Top Best Music Stores in the World (Part 3)

The best music shops in the world - what do you associate with these amazing troves of rare or, on the contrary, extremely relevant recordings? Is it a cosy shop? Or maybe it's a whole shopping centre with several floors? In fact, the best music shops in the world can look very different... Their zest lies in more than just that... Well: here are the best music shops in the world that you should definitely visit (or at least visit their websites, which will be quite nice too).

"Rubadub."

This shop is a Glasgow landmark... Located at 35 Howard St, Glasgow, Lanarkshire G1 4BA. Established in August 1992, Rubadub has always been an important centre of Glasgow's forward-thinking underground scene. What started out as a simple dance music shop has quickly become an electronic music Mecca: now stocking recording equipment, DJ equipment and all the latest music technology! The shop also runs a thriving distribution company, supplying vinyl to shops all over the world! Perhaps Rubadub's best asset is its staff: friendly and knowledgeable music lovers who are always ready to help you choose your first MIDI controller, audio interface, the best studio monitors, analogue synths... The range of music includes techno, house, dubstep, disco, hip-hop, reggae, soul, jazz and much more....

"Tropicália Discos"

Hidden away on the first floor of an unassuming building in the bustling centre of Rio de Janeiro is a 30 square metre gold mine... It's a music shop with a huge selection of Música Popular Brasileira - a universal term for the country's diverse samba, soul, disco, jazz, rock and pop scene. Tropicália Discos also has its own YouTube channel, featuring over 500, often obscure, Brazilian tracks...

"Transmission."

Looking for iconic soundtracks, art and... fun toys? Then this is the place to be! Located in the trendy seaside town of Margit, Transmission finally opened its doors in early 2016. Created by the founder of Death Waltz Recording Co. Spencer Hickman and artist Kimberly Holladay, the speciality soundtrack shop also serves as a gallery and toy shop! Here, everyone can get an expert selection of used and new vinyl, collectibles, original artwork and prints. The vinyl inventory is an extension of what the couple has been retailing online for some time now! They also have a whole section dedicated to rare Japanese imports.....

"Public Possession."

Public domain, Munich. Location: Klenzestraße 16, 80469 München, Germany. "Public Possession" is the centre of creative efforts of long-time friends Marvin and Valentino. More than just a music shop... Public Possession is an object of beauty in itself, offering a carefully selected selection in a minimalist setting. Located in a city with a relatively small market for underground dance music and even fewer DJs, gaining an international reputation has made Public Possession one of the most conceptually interesting shops!

"For us, Public Possession is not just a label and a shop," Valentino said. "It's more like a collection of things that are interesting to do and design..."

"Real Groovy."

Located in Auckland, New Zealand - this shop was founded in the early 80's by Chris Hart (current owner) and Chris Priestley. Today it is one of the oldest and largest buildings in the city: few shops in the world can match the size of this one... Real Groovy has survived a difficult past when many shops around the world closed - it has been reborn as a vinyl-focused music palace. Buses of visitors arrive at the shop daily to experience this all-record venue... Don't be surprised to see people posing for photos under the neon sign. Real Groovy covers a huge collection of vinyl records and CDs, DVDs, t-shirts, books, graphic novels, quirky tableware, figurines and even their own brand of soda! And the fun and friendly staff helps keep the atmosphere friendly. Today, it's hard to imagine Oakland without Real Groovy....

"Rm360".

Rm360 is the pride and joy of DJ Soulscape, a tireless digger of Seoul's booming scene. Founded in 2011, the shop offers a diverse collection of used vinyl records spanning jazz, soul, funk and 80s hip-hop. There's also a section dedicated to Korean music and a selection of new records (mostly hip-hop and modern funk). As well as vinyl, you'll also find magazines such as Sneeze and Wax Poetics, as well as prints, clothing, hats, bags and even skateboard decks!

"The aim of Rm360 is to advise young diggers and expose them to a wide range of musical tastes..." - says DJ Soulscape.

The shop is currently run by DJ Soulscape, DJ Jeyon and Maalib, all of whom are members of 360 Sounds, a collective of artists and taste-makers based in Seoul. "360 Sounds is a cross between hip-hop to electro, afrobeat to Korean pop with jazz, funk and boogie-woogie.

"Betino's.

And this is a unique music shop located in Paris... You could say that Betino's is a real neighbourhood shop, a place where everyone knows your name! The shop reflects the diverse communities of this neighbourhood, located close to the bustling Oberkampf district. As Betino's likes to say, "'Betino's' is like our home - where we eat, where we drink, where we meet people..." Since about 1999, Betino's has maintained an atmosphere that charms DJs, collectors and passers-by: it is a perfect example of a shop that doesn't need gimmicks to rank among the best in the world!

"Side One."

No trip to Warsaw would be complete without a visit to this Polish institute of rare cuts... Located in a small backyard in the centre of Warsaw and run by Wojtek Zdaniuk aka DJ WWW, Side One has been supplying Polish DJs with new and used material for over a decade! Like all the best record shops, it is also an important meeting place: the music centre of the city, where artists, promoters and collectors gather to exchange ideas and collaborate...

"Princeton Record Exchange"

Barry Weisfeld is the original owner of PREX (as he is often lovingly referred to). Starting in 1975, he slept in his van and sold records on street corners, college campuses, flea markets and anywhere else he could... Tired of the road life, he decided to settle locally, opening the first incarnation of PREX at 20 Nassau Street in Princeton. The shop was soon overwhelmed by the inexorably growing inventory and customers, so in 1985 it moved to its current location at 20 S Tulane Street, expanding to 400m2! Today, PREX is said to have the largest selection on the East Coast with around 150,000 music titles and over 10,000 DVDs!

"Snickars."

With over two decades of experience selling records in Stockholm, the underground supermarket Mika Snickars is something of a dance music institution with a huge selection of used vinyl records... As well as music, there's also a cosy sofa corner where you can hang out or just have a good time!