Vinyl LP sales reached 1.88 million units in 2008, an 89 percent increase from 2007 – According to Nielsen SoundScan. According to the New York Post, Best Buy, the third largest music retailer is considering using as much as eight square feet in each of its 1,020 stores for vinyl.

“Our goal is to occupy as much square footage as possible with music products,” said Atlantic Records CEO Craig Kallman, whose personal vinyl collection numbers more than 300,000, making it one of the largest private collections in the world.

Kadawatha is built around the 22 year old sri lankian Daniel Kadawatha. Our favorite tracks are Whitest Tiger and Gonna Stay. Currently performing a string of dates in Sweden. For more information contact magnus@catapult-music.com

Republic Universal has signed 23 year old actress Leighton Meester who stars in the teen drama “Gossip Girl”. Her sound is described as electro-pop and has teamed up with producers Polow Da Don (Usher, Fergie), Harvey Mason, Jr. (Justin Timberlake, Pink) and Spencer Nezey (Jupiter Rising). Her debut album will be released in the fall.

Check out the new single I Don’t Know by Dredg that will come off their new album ‘The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion’ due out June 9th. The San Francisco act currently has a string of dates in the west coast.

New York rock act The Pennyroyals just finished recording their debut record with Mike Plotnikoff (Buckcherry, Daughtry, All American Rejects). The lead track “White Noise” is co-written by Mitch Allan (Daughtry, Anberlin). For more information contact scott@srfllp.com