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A Canadian pastor has taken Coldplay lyrics to heart and soul, dedicating his Sunday sermon to the British band. John Van Sloten of the New Hope Church in West Hillhurst, Calgary, drew on a number of Coldplay songs to demonstrate the music’s link to the Bible – Us Against The World, for one, uses the word ‘Amen’, writes Maria Stadmueller.

In 2011, two thirds of all vinyl albums sold went over the counter of an indie music store. And when independent record shops open for business for tomorrow’s Record Store Day 2012, they will have already accounted for 68% of total US vinyl album sales sold this year, says Nielsen. “The annual music celebration launched in San Francisco in 2008,” says the research firm. “Since then, it has become a global phenomenon that’s not only grown in popularity among consumers looking to purchase vinyl, meet and greet with musicians or catch live performances, but also drives revenue for independent record stores.”

Universal Music Group Distribution is releasing a number of exclusive vinyl titles from leading artists in celebration of Record Store Day, the independent music store fest set for this week on 21 April. Acts in the programme include Florence + the Machine, Lana Del Ray, Garbage, Neon Trees, Miike Snow, plus Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend, ABBA and James Brown.

Killer Tracks, a unit of Universal Publishing Production Music, is rolling out the Killer Tracks Artist Series. The company, a provider of music for placement in media, says its goal with the series is to combine a one-stop production music licensing model ‘with the creativity of major artists for the benefit of our clients, our artists and their fans worldwide’.

Brita slotted Shazam into its campaign to promote its Brita FilterforGood Music Project and give fans of Train an exclusive opportunity to hear the band’s new album, California 37, prior to release, writes Mark Terry. During the Brita campaign TV spot, viewers were prompted to use Shazam to tag the ad to get a link to listen to the new album, plus also get further information on Brita’s FilterforGood Music Project, an initiative to get bands and fans together to reduce bottled water waste.

Sailor Jerry rum is opening a new London music venue on Charing Cross Street. Hotel Street – the name comes from Honululu’s Chinatown where Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins made a name for himself through his tattooing skills – will act as a shop and gallery during the day, but will aim to become something of a dive bar in evening, with rum cocktails and live music, writes Maria Stadtmueller.