What Is The Hardest Thing About Running A Record Store In 2025?

Record stores have long been at the frontline of the music ecosystem. They are crucial to the formation and upholding of tight-knit local artistic communities, and they deserve their dues.

Every record store is a place that has cultivated a unifying love for music, an emotive environment that has allowed for the pursuit of sincere interests. A treasure trove for music lovers, and a supportive jumping-off point for local musicians. In other words, record stores - especially in this age of ever-digitised media - matter more than ever.

That is why this month, The Music is shining a light on local stores and giving you the chance to vote for our favourite. Vote now and go into the draw to win a $200 voucher from the store you vote for.

Of course, running a record store in this day and age is not without its challenges and uphill battles. So here is a selection of fascinating answers from record store owners we’ve interviewed in response to the question: What Is The Hardest Thing About Running A Record Store In 2025?

IM093 Music Hub (NSW)

Lots is great, but, of course, lots is also tough. Like lots of people in business at the moment, cash flow is probably our biggest hurdle, as a start-up and a 100% independent label. Our model means we pay upfront costs for manufacturing the records, and artists recoup and are paid royalties from that initial investment we make. So if a run doesn't sell through well, which has happened a few times, or we overorder, we never make our money back on the project. There's learning curves around every corner for us at this stage in the business - and some are more expensive than others! 

There's been a few instances lately where the major labels have directly copied our branding and our ideas, which is frustrating to see. But all's fair in love and war and music, right? We take it as a compliment that we're getting it right and the power players are watching! 

There will always be people who scoff at the idea of running a 100% independent label and a store where we genuinely put musicians and music lovers first, but that's just fire in our belly to make it work. 

We believe wholeheartedly in how essential local record stores are to the local music community and to the musicians whose music fills those stores. We hope even in tough times, there will still be local record stores all across the country for us music lovers to find each other in. 

IM093 Music Hub

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Greville Records (VIC)

The hardest thing about running a record store in 2025... is making it to the shop by opening time haha (Waz!). Seriously, though, the hardest thing about running a record store is keeping up with all the new releases… and being able to listen to as many as physically possible! We are so lucky that there is new music coming out left, right and centre, and it’s a great race to try and keep up with!

Chasing the occasional shoplifter around the block can also spice up our day…but I’ll keep those stories for another day!

Crosstalk Records (NSW)

Eliza: Staying up to date with the latest music. I thought the first customer to ask me for Chappell Roan was asking for directions. Unfortunately, I cannot be all-seeing and all-knowing. At least, I don’t think I can. I have favourites that I listen to in my own time, and so it can be hard to make enough time to find and listen to all the new potential chart-toppers or even just guess what people might be into next, and that goes across all genres, as well. There is just so much music happening all the time, which is extremely cool and good, just…if I don’t know who you’re talking about, don’t laugh at me or I will cry.

Josh: Being talked at by middle-aged men who have spent like $100k+ on their home listening stereo setup, yet seem to not be wildly interested in the music that comes out of them. Any dude that uses “the ol’ ball and chain” to reference their long-suffering and extremely patient wife. Repeatedly answering the same two questions: "How long have you been here?" and "Do people actually buy vinyl?" Suppliers that still use those annoying little foam balls to cushion their packaging. Primus fans. 

Clarity Records (SA)

I would say we are very positive people, and we don't have any negative views about running a record store in 2025. We love opening those doors each day to see what excitement the day will bring. We work extremely hard, and this helps make the day-to-day processes run smoothly.

Yes, there are concerns with the rapidly rising cost of new vinyl. This can sometimes reflect badly on stores, where, in fact, we are just putting our small margins on top of the prices we have to pay. Trying to get stock fast and on time can sometimes be a concern. We don't like customers having to wait too long for special orders or for new releases.

Also, being a small business owner (doesn't matter what you do), you never really switch off. There's always something to do, or something on your mind relating to the business. However, after nearly a lifetime working in music, we have our ways of working through anything that is presenting to be an issue, and we turn it into a positive.

Clarity Records

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Songland Records (ACT)

The lazy demise of Australian artists' physical stock by our wholesale industry, who think an active digital world can replace the need and demand for CDs and Records. The music industry works best when product is made available, and promoted correctly, offering genuine choice for fans. You cannot promote the argument that something isn't selling when you don't actually make it in the first place and tell people it's available. As a retail store owner, I have successfully proven this point over many decades, in the exact same way record companies used to do when they followed the exact same principles.

Blackened Records (QLD)

The hardest thing about running a record store is the impact that economic factors have on sales. The cost-of-living crisis is real, and as much as metal fans might want to support the store, there is only a certain amount of money to go around after the bills are paid. With international bands touring again with a vengeance after the pause brought about by COVID, the choice can often be between going to see a band or coming to the store to buy a record. I understand that, but it doesn’t make it any easier on the bottom line. Having said that, I never thought I was going to become a billionaire by opening the store.

Avenue Records (TAS)

The hardest thing is simultaneously one of the most enjoyable challenges, and that is working out what to order. How can you cater for and represent all those wonderful genres and sub-genres out there? Will people like what we “think” is “good music”? We attended a record conference in Sydney recently, whereby a veteran of the game said something that I regard as key: “You don’t get to decide what kind of record store you run, your customers do”. That is wisdom to me; it teaches you to listen to what is trending, to what people want, and what people need. It’s hard, but it’s fun! You’re curating one enormous playlist for a town/city! How good?!

Avenue Records

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Red Eye Records (NSW)

Trying to get stock of all the thousands of titles we want to keep, both on vinyl and CD, is a challenge. For vinyl, it’s certainly been better the last few years with more pressing plants opening or increasing capacity worldwide. With CDs, it’s more difficult with many labels deleting great titles from their back catalogue and not issuing some new releases on CD. Contrary to what you may think, CD sales are growing. Fortunately, we can shop around the world to find some older CD titles still in print in Japan, Europe, the UK or the USA.

Another problem is the increasing prices, especially for vinyl. Unfortunately, with manufacturing costs up and the Aussie dollar dropping, it’s unavoidable. The good thing, though, is that the quality of the records being made these days has never been better. With audiophile sound, solid covers, coloured vinyl variants, etc., records are now perceived as a premium product.

Bounce Audio (VIC)

If it were just selling records, then it would be the easiest job in the world. Unfortunately, everyone in this industry knows margins are getting smaller and smaller on new records, shipping gets more expensive, etc. I think we (the stores) have some kind of a responsibility to make music still attainable, to find those hidden bargains, to come and connect and hear new sounds, and to not scalp heads on Discogs - and that means that a lot of record stores - especially brick and mortar - have to diversify, which is why we do our equipment retail, equipment hire, event production and more. There’s a lot of moving parts and things to keep on top of as a small crew, but we’re proud to say we’re still standing after all this time, and that’s all thanks to our community & good friends!

Monster Robot Party (QLD)

Sourcing and maintaining quality second-hand stock is crucial. You're only as good as your last headline. You can source amazing records, and once they sell, they are gone, and you gotta find the next dope thing. A lot of small stores, pop-up sellers, Facebook sellers, and Discogs warriors get bits and pieces, but unless you have access to large collections or unique stock, you're just competing against everyone else for the same customers. Quality stock levels are the molten lava permanently beneath the tightrope of running a record store. So that and the constant threat of the arse falling out of the economy. It's already getting too expensive to breathe air.

RPM Records (NSW)

Staying a financially viable business is the hardest part, and always ending up with more records and not having room to put them. It's a very labour-intensive process to clean, restore, protect and archive them. We seem to be about a year behind with the crates we have hidden behind the scenes. Competing against online-only shops and record fairs who don’t do it full-time or have the same overheads and labour costs as we do. They can sell for much lower margins, so it’s hard to compete with them solely on price.

Let's just say, I don't personally know very many rich record shop owners, but I do know a lot of really hard-working ones who have a lot of expertise and passion for the vinyl medium, and do it to keep the tradition of digging in a shop alive. So, please support your local shop before you buy online next time. Often, they can order it in from the same suppliers, if given the chance first, and hopefully, you will enjoy the person-to-person service and sense of community that record shops uniquely have.

RPM Records

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Midland Records (WA)

One of our biggest recurring issues is securing a reasonable amount of stock compared to demand - this is maybe something that more specifically pertains to Australian record stores. As we’re seen as a small fry market by the rest of the world and under-allocated (as a nation) copies of new records compared to other countries, often leading to shortages, especially around release, which is frustrating for both customers and us.

On top of that, there are other factors like demand on certain releases being direly underestimated by the labels printing these records, or that even in a post-COVID world, there have been various shortages and other world events that directly lead to small pressings with huge gaps in-between represses, and so forth. It’s why it’s important to support local businesses, particularly independent labels and record stores (us!) - records pressed here locally are not only rarely subject to this problem but are also much cheaper, and the more records are pressed here locally, the less of a problem the supply will be!

Kank Wolverang Records (VIC)

Whenever we have the money, we buy stock, and we would simply buy more if we could. We don’t have enough metal, and being such a vast genre, I would love the chance to deep dive and stock up more on that, for example. But we are slowly getting there, and I think our scattershot collection is pretty true to our own tastes. The hardest thing is to not be dictated by your own tastes, ha-ha! If Hot August Night by Neil Diamond changed your life for the better, then let’s not get snobby about it!

Kank Wolverang Records

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Catalog Music (QLD)

"It's the money .................". It costs a fuckin’ fortune to run a decent-sized record store. There are no grants or philanthropy that seem to recognise record stores for their truly invaluable roles in cities for binding community, providing bedrock foundation for artists by promoting independent music, & a sense of place & time for visitors from around the globe - instead they sink their funding into sports, visual arts & their friend's pockets (do I sound bitter?!... haha) .. but yeah, it's a tough gig. If it was easy, tho, everyone would be doing it!

The Record Store (SA)

Besides the usual Rent and Stock costs, it's when someone brings in records from loved ones who have passed or people who no longer have room for their collections, cause they have to move or just need money to get by. We always feel for them and try to help them the best we can.

The Record Store

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Suffragette Records (TAS)

By selling vinyl records, we’re really selling a romantic idea and an experience – otherwise, we’re selling something that most people can stream for free. That can be a challenge when times are tough for our customers! Then there’s the saturation of the market with online-only stores without overheads and with no regular retail pricing, which means people will often try and find a cheaper deal elsewhere. Finding the sweet spot between pricing things as low as possible while also being able to pay for new records (to support more artists), and pay the rent, can be a constant battle.