Based right in the centre of town Musical Goods and Exchange is a no frills vinyl seller/buyer…read more They are close to nostalgia and comics; however the music store is a little smaller in size. I came in here with a tonne of vinyl that I wanted to sell and they took every item and gave me a fairly decent price on what I had. These were the records that I couldn't manage to sell online so I was happy to get rid of them. The staff are not very friendly or helpful; they just keep an eye out for shoplifters and little else. But if you do have a serious question they will give you a serious answer. This place is a must for all vinyl collectors out there and for those that are looking to offload a few records in exchange for cash.

The Music and Video exchange on Smallbrook Queensway is fantastic for any DJ or Vinyl collector…read more They have a huge range of vinyl and it is categorised very well so it is easy to find what you are looking for. A great place to pick up bargains or find those gems you have always been looking for. I recently bought a very rare DJ Sneak vinyl for £3, probably worth over £20. Very recommended.

10 year ago there were one hell of a lot of music/records stores. The larger retailers like Tower,…read moreVirgin Music and HMV have all pretty much gone out of business. Tempest was one of the last greatest independent record stores and that has now gone the same way as all the others. Then smaller independent specialist stores went. Polar Bear still stands on a popular back street of King's Heath, like the one building that withstood the core blast at Nagasaki, it is still in business. The reason of course for the demise of music/record stores is due to the online competition, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to work that one out. However keeping a store afloat in these times is an act as difficult as brain surgery. Polar bear offers lots of vinyl, bootlegs and stuff you can't find anywhere else. It stocks music for people that love music and not those who like music as background filler whilst they work. The staff are friendly and competent and if they don't have anything in store then you can get it online......hang on a minute, did I just say that...... Yes, I did. To stay afloat in today's market, Polar Bear can also fill your orders online. Not surprising since there has been such a shock to the industry in recent days.

Places to buy physical copies of music are hard to find these days in Birmingham…read more The Polar Bear is one of the few record/cd shops still going strong. I've been a Polar Bear customer since I was 15 so I know it pretty well, sadly the amount I buy from there has decreased significantly over the years as I'm sure it has for many others. It's easy to download songs online but there is NOTHING like getting a new LP or CD and reading the sleeve notes, admiring the artwork and holding the record/cd in your hand. It's just better. This current culture of downloading odd songs here and there makes me sad, I used to love discovering an album, listening to it from start to finish and having my favourite tracks change over the years, it's a great experience. The Polar Bear is somewhere that carries on that tradition. They have a great selection of CDs and vinyl both new and second hand. A great place to find jazz, folk, blues, rock, punk, metal, noise and much more. The staff (as you would expect) are very knowledgable, and although manager Steve can be a little grumpy at times it's worth getting on his good side as he's a great story teller and really, really, really knows his stuff when it comes to record collecting. When Steve's not in Nathan (formerly of Tempest) is far more chatty and friendly. Even if you're not into rare cds and records there's a great selection of second hand stuff which includes classic pop albums like Michael Jackson and Madonna - it's not as pretentious as you might expect :) Do expect to get openly laughed at if you walk in asking for the new Lady GaGa or Olly Murs cd.... A great independent business that needs our support - get buying ;)

Whether a serious record collector or just a music fan The Diskery is well worth a visit if you…read morewant to see a real old fashioned record shop before they become extinct. Seemingly dedicated to the analogue format, VHS tapes are also on offer out front with a rotation of weekly Vinyl specials on offer for the keen eyed passer by. Inside is a treasure chest of music memorabilia without an inch of the interior space left uncovered by music posters, think of the bedroom of a teenage music obsessive and your close to the dedication that's gone into this place. And no High Fidelity bad altitude here at least not on my visit, it was all smiles as regulars traded banter with the owner across the counter. Something of a legend in Birmingham music circles and even receiving an endorsement from Birmingham rapper Maleek of MD7, The Diskery is an essential destination for anyone who wishes to see a genuine bit of Birmingham.

The only way to describe this place is VINYL HEAVEN…read more When people bemoan the apparent death of the record shop, it is places like this that are called to mind. Not so much a shop as a museum of wax and a lifetime labour of love for the proprietor, this is a must-visit if you love music, and records in particular. The selection is huge and varied. Jazz, Blues, Rock and Pop, Classical....all arranged according to genre and/or value - bargain records tend to be in boxes on the floor, normally priced stock at a more comfortable hip level. What is on display is really only the half of it. Glance up at the walls, or peer around the corners into the groaning shelves of the storerooms, and you will see boxes - lots of boxes - all labelled with artist names, or genres. A whole box of Queen or Madonna 7"s. Boxes of Bluegrass, or Swing....anything you can think of, chances are it's there. Years ago you used to be able to smoke in the shop. Along every second heaving rack of old vinyl was an ashtray. They didn't just tolerate smoking in the shop, they encouraged it. Those days are long gone, unfortunately. Even if you don't buy vinyl, you should go to this place to have a look. One day places like this will only exist in the memory of sad, old vinyl heads like me.

Do you like, NO, do you love music? HMV is a must. Record shops are disappearing as we buy from…read moreiTunes, Amazon, listen to Satelitte or whatever it is that we do. It's a shame, because when you get to a store with an enormous selection such as the one offered here it's really a joy. To me anyway. You browse through, see CDs from artists you may have forgotten about, rare editions, everything! After the holidays there are many offers and we add a few more CDs to an already too large collection. CDs are on floor 4, beneath you can find DVDs, games, accessories EVERYTHING! There is an adjoining shop selling rock tee shirts and memorabilia and it's right on the High St, next to the Bull Ring and adjoining The Pallasades Mall. Great geeking!

Lots of choice and clearly sorted so easy to find if a specific record or CD is needed. The prices…read moreare reasonable and the staff are willing to help if needed. Lots of bargain CDs for a quid and some cheap CDs too. Even if I don't buy anything I like to have a look through the vinyls.

I have known this record shop for many years, but alas rarely visit these days. However, I found…read moreout that they were selling tickets for Moseley Folk and Jazz Festvals so popped by during my lunch break. Wow, this place is still great! There is so much vinyl to be seen! I swear you could find almost anything. It was great just browsing and reliving memories of bands I'd forgotten about! Don't fret, there is plenty of new stuff too, oh and CD's;)

For reasons that elude me entirely, this little gem of a record shop is tucked away in a corner of…read morewhat seems to be the food section of Birmingham's Indoor Market - you have to walk past stalls selling bags of frozen food and piles of chicken feet to find it. The focus here is quite clearly reggae and it's various off shoots, like dub and rocksteady. The sign promises cds, dvds and vinyl - the vinyl selection was looking a bit thin on the ground when I last went in but there's a healthy selection of cds and an intriguing selection of DVDs, some of Jamaican reggae concerts and others of movies with names like "Obdeah Wedding". (I'd love to be able to tell you what "Obdeah Wedding" is about, but all I could fathom from the cover is it's got something to do with a haunted wedding ceremony). The shop also sells tickets to reggae events up and down the country. If you're a reggae enthusiast, you should definitely make a visit as the proprietors really know their stuff and shops of this nature are what help keep the reggae scene going.

My first experience of Summit records happened completely by random. I was out with a friend and we…read moredecided to go for a stroll. Although they seem to specialise in reggae music which isn't my cup of tea, I could really feel the enthusiasm and passion for music from the shop assistants. They really appeared to love being there and sharing their knowledge with potential buyers. I didn't buy anything on this occassion but if your into this kind of music then you should definitely go down and give it a try.

If you're after second hand CDs, records or DVDs then head on down to Music & Video Exchange. They…read moreoperate through members of the public bringing in their unwanted items. The staff then evaluate your items and offer you a price in cash or if you are happy to spend your money in store they offer a trade for instore vouchers which are usually double the value of the cash offer ie if they said your items were worth £10 cash you could either accept that or £20 vouchers. Its worth heading in if you haven't the time or inclination to list everything on Ebay plus it saves you queueing up in the Post Office. Due to the increase of downloads their stock seems to have dwindled in recent years now its less music and video and more comics and books as they have had to diversify. There are generally plenty of bargains to be had but some items you can buy for the same price in the sale at chain shops. I have bought records, books and DVDs from here as well as sold CDs and DVDs. If you've got time on your hands then it well worth having a good rummage in here as sometimes there are hidden gems to be found. One of my best buys was the Swing Kids discopgraphy on CD for £1!

This shop is one of the only few remaining 2nd hand record stores in the city. It's part of a small…read morechain that operates in London and has about 15 shops dotted about the capital. Despite that, and because of it's business model, each shop is very much a local concern. Here's how it works: Members of the public take in their unwanted records, CDs, Videos, DVDs, Books and Comics and the expert staff provide a valuation. If the seller accepts this valuation they either take cash or exchange vouchers and their stuff immediately goes into the shop's stock. Each item is individually priced based on it's book value and likelihood of selling, so for example 2 identical records may go out at different prices if one is slightly marked, or if one or the other is an original pressing. Once the stock goes out on sale it then gets periodically marked down in increments of £1 (usually on a fortnightly basis), so each price sticker will show what it was originally put out for, and also how many deductions have happened. A few years ago I got an original pressing of a Faces LP for £4 - it had originally started at £40 and had somehow been missed by other record-buying Brummies for several months until I came along. Once stock reaches a point (usually 50p) at which it hasn't sold, it goes down into the bargain basement. Down there you can get 7"s for 10p, 12"s for 50p and LPs for £1 - and there are a LOT of records down there, so give yourself a few hours.

In the age of digital music, internet shopping and supermarkets undercutting everybody there will…read morealways be a place for an independent record store where you can guarantee the staff know there stuff, can make recommendations, get you hard to find Record Store Day vinyl without the need to trek to Rough Trade in London. If you like your Punk, Metal, Emo, Screamo, Hardcore and any other sub-genre of this ilk you can think of then you need to visit this little store tucked away in the Oasis centre. Rich at Ignite has been a long time face on the music scene in Brum. He champions local bands and puts out his own releases through his own indie label Speedowax. As a long time customer from his days working at Tempest before embarking on his own little operation he can soon help you part with your money as he soon gets to know your musical tastes and he caters to his customers. Support your local independent sellers, and sometimes it may cost you a pound more but its a shiny, actual object you can touch and read the lyrics and see pretty artwork and have in your hands there and then, knowing its been stocked with love and attention just for you.

Dropping in to ignite is always a pleasure to have a catch up with Rich and check for any new…read morestock. Having been a regular for many years of both tempest and ignite dealing with Rich is always great, he learns your taste in music and the specific bands you like, from which he will always find a new recommendation for you, specialising in all forms of alternative music. Rich is always happy to try and order those rare to find, limited editions and imports you can't get on the high street. Anything he does have in stock he will happily play for you to get an idea if it's up your street! Vinyl is a speciality at ignite with promising stock for every record day as well, he even recently took part in the first tape day stocking a limited number of new and re-release tape albums and EPs. Rich also runs a local record label Speedowax with which he helps promote and sell new and upcoming talent! I would always recommend shopping here for music over highstreet stores (support your local businesses!) even though some purchases may cost an extra pound or two, you may find some real talent you would otherwise never be exposed to...