TOLEDO, Ohio —
For 20 years, Culture Clash Records has been giving music lovers the opportunity to get their hands on their favorite albums.
After eleven months of not meeting sales projections, bills for the store are stacking up and the future of the store is uncertain.
Physical media, like CDs and vinyl records, started to make a comeback. More than 49.6 million vinyl records were purchased in the U.S. in 2023, a record high since 1991, according to Billboard.
"Seeing people of all ages come into this store and find stuff that really means something to them and be able to take it home and spend time with it – that means the world," Culture Clash Records owner Tim Friedman said.
With rising costs for basic necessities, a professor of popular culture said pure nostalgia isn't enough to keep customers coming through the door.
"If you're faced with getting groceries or getting your favorite artist's album, people are going to choose getting groceries," BGSU professor of popular culture Matthew Donahue said. "That's just the hardcore reality of it."
Especially when on average, one vinyl costs close to $30, and digital music subscriptions cost $10 to $12 per month.
"The internet and digital downloads and video and everything has brought the whole music industry up to a completely different place and level," University of Toledo professor of music Gunnar Mossblad said.
Because of slumping sales, some physical media is no longer worth it for stores to keep in stock.
Representatives from Target and Meijer both told WTOL 11 that they are no longer carrying DVDs year-round.
Friedman knows Culture Clash Records isn't the only business hurting, but he hopes a GoFundMe he set up to help with bills will buy him some time.
Friedman said the money raised would go toward bills, attorney fees and inspection fees.
Friedman said when the business moved to downtown, the goal was to operate as a joint store-venue-bar. After the purchase, he found out that the building was not correctly zoned to operate that way.
For three years the business has had to involve multiple attorneys and engineers to get a certificate of occupancy and expand the liquor license from The Switchboard.
"We want to see you," Friedman said. "So if you can come in and buy a record or two, that's great. Buy a t-shirt. We love working and collaborating with local artists on the designs of our shirts."
The store also has events with live music. Friedman said the store needs help sooner rather than later.
"We want to share the music with you," Friedman said.