Record Store Profile: Beatdisc Records NSW

What is your store called?
Beatdisc Records

Where are you located?
We're in Parramatta, NSW. Tucked away in an old arcade right next to the train station and opposite the new Parramatta Square development.

Tell us about the people behind the scenes?
We're a small but passionate team of music enthusiasts. Pete (the bearded one) has worked here for 25 years and owned the shop for 17 of those, Tom (the other bearded one) has worked here and helped manage the store for over 15 years, and Scott (the one in the hat) has worked here for nearly 10 years in between international touring commitments. We've also injected some much needed youthful enthusiasm into the team with the more recent addition of Tiah and Hayden working a few days a week, helping with the never-ending backlog of stock we have to work through.

When and why did the store open?
The store opened in 1995 (30 years ago this coming August) by our good friend Victor Aird. The CD business was booming in the mid-90s and as a former DJ, Vic found himself with an abundance of 2nd hand CDs he could sell for half the price of a brand new CD. And thus, Beatdisc was born!

What do your customers most know you for?
As the best and longest-running independent record store in the Western Suburbs of Sydney! We're a friendly place to discover new music, browse a wide-range of well-priced CDs and LPs, and catch the occasional local in-store gig.

What is the most popular title you stock at the moment?
Some of last month's top sellers have been the vinyl press of Sydney band Antenna's debut EP, along with the reissue of iconic 80s Aussie punk single 'My Pal' by GOD. But for all of 2025 thus far, the biggest seller has easily been Ethel Cain's 'Preacher's Daughter.'

What is the most popular evergreen title?
The classics of each genre are always hard to go past (Rumours and Dark Side Of The Moon from the rock section; Madvillainy and 36 Chambers from the hip hop section; A Love Supreme and Scenery from the jazz section) but I reckon alternative classics from Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, Cocteau Twins and Deftones are making up good ground!

What is the best thing about running a record store in 2025? 
There's too many to name, but top of the list would be the thrill of being consumed by music every moment of the day; seeing a customer's face light up when they spot a record they love on the wall; re-homing otherwise long-lost collections of pre-owned records and CDs; watching younger generations discover the magic of owning their favourite piece of music; and most importantly being able to sell physical media as a viable way to pay the bills (which many didn't think possible by the year 2025)

What is the hardest thing about running a record store in 2025? 
Having to deal with the increasing price of vinyl, specifically from the major labels. They'll cite "unavoidable manufacturing costs" then literally double the price of their records. Freight and distribution charges have also skyrocketed in recent years, making it harder and harder to keep new vinyl pricing down.