Vinyl records event highlights music enthusiasm in Record Store Day spins success for Billings store amid vinyl revival

Music enthusiasts gathered early Saturday morning outside Cameron Records in Billings, eager to participate in Record Store Day and secure exclusive vinyl releases.

 

By the time doors opened at 8 a.m., a crowd of over 200 had assembled, underscoring the surging interest in vinyl records. Store owner TJ Goodwin noted the event's growing popularity each year.

 

"Record Store Day is a worldwide holiday," Goodwin remarked. "It was established to celebrate the community of independent record stores and what they bring to their community."

 

Established over 15 years ago, Record Store Day now boasts participation from more than 1,200 stores nationwide. The event features exclusive releases available only for in-person purchase on that day.

 

At Cameron Records, nearly 200 exclusive titles were stocked this year, including works from major artists like Bruno Mars and Madonna, as well as niche and independent releases. Many of these sold out quickly.

 

"The idea is to drive people to come into the stores, and it definitely works," Goodwin said. "We probably had 200 people in line this morning. The first person was here at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon."

 

For 20-year-old Perris Jendro, arriving later didn't dampen her excitement. She managed to grab the final copy of a sought-after vinyl release.

 

"I'm a huge Ethel Cain fan," Jendro said. "I got the last one. I was shaking."

 

Once considered an "old-school" hobby, vinyl collecting has experienced a significant resurgence. Vinyl sales have skyrocketed in recent years, with the industry surpassing over a billion dollars in sales last year. This marks the biggest-selling vinyl trend in decades.

 

"Vinyl is back. It never went away, but it's back in a big, big way, and it's mostly young people driving the hobby," Goodwin observed.

 

Younger generations have played a significant role, seeking a more tangible music experience in an increasingly digital world. Reports indicate that roughly 60% of Gen Z say they buy records, despite 28% not owning a turntable. Notably, Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl" sold approximately 1.6 million vinyl copies last year, the most of any vinyl album in 2025.

 

"If they're going to build a physical music collection, they're gonna do it the coolest way possible. That's vinyl," Goodwin said. "That's one thing about vinyl; that's 12 inches of artwork. You're not going to get that with a stream."

 

Jendro, inspired by her father's collection, is now building her own.

 

"I know me personally, I love physical media. I still have a whole bunch of DVDs that I have saved for when I move out," she said. "There's something about having it. I actually have a majority of my vinyls on display at home."

 

The surge in interest has also helped Cameron Records expand. Since opening in 2019, the store has more than doubled its space and now regularly hosts live music, official album listening parties, and community events.

 

For some customers, the appeal goes beyond collecting; it's about reconnecting with childhood memories. Friends Georgette Boggio and Jill Stevenson both grew up around vinyl and are now rebuilding their collections.

 

"I've just rediscovered vinyl," Stevenson said. "It's just been lots and lots of happy, happy memories."

 

"I just hadn't bought records in a while, so I wasn't particularly looking for any records, but I felt like I could use some new ones," Boggio said. "I had a record of Joni Mitchell that my son scratched when he was three, and I still hadn't replaced it yet."

 

Stevenson recalled listening to records as a child and carefully handling albums she once was not allowed to touch.

 

"I remember for a while, there were the crates in the basement," Stevenson said. "It's heartbreaking to think that those are gone, and I've had to recreate a lot of what I remember from being a kid."

 

Both said vinyl offers an experience that streaming cannot replicate.

 

"A lot of the old records would have a big story, and you can read the story about the album," Boggio said. "I think it's great that it's not something people are trying to keep alive, but it's actually an interest of multi-generations."

 

"Records have a warm tone," Stevenson added. "It's absolutely comforting, and it's not something you get from streaming."

 

From longtime collectors to first-time buyers, Record Store Day continues to attract a wide range of fans and proves vinyl is here to stay.

 

"Brings a lot of happiness," Stevenson said. "If you take care of them, you can play them forever."