washington, DC – The Theater at MGM National Harbor
- July 14 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park
- July 16 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater
- July 18 – Atlanta, GA – Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
- July 19 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
- July 21 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
- July 23 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
- July 24 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Sponsored by Huntsman
IN OTHER NEWS
Elton John’s annual Academy Awards viewing party Sunday in West Hollywood, California raised $10.6-million for his AIDS Foundation. Among those in attendance were Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, Adam Lambert, and Elton’s longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin.
Former Steely Dan guitarists Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Denny Dias will play together for the first time since 1974 on April 9th at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks, California. They'll be joining The Musicians of Steely Dan, which includes Steely Dan touring members Royce Jones, Keith Carlock, Freddie Washington and Bob Sheppard.
Queen guitarist Brian May once again joined pop star Benson Boone on stage. This time it was Sunday in Birmingham, England, where he played on Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions,” along with Boone’s “Beautiful Things.” May said, “Whole lotta fun with Benson Boone… His show is sensational -- I just provided a little icing on the cake…” He also said it was “a chance for my grandchildren to share a moment and experience what my life has been like.”
Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain has checked in from the road, posting that it’s “been so great to be back out on the road and on tour again, playing music and connecting with all of you. There’s nothing like being in the room together, sharing these moments city after city and feeling the energy from the crowd. Thank you for all the love and support — it truly means more than you know.” And, he’s also plugging his new Christian song, “Only a Prayer Away,” which is available on all streaming platforms.” Journey’s Final Frontier tour makes a stop in Columbus, Ohio tonight (Monday), Indianapolis on Tuesday, Milwaukee on Thursday, Memphis on Saturday, and Lexington, Kentucky on Sunday.
On This Day
·in 1756, Patrick's Day Parade was celebrated in New York City for the first time.
·In 1967 - Working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles finished recording "She's Leaving Home" after adding backing vocals to the track. Harpist Sheila Bromberg, who was part of the string section n the track, became the first woman to play on a Beatles recording.
·In 1978 - U2 won £500 ($850) and a chance to audition for CBS Ireland in a talent contest held in Dublin, The Limerick Civic Week Pop '78 Competition. Just two years later, U2 were signed to Island Records and released their debut album, Boy.
·In 1978 - Elvis Costello released his second studio album, This Year's Model with the singles "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea," "Pump It Up," and "This Year's Girl."
·In 1984 - Van Halen's "Jump" peaked at No. 1 in the U.S.
·In 1998 - Van Halen released their eleventh studio album, Van Halen III, which would be their only album with former Extreme singer Gary Cherone. It went on to become their first album not to go platinum, and they didn't release another studio album until 2012's A Different Kind of Truth.
·in 1999, a panel of medical experts concluded that marijuana has medical benefits for people suffering from cancer and AIDS.