Even before the shop opens, Record Exchange owner Sam Lock is already hard at work packing online orders. The store is quiet — no music from the speakers, no customers flipping through records — just a few peaceful moments on a crisp fall day.

Retail rarely gets a break, especially now, as physical media enjoys a resurgence. With streaming costs rising and some artists pulling their catalogs, the idea of “pay once, own forever” feels more appealing than ever.

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