ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13 People & Places Music Keep sales spinning Vinyl records surge during ‘pandemic’ PORTLAND, Maine, June 16, (AP): Vinyl record sales surged during the pandemic as music lovers fattened their collections, and audio cassettes began a comeback as well, keeping business spinning at re- cord stores. Easing restrictions on indoor shopping and con- tinued interest in vinyl records provide stores — and shoppers — something to cheer on last Saturday, the fi rst of two Record Store Day dates. Although many stores were closed during the early part of the pan- demic, people were listening to records at home and boosting online and curbside pickup sales of vinyl. Will Emanuel, a University of Maine student stuck at home outside Portland, bought about 50 to 55 albums during the pandemic. “I was absolutely itching to build a collection,” said Emanuel. “I fell in the rabbit hole and now it seems I can’t escape.” At 20, Emanuel is part of a new generation drawn to the warm sound, album art and retro vibe of vinyl records, joining with older Americans Thompson who grew up with the format to increase sales. Vinyl record sales soared in 2020 during the pan- demic year, growing 29% to $626 million and sur- passing compact discs in sales revenue, according to the Record Industry Association of America. Audio cassettes, of all things, are also seeing re- newed interest — though still something of a novelty when it comes to overall sales — thanks to some help from Hollywood and Netfl ix. This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Rita Moreno as Valentina in a scene from ‘West Side Story.’ (AP) “Guardians of the Galaxy” featured a grooving mixtape with hits from the 1960s and 70s that became a chart topper, while Netlfi x’s “Stranger Things” fea- tured a mixtape with the Clash and other artists from the ’80s. Film That surge in interest in records and cassettes bodes well for the annual celebration of indie music stores, those local music hubs where people can thumb through albums, CDs and cassettes, and talk music. New releases, a hallmark of Record Store Day, ‘Spanish Elizabeth Taylor’ which is being held on June 12 and July 17, include everything from Black Sabbath to The Blind Boys of Alabama, and the Buzzcocks to The Notorious B.I.G. Collectible Moreno on fi nding self-worth Many of those are one-time exclusives available only on Record Store Day, making them rare and col- NEW YORK, June 16, (AP): Rita joy and appreciation for life. him was torturous. lectible. Moreno emigrated with her mother Moreno: I have a very strong con- Moreno: Here’s what’s hilarious to The story of its start begins in Maine, where Chris from Puerto Rico at age fi ve. By six, stitution. Maybe you inherit it. Maybe me. It was he who said to me: “You Brown from Bull Moose Music pitched the idea in she was dancing at Greenwich Village it’s due to learning how to cope with need help. You need therapy.” So the 2007, and was joined by Eric Levin from the Alliance nightclubs. By 16, she was working my tumultuous life through psycho- lunatic is telling the crazy woman of Independent Music Stores. full time. By 20, she was performing therapy. I really credit that for helping that she needs help! (Laughs). But he A year later, the fi rst Record Store Day launched. in “Singin’ in the Rain.” me through some really, really bad was right! He was right. I remember These days, retailing is far different from the gold- “I can’t think of anyone I’ve ever times. My mom was like that, too. And the day he said that to me, I thought: en era when teens rushed to their local store to fl ip met in the business who lived the you know what? I have a feeling that “Yeah, but he’s crazy as a loon!” through 45-rpm records. American dream more than Rita a lot of people who are outliers have AP: After “West Side Story,” Megastores like Virgin and Tower Records are long Moreno,” Norman Lear says in the strong constitutions because it’s either you’ve said you were offered only gone, but about 1,400 record stores are still in busi- documentary “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl sink or swim, right? And I think you similar, stereotypical roles for years. ness, said Michael Kurtz, co-founder of Record Store Who Decided to Go for It.” learn early on in life that swimming is Moreno: Those were brutal. Brutal! Day. That’s up from about 1,000 stores when the busi- In the decades that followed, Moreno preferable to sinking. When I got the Oscar and the Golden ness bottomed out as people shifted to digital music, has won a Tony, a Grammy, an Emmy AP: How early did you learn that? Globe, I thought: “OK, fi nally.” And he said. and and Oscar, for “West Side Story.” Moreno: The fi rst test, I think, was that’s not what happened at all. In fact, Record albums and compact discs account together (Her entire acceptance speech: “I don’t learning English in kindergarten when it was the opposite. I was offered more Winner of the GWFF Best Feature believe it.”) With seemingly infi nite spir- I didn’t know a word, not a word. Anita-type roles when I was offered account for about $1.1 billion in annual sales, a far cry Award Dasha Nekrasova poses dur- from the $10 billion spent on streaming services like itedness, she has epitomized the best of That’s the fi rst thing that happened to something, which was not that fre- ing the 71st Berlinale International Film show business while also being a victim me literally when I came to this coun- quent. I made a decision not to accept Spotify, according to RIAA. Festival ahead the awarding ceremony Nonetheless, new record stores are opening up. to its cruelties. That has made Moreno, try. Children are impressively resil- any more of those kinds of roles. It was during the ‘Berlinale Summer Special’ who co-stars in Steven Spielberg’s up- ient. And then, in a way, they’re also a lot of coffee pourers, housewives and In California, Michael Miller and a friend who have film festival in Berlin, June 13. (AP) a collection of 5,000 to 6,000 albums apiece decided coming “West Side Story” remake, a extremely tender and fragile. I think stuff. I said I’m not going to do them to open a store in February during the pandemic in heroic fi gure to Latinos, and to others. “I the reason I ending up having such a anymore. Ha-ha, I showed them. I Twentynine Palms, not far from Joshua Tree National have never given up,” she said in a re- hard time in life is that I ran into a ra- didn’t make a movie for seven years. I Park, which has a thriving art and music scene. cent interview by Zoom from her home cial bias very early on. When you’re mean, how stubborn can you get? “My wife says you want to open a store right now, in Berkeley, California. young - I mean 5, 6, 7 - and people call AP: You recently revisited “West Side in the desert? I say sure, why not?” Miller said. Sales The reason for the conversation was you bad names like “spic” or “garlic Story” with Spielberg. How was that? are beating expectations, he said. Mariem Pérez Riera’s intimate and in- mouth” or “gold tooth,” like in “West Moreno: It was just grand. I’ve Like many indie record stores, Miller’s White Label vigorating documentary, which opens Side Story,” you’re tender, you’re a been a fan of Steven’s work for years. Vinyl provides a place for people to get together, talk in theaters Friday after playing virtually child. You believe these things. You When he called, he offered me a part about music, and to check out the latest new and used at the Sundance Film Festival and at an believe that you’re not worthy. in “West Side Story.” I nearly peed my records, and other merch. outdoor premiere at the Tribeca Festival. AP: Your life seems to be this long pants because this is Steven Spielberg, Some people shop for new albums, which cost up- The fi lm opens with Moreno prepar- process of unlearning the cruel or wrong one of my idols. I said to him that I ward of $30 apiece. Others are more interested in clas- ing a Cuban themed party for her 87th things you were told about yourself. would love to do a cameo, but I said, birthday. “And I demand costumes,” the Moreno: What a wonderful way to “You don’t really want me to do that, sic records. Banes Straight John Nyboer, a professional photographer in Los screen legend says with a smile. put it. You’re absolutely on the money. do you?” And he said, “Oh, no, no. It’s Angeles, said he prefers to shop vintage stores for As upbeat as Moreno remains, “Just I had to learn that I was a person of val- a part. It’s a real part. Tony Kushner quirky tunes for his 2,000-record collection. Lately, a Girl Who Decided to Go for It” also ue like all other people. But it’s very wrote it for you.” First of all, Tony he’s exploring old records from Mexico and South Variety deals frankly with the many turbulenc- diffi cult when you learn something Kushner’s writing the script? What! I America.