The Music Searches For Australia’s Best Record Store

The Music is launching a new project to shine a light on the front line of Australia’s music industry: the record store! While everyone’s been talking about streaming and digital, there has been a quiet revolution happening across the suburbs, regions and towns of Australia. 

With well over 200 independent record stores now operating across the country, each has developed their own culture, community and vibe, all celebrating music and helping connect the general public to songs and artists that can make their lives better. 

So, The Music is launching a series over the next three weeks to discover the stories and people behind these stores and give our readers the chance to vote for their favourite store. We’ll be revealing our readers’ favourite stores in each state as well as looking at innovative and niche operations and, of course, crowning 2025’s favourite shop. 

We’ll be publishing profiles on a whole heap of stores for you to discover and bringing you the stories of what’s happening behind the counters, celebrating the joy and shining a light on what it’s like running a record store in 2025. 

If you’re from a record store, we want to hear from you! If you’d like to nominate your favourite store, we’d love to hear from you, too; just email newsdesk@themusic.com.au.

To be eligible, you just need to derive 40% or more of your turnover from music (sorry, JB Hi-Fi, but you’ll be sitting this one out), and both traditional and online stores are welcome.

Every store that wants to participate will get a profile on our site and be up for the Great Australian Record Store vote. Our store features will start rolling out next Monday, along with your chance to vote on your favourite.