WRITER | CANDIE CONAT

Satellite Records has been on the Kalamazoo vinyl scene since 2009. Owner John McIntyre had such a large collection of vinyl records that his wife suggested he open a store. So, he did! Satellite is an independently owned record store with over 10,000 albums and over 20,000 45’s – a vinyl lover’s dream.

Manager Mike Evans is also a collector and spent a lot of time at the store before his employment. He even bought his first record there. As a recent college graduate, he often thought he would love to work in the industry but wasn’t sure how or where to get started. As luck would have it, he saw a “help wanted” sign in the window one day after having lunch. He took a chance and landed his dream job.

Evans’ record collection began with a record given to him by his mother: Rush – Moving Pictures. He listened to it in his dorm room and began to realize that this record was over 30 years old, and it was the exact same one his mom had listened to over 30 years before. He loved the history and sound, was hooked, and began to build his own collection.

According to Evans, vinyl has taken over as the biggest-selling music format since the 1980s. He says it is about the music for many, but even more than that, it is about the uniqueness of the album artwork and the slightly imperfect sounds of listening to music on vinyl. Customers love to flip through record after record, looking for that one special piece that stands out as a must-have.

Satellite Records covers pretty much any genre you can think of. From classic rock and country to indie rock, modern rock, hip hop, R&B, and jazz to blues, funk, electronic, folk, and experimental. Every era from the 1950s to the present day can be found in their racks. Evans says that classic rock such as Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles is the most popular genre, but that changes year to year.

Unbeknownst to many, new music is released on vinyl every day. Some associate records with music of the past, but most current music producers are pressing recordings on vinyl and don’t even bother with CDs anymore.

If you happen to have record equipment, records, CDs, cassettes, Blu-rays, DVDs, and even VHS lying around, you may find a buyer in Satellite Records. A visit to their website offers an opportunity to detail what you’re hoping to sell. They’ll review your submission and let you know if they’re interested.

They also have an extensive record catalog online if you cannot visit in person – perfect for our current times. There were 15,096 items for sale when we checked! Each has been checked for condition, and the results are included in the listing – both the media condition and the sleeve condition. Prices vary.

Satellite Records is Record Store Day pledged and verified. Record Store Day is an annual event, started over ten years ago. It is a day for people involved in record stores – staff, customers, and artists – to celebrate the unique culture and recognize the importance of independent record stores. Special vinyl releases and promotional products are made exclusively for this day.

 

Satellite Records
808 S Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo MI 49008
(269) 381-0218 / SatelliteRecordsKzoo.com