While unpacking boxes, Brian Lipsin of Brians Record Option recalls the music media trends that have shaped decades of change.
Opened in 1980 and nestled in the heart of Princess St., the shop has witnessed the full arc of physical formats—from 8-tracks to vinyl, to CDs and beyond. Today, every inch of the store is packed floor to ceiling with albums, offering a tactile time capsule for music lovers.
View of Brian’s Record Option from Princess St. PHOTO BY: Sarah Adams
Commercially or independently-owned record stores like Lipsin’s are especially popular on Record Store Day, which happens once a year and works to promote independent and major labels by organizing contests, exclusive releases, and promotions to highlight the value of buying music from independent, locally owned stores year-round.
Record Store Day 2025 was the best Lipsin has experienced in all 45 years of running Brian’s Record Option. For once, the physical vinyl surplus wasn’t a problem. In previous years, he’d often receive far more records than he requested—sometimes getting 30 copies of albums like Wicked or Post Malone when he only asked for 10. But this year was different. Most of the time, he was left with just one or two extras—if any at all, compared to his normal handful.
“People always have some disposable income, and those who truly care about music will look for cheaper alternatives like CDs,” Lipsin said in an interview with The Journal. “But streaming only takes music lovers so far—when it comes to sound quality, nothing beats vinyl on a good record player.”
Lipsin’s belief in the enduring appeal of physical media is matched by his resilience in the face of economic and personal setbacks.
Economic hardship is nothing new to Lipsin—his strategy has always been to stay adaptable. After the 2008 recession, he found himself stockpiling unsold records as customers tightened their wallets. In 2019, disaster struck again when flooding caused by nearby construction nearly forced him to shut his doors for good after 30 per cent of the store was destroyed.
But the Kingston community refused to let that happen. “People would stuff cash and checks in my pockets,” Lipsin recalls. When regulars heard about the possible closure, a Resurrect Brian’s Record Option GoFundMe organized by Michael Crowder-Grad was launched—and within just three days, raised over $10,000 to keep the store alive.
That same community spirit carried him through the challenges that followed, proving just how deeply the store is woven into Kingston’s cultural fabric.
COVID-19 brought another wave of challenges for Brian’s Record Option. Forced to close his doors, Lipsin found a silver lining in the form of financial —including $20,000 in federal grants. Still, he didn’t stop working. Determined to keep music in people’s hands, he sat outside the store and personally fetched records for customers who couldn’t come inside.
“A lot of people thought I was out sitting on the sidewalk asking for cash and just dropped some in my mug,” Lipsin laughed in an interview with The Journal.
Between 2025-33, the global vinyl market has a projected compound annual growth rate of 6.8 per cent. Consumer interest in ing artists who suffer from weak streaming revenue through physical media sales remains high.
However, vinyl albums are expensive to purchase and difficult to manufacture. The Institute of International Finance, among other economic leaders, predicts another global recession beginning in 2025.
Despite the high costs associated with their production, Lipsin doesn’t see vinyl’s popularity fading anytime soon. His only concern is what he calls the growing “greed” among distributors. Still, he’s ready for whatever comes next—including a potential resurgence in CDs. He has over 50,000 in stock, 49,000 of which were dropped off by people who once saw them as worthless.
CDs filling every available space from floor to shelf in Brian’s Record Option. PHOTO BY: Sarah Adams
“You just gotta know that you aren’t going to be a millionaire in this industry,” Lipsin chuckled, “and then it’s chill.”
For those who can’t afford new records, Lipsin explains that, due to limited time to reprice older stock from the ’80s, a lucky customer willing to dig deep can still find albums priced between $3 and $5—a reward, he says, for the patient and dedicated collectors.
With over 130,000 vinyl records packed tightly on shelves, Brian’s Record Option is a vinyl lover’s paradise overflowing with musical history. PHOTO BY: Sarah Adams
Even with the rise of streaming, Lipsin believes most people eventually find their way back to LPs and CDs. While streaming is convenient and cheap, he says many listeners realize that artists earn far less from it, and that nothing compares to the sound quality of physical media. Still, he’s not bothered by those who prefer digital listening.
“It’s a big world, and if someone wants to stream music, that’s fine,” Lipsin said with a shrug.
Lipsin lives by the philosophy that kindness costs nothing. When a longtime customer ed away, their family shared how much the store and its welcoming spirit had meant. A sticker on the door now reminds visitors, and often Lipsin himself, to lead with kindness. It may be the reason Brian’s Record Option has lasted 45 years.
Shelves stocked with a curated selection of books available at Brian’s Record Option. PHOTO BY: Sarah Adams
Through the highs and lows, Lipsin knows exactly who he can count on: his loyal, generational customers. While he can’t put his diverse clientele into a single category, he often watches them grow up alongside his store.
“A lot of my clientele are here because their parents brought them when I first opened, and now they’re bringing their own children—I can’t wait to see their kids in a few years,” Lipsin said with a smile.
Sharing a taste for physical media among generations may be the key to vinyl’s survival through 2025 and beyond. For younger consumers facing financial hardship, turning to lifelong collectors with a large library and ion for music may keep things spinning.
The personal touch Lipsin adds to his store keeps generations coming back time and again. He takes it upon himself to change the front display every day and always makes sure to give each customer as much time as they need.
“I had a customer whose wife sent him out for Christmas gift shopping, I was first on his list. He ended up here for three hours, just chatting away. When his wife called to check in, he told her he was still at Brian’s—that’s the kind of place it is for people,” Lipsin said with a laugh.
Lipsin dives into stories and memories as he chats with a customer about the records they’re selling. PHOTO BY: Sarah Adams
Stories exchanged by Lipsin perfectly capture the connection Brian’s Record Option fosters with its community. It’s more than just a store—it’s a gathering place where music lovers share memories, discover new sounds, and feel a sense of belonging. This personal bond helps explain why, despite the rise of streaming and the challenges of the economy, physical media continues to hold its ground and even flourish.
Lipsin and many others in the music world have proven that physical media is far from obsolete. Economic hardships may challenge the industry, but they also inspire creativity, resilience, and renewed appreciation for tangible music formats. As long as there are ionate listeners and dedicated store owners, vinyl and CDs will continue to turn the tables on digital dominance.
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