When taking an evening stroll in Notting Hill my curiosity pulled me to a record store called Music and Video Exchange. I have seen my parent's collection of countless records dating back to the seventies. To my amazement, the shop was busy with loud music and a great atmosphere. There were people of all ages sifting through the records like in a comic book store. The walls were adorned with record posters and vinyl covers from artists such as: John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Aaliyah, N.W.A, Queen and many more.

There was much more of an interaction with the music rather than going onto Spotify or other digital downloading platforms to experience the music. I was welcomed by a member of staff and asked how long they had the shop, to which they answered around forty years. I also asked the staff member if they felt they had made a loss of business since the upcoming age of the internet and digital media. The gentleman responded that digital music is only half of the experience, and nothing will compare to buying a record of your favourite album and artist.

I then explored the two floored shop, where I began conversation with a customer named Shaz. He said he values physical records as it reminds him of his childhood and teenage years, "shops like this bring pure nostalgia" he stated. He informed me on how 'Love Me Do' by the Beatles was the first ever 7" record he ever owned and previous to that he owned cassettes. I then asked him about how he felt about digital music to which he responded "As much as I love music, there is nothing quite like owning a physical recording; be it on vinyl, CD, or a cassette tape... I do listen to MP3 however the whole experience of being able to immerse yourself cannot be compared to through the digital age". If you ever find yourself on Ladbroke Grove, I would recommend for you to check out this amazing store and experience the history and atmosphere.