Atlanta, GA
Atlanta vinyl shops brace for busy Record Store Day after new Taylor Swift album drop
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Taylor Swift fan or not, the Swiftie surge is here.
Late Thursday night into Friday, the billionaire pop star surprised millions of fans with her new album titled “The Tortured Poets Department,” a secret double album.
All over metro Atlanta, record stores are already getting a big boost from Swift’s latest album release.
This surge in sales comes before Record Store Day on Saturday.
The annual celebration of independent record stores includes special releases, in-store performances and other festivities.
Saoirse Sikora is a regular customer at Criminal Records in Little Five Points.
“I like to come out and see what the exclusive releases are,” she said. “I try and get my hands on as many vinyls as I can.”
The 24-year-old has already collected over vinyl records.
Yet, she’ll be back at her favorite store on Saturday for Record Store Day.
“We live in such an incredibly digital age that there’s something special about getting to hold a physical piece of media,” Sikora said. “See all of the love and artistry put into it.”
Eric Levin has owned Criminal Records for the last 32 years.
He said business was booming on Friday thanks to Swift’s new double album.
“Taylor has brought in so many young customers into this store,” Levin said. “She has very much changed the demographics of what we sell here.”
Other record store owners, such as Jonathan Blanchard, who owns JB’s Record Lounge on the West End, said Record Store Day is his Super Bowl.
“Record Store Day brings an influx of income,” he said. “Triple or quadruple what we sell on a regular day.”
Levin also expects his sales to soar on Saturday.
“Every year has been more successful sales-wise than the prior year,” he said. “This year, we have the most special titles on offer with over 400 on sale.”
Blanchard also added that he’s seen a resurgence of teens buying music on vinyl and record players.
“A lot of younger people listen to people like Taylor and Beyoncé,” he said. “Whenever they drop an album and put it on vinyl, it brings more bodies into stores like mine.”
In the day and age of digital playlists, Sikora said there’s nothing quite like listening to a vinyl record.
“It takes you on more of a journey,” she said. “You start somewhere and you end in a different place emotionally.”
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
Atlanta, GA
17-year-old shot in foot on Christmas Eve, Atlanta police say
ATLANTA – A 17-year-old male is recovering after being shot in the foot on Christmas Eve, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
Officers responded to Grady Memorial Hospital around 10:39 p.m. on Dec. 24, after receiving a report of a gunshot victim. The teenager was being treated by medical staff for a gunshot wound to his left foot.
Preliminary information suggests the shooting may have occurred near 609 Thurmond Street NW. Investigators from the department’s Aggravated Assault Unit are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Authorities emphasized that details are subject to change as the investigation continues.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta police officer surprises 12-year-old with Christmas gift for good behavior
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – An Atlanta police officer made a 12-year-old boy’s Christmas a little brighter this year.
On Monday, Officer Sebastian Kertchaval surprised 12-year-old Amir with a PlayStation 5, police said in a social media post.
Police said Kertchaval met Amir and his family over the summer while “responding to a 911 call for an unruly child.”
During that visit, Kertchaval saw that Amir was upset with his mother and grandmother.
“And though tensions were high in their home, Ofc. Kertchaval remained patient with Amir, and took the time to positively connect with Amir and was ultimately able to de-escalate the upset child,” police said.
Since that first meeting, Amir’s grandmother has kept Kertchaval updated on Amir’s “increasingly positive behavior throughout the year.”
After hearing of Amir’s progress, Kertchaval bought Amir a new PlayStation 5 for both Christmas and as a reward for his progress.
“Thank you, Officer Kertchaval, for your dedication to community policing and for being a positive example during this holiday season,” police said.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
Atlanta, GA
Some Metro Atlanta Starbucks employees go on strike amid the holidays
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – You may experience order delays if you are headed to a Starbucks on Christmas Eve. Some workers in Metro Atlanta are on strike.
Representatives with Starbucks Workers United tell Atlanta News First they feel underpaid and understaffed and are protesting the lack of progress in contract negotiation with the company.
Starbucks union workers in Alpharetta are making their voices heard loud and clear. They allege unfair labor practices.
“When Starbucks workers first started to unionize, they gave non-union workers pay raises and the partners that were unionized didn’t get that until later and so they’re owed back pay,” said Danielle Stolton, Shift supervisor at the Alpharetta store.
Stolton said she has been a part of the bargaining process.
“Personally, last year was the worst year,” she said. “I had a mental breakdown, actually.”
Stolton and others planned this one-day strike to stand in solidarity with over 5,000 workers at more than 300 stores that are protesting.
Strikes have been going on in some places since last Friday. Some baristas said they want better pay and better benefits.
“I know baristas in my store personally who are having to choose between gas or groceries so when you see problems like that it’s really hard to not feel some type of way about the fact that Starbucks made 24 billion dollars in profit this year, two percent more than last year and we’re still seeing two percent pay raises,” said Vivek G, a Starbucks employee.
Starbucks Workers United said the company failed to honor a commitment made in February.
In a statement to Atlanta News First, Starbucks said:
“Only around 170 Starbucks stores did not open as planned. With over 10,000 company-operated stores, 98% of our stores and nearly 200,000 green apron partners continuing to operate and serve customers during the holidays,” the coffeechain added.
Some workers feel differently.
“It’s just basic living wages and also again to reiterate is just to have. We’re asking for minimum staffing and realistic expectations and just the ability to run our floors and run our stores in a way that makes the most sense. They say they want to hear us, they say they want to listen but every time we ask for help, we get told no,” Stolton said.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
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