Vinyl: Austin Style Record Stores and the Authenticity of Local Culture

By sonya kraizMan

AAustin relies on the magical power of vinyl. People are bound by the ever-present love of records and the local music scene would be nothing without that. Records are the timeless way of keeping Austin cool, shaping lives, communities, and careers. Vinyl has remained forever relevant because of the connection it provides. Record stores and their employees are what define a music scene as unique. They solidify the community of an area by supporting local artists and bringing music enjoyers together. Dan Plunkett, founder of End of an Ear, believes that a record store can “[become] a networking place,” connecting people by the commonality of love for music. Vinyl is an integral part of Austin’s culture and record stores play a significant role in the city’s authenticity.

According to Eva Monsees, manager of Antone’s Records, “the amount of younger people coming in has increased dramatically over the past few years,” primarily due to the rise of the ‘retro’ aesthetic on social media. Apps like Tiktok and Instagram have romanticized the 90s, as well as artists common to that time. Cat McCrorey, manager of breakaway records, also shared her thoughts on the internet’s role in the change. “It used to be that record stores were where people could dig for rare music to sample. Obviously so much is on the internet now that the culture has changed.”

Many people collect records for tradition and aesthetics, despite most music being accessible on apps like Spotify and Apple Music. Vintage goods became more popular in the past decade, as did the younger generation’s love for vinyl. “It’s encouraging to see a lot of young kids that come in here and shop, which is great,” Plunkett voices enthusiastically, “They’re discovering vinyl and the love of it.” The popularity of vinyl began in the 50s and continues to grow throughout the 21st century. As trends and lives evolve, record stores remain a staple in any music-bound community.

Qualities of record store employees:

Especially with many young people beginning their journey with vinyl, it’s significant for record store employees to have a welcoming attitude and passion for it. When asked about essential qualities in record store workers, authenticity and a love for music were included in all answers.

A common stereotype surrounding record stores is a stuckup attitude among workers, and McCrorey agrees. “It would suck to walk into a record store and just feel like everyone who worked there thought they were cooler than you,” she says after reflecting on her community at

Target customers and the cultural influence of record stores:

As Austin expanded into a metropolitan city, the local record industry was also changing. The business remained impactful, but its target customers and cultural significance have shifted. Record stores used to attract specific groups, stereotypically men in their late twenties or forties. As generations shifted, so did the crowd.

Breakaway. Monsees contradicts this stereotype, making it clear that “[Antone’s Records] encourage[s] people to purchase or listen to whatever they like and explore whatever they like,” which is important, especially for people just getting started with records. Monsees shares that it can be an intimidating experience to begin shopping for records, but a welcoming staff can make all the difference.

It is equally as important for the community of employees to feel at home, and Plunkett agrees that his “good cadre,” makes all the difference. McCrory also recognizes a “sense of respect and community that [she has] never experienced in the workplace before,” compared to her prior experience working in a Dallas record store. A record store’s employees influence its dynamic, and a good work environment makes all the difference.

Record stores and local artists:

Austin’s music scene is unique in its closeknit community, and record stores create a sense of familiarity with their generous outreach to local musicians. A primary role of record stores is the artists that they specifically promote, which isn’t talked about enough. This can tie a community together, and introduce people to local artists.

Record stores offer substantial support for newer artists, launching them into the world of performance and the Austin music community.

Monsees describes this as a large portion of their contribution to the music scene, which involves “[stocking] records by local bands and independent artists, and every week [they] have in-store release parties,” attracting large crowds of interested music lovers. Certain record stores even host smaller concerts or gatherings featuring local musicians. While reflecting on recent performances at End of an Ear, Plunkett observes that “It becomes a networking place. So it’s like anything that you go to on a weekly basis; you start recognizing certain people and then you build these networks like, ‘oh, I, I saw your band play,’ and that kind of thing. So for me, I think it’s become a meeting place, just like a book where you start recognizing certain characters,” such as bands or individuals you have seen play.

With engagement and support comes a greater feeling of community, common throughout all of Austin’s long-standing music stores. In the local music industry, record stores provide the familiarity and friendly support required for newer musicians to thrive.

Diversity in vinyl:

Austin’s culture has always been diverse, depicted through the music featured at local record stores. There are many different music lovers to account for, and employees focus on curating a wide variety of artists for people to browse. The world of vinyl is broad, and it is always exciting for people to discover records from new artists or underground musicians they weren’t sure others could recognize. Plunkett finds a “big variety or choice of stuff that nobody knows about,” exciting, especially one’s opportunity to expand their music taste.

Each record store is unique in the records they promote; some feature appeal to a wide range of people, and others focus on obscure jazz or other niche music their employees are interested in. Record stores often have employees that specialize in specific sections, but that “ebbs and flows a little bit,” says McCrory, “I feel like whoever we’re targeting kind of changes based on who’s working here.” Monsees reflects on the informative aspect of vinyl diversity in Antone’s Records. “I think for all of us here, we learn a lot by listening to different records that come in. We come across all different times of music all the and buy used collections a lot.” While record variety shifts from city to city, Austin’s culture harbors a unique appreciation for all kinds of music, and people travel across the country to visit our musically diverse city.

Vinyl is considered a staple of one’s childhood, an artist’s career, and the local community. The local music scene thrives due to the support, connection, authenticity, and diversity that record stores provide. Austin’s long-standing record stores have played an immeasurable role in the authenticity defining the city as unique.

Pictured smiling above, freshman record-store-frequenter, Erica Lan beautifully summarizes their unique attraction.

“Record stores always have a friendly, calm atmosphere. I find vinyl absolutely fascinating and love grabbing coffee and browsing through some records. Record stores are so cute, and I quite enjoy spending weekends there with my friends. They are such a fun way to relax in my free time. ” When asked about her favorite store, Lan ponders for a moment, then mentions “End of an Ear,” because of a past experience where “[she] recieved a free Mitski poster from a friendly employee, [which] has been hanging over [her] bedframe for over a year.”