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This week’s edition of Midweek Cafecito was recorded live during a members’ event at Sweat Records on March 5 (Yep, 305 Day). Hosted by music editor Florencia Franceschetti, the conversation with Sweat Records owner Lolo Reskin traces the past, present, and future of vinyl in Miami, just in time for Record Store Day.
For Reskin, the significance of record stores goes far beyond retail. “We are entirely convinced that what we do here is incredibly important,” she says. “We see that in the faces of the people that come into our store, from the youngest to the least young.”
That intergenerational pull is part of what’s fueling vinyl’s continued resurgence. Reskin says “2025 was the 19th straight year of growth of vinyl sales,” a streak that reflects both industry momentum and a deeper cultural shift back toward physical formats. New Times recently covered reports that vinyl sales reached $1 billion last year.
The conversation is firmly rooted in Miami. From historic shops like Johnny’s Records in Overtown to the city’s legacy as a recording hub — once dubbed “the Harlem of the South” — Reskin emphasizes that Miami has long played a pivotal role in shaping music culture. “Any city this big needs to have some good labels to help the talent that’s here go beyond,” she notes.
Today, that ecosystem extends from major studios to independent spaces like Sweat, where vinyl functions as both artifact and experience. “We believe in physical formats…We love reading liner notes…the artist really thought about it,” Reskin says, underscoring the tactile appeal that streaming can’t replicate.
That mindset is especially resonant with younger listeners (who were also in attendance at New Times’ members’ event). “They know the artists they love are getting screwed on streaming…and they really do wanna support the artists,” she adds. “So they come in, and they buy the vinyl.”
As Record Store Day approaches, Reskin’s words highlight the value that Gen Z brings to music culture: “The future of music is intergenerational…We’re all gonna be listening to music together…for a very long time.”
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