Without so much as a word of warning, on Monday, January 7th, 2019, Canadian vinyl distributor RPM sent the following email to all of its clients:

“I regret to inform you that RPM Distribution will be closing all operations effective immediately. No orders will be processed moving forward, and any existing orders in the system will be cancelled. All returns on site will be processed and credits will be provided. New returns will not be issued or accepted. Limited staff will be here to facilitate and oversee accounts payable/receivables and supplier returns…”

For many years, RPM Distribution was the leading independent distributor of vinyl records for all of Canada–and without any warning or explanation, the company suddenly shut down in early January of this year. Retailers were left reeling; while some larger shops had time to (quickly) look for an alternate supplier, smaller record stores weren’t so lucky. As The Toronto Star writes, “the move put a halt to vinyl shipments for many smaller music shops,” meaning that independent retailers simply stopped receiving music altogether. While the suddenness of RPM’s closure made retailers panic, it also made people wonder–why, after all of these years, was RPM shutting down so suddenly? What had happened to it? Why was no one talking about the reason behind the closure? Mystery and panic surrounded the abrupt closure, leaving retailers and buyers alike anxious about the future of vinyl in Canada.

It was not until early February that questions would be answered. Two weeks after RPM announced its closure, the company filed for bankruptcy; and it was found that RPM owed $8.9 million CAD in liabilities to various major music labels – primarily, Universal Music Canada. This was found out when Paul Herzog, the president of RPM’s parent company Sound City Music Entertainment Inc., filed a sworn statement in an Ontario court on January 25th, 2019.

This, however, did nothing to comfort vinyl retailers. With shelves left empty from the Christmas and Boxing Day rushes the month before, stores were left floundering, wondering how they were going to restock. Some stores relied on RPM to supply more than 70% of their stock, and did not even get the chance to receive their regular post-holidays restock before RPM went under. While there was already no hope for record stores to receive new albums, the sudden closure also meant that many stores didn’t even receive their regular stock. Left bare-shelved and with absolutely no support from RPM, vinyl stores across the entire country were in deep trouble.

So, what are the lasting effects of RPM’s closure?

For one, customers won’t be able to find album or artist titles as easily. There may be less stock altogether, and you may not even be able to find as many copies of popular music anymore. And, because of this incredibly limited amount of stock, it is likely that vinyl stores are going to have to start raising prices. With vinyl albums typically retailing between $25 and $45 (excluding limited edition albums), these prices may have to increase just to keep record stores afloat.

RPM’s closure has also left many people wondering if this is an indication of the state of vinyl’s popularity. Rest assured, however, that last year alone saw a 25% increase in vinyl sales in Canada–as Doug Putman, President of Sunrise Records says, “The industry as a whole is healthy… it is still a very healthy niche business.”

While this might not mean that vinyl is going away any time soon, now, it is more important than ever to support your local record stores. Yes, prices may be going up, but if you truly love records, please continue to support the industry–particularly independent locations, that were more severely impacted by the RPM closure. And, if you’ve never been much of a vinyl fan, now is the time to start collecting! Below is a list of record stores nearby campus that are worth checking out. Support Toronto’s independent vinyl retailers!

Dead Dog Record
1209 Bloor Street West

Run by former employees of Sunrise Records, Dead Dog Records is similar to what you might remember HMV looking like. With a solid vinyl collection, this record store also sells music t-shirts and other accessories, if you’re looking for something beyond records. The team at Dead Dog is small, dedicated, and always good for new music recommendations!

Kops Records
229 Queen Street West

A chain of record stores (which has recently gotten smaller, following the closure of their Bloor Street location), Kops Records is a classic Toronto record store that has been around since the 1970s. This location houses North America’s largest collection of rare and Northern Soul 45s, and is located right next to Osgoode Station on the subway line, if you don’t feel like walking!

Play De Record
411 Spadina Avenue

Having just relocated after twenty-six years from its Yonge Street location, Play De Record was initially oriented toward DJs. Still the go-to place for DJs who prefer the old-school stuff over digital music-making, this record shop is small, but mighty. The staff are very knowledgeable, and if you’ve ever considered entering the world of DJ-ing, this is the place to start!

Sonic Boom
215 Spadina Avenue

Sonic Boom has one of the largest record collections I’ve ever seen. Upstairs houses their newest releases and employee favorites, along with a sizeable collection of books, record players, neon lights, and other little novelties. Downstairs is a massive vinyl and CD shop, with almost every genre and artist imaginable. Can’t find what you’re looking for? They’ll order your records in for you!

Tonality Records
2168 Dundas Street West

If you’re looking for something a little more indie and niche, Tonality Records is the place to go. Tonality, as is printed in big, bold letters on their website, specializes in “small-run indie and hard to find vinyl.” If more mainstream music isn’t to your taste, this shop is definitely worth checking out for some incredible finds.

Shortstack Records
256A Queen Street West

A fairly famous Toronto record store, Shortstack Records has a wide selection of vinyl. It’s the ideal place to sell old records and buy new ones, if you’re looking to change your tastes up a bit! The staff is incredibly friendly, hands-on, and knowledgeable about their stock. Shortstack also boasts an incredibly popular Instagram account (@shortstackrecords) for record collections and enthusiasts.