UK | Record Store Day 2024 set to boost indie retailers by almost £10m: Record Store Day is expected to deliver a £9.7 million boost to indie record shops as it returns this weekend. Taking place on Saturday, April 20, the event will see 443 exclusive releases hit independent stores, with the £9.7m figure an estimation by ERA of their total sales value. ERA analysis does not include non-RSD titles, food, drink or other items. ERA estimated that Record Store Day releases accounted for nearly 10% of annual sales of all physical music product through High Street stores in 2023. Last month, ERA announced that indie store numbers have hit a 10 year high. ERA CEO Kim Bayley said: “Record Store Day is a cultural phenomenon which draws in tens of thousands of music fans across the country, but it is also a financial lifeline for a vital element of music’s unique ecosystem. Without Record Store Day, many would find it difficult to stay in business.
Record Store Day is about more than just the releases: A lot of music fans will be lining up at independent record stores across the country for Record Store Day on Saturday, April 20, but the day is about more than just landing that special release. “It’s almost like Record Store Day is two different days in one,” RSD co-founder Carrie Colliton tells ABC Audio. “In the morning, it’s all about, ‘Oh, I got this special treasure.’ … But the second half of the day is a party, and a celebration of stores and what they do in the community all year long.” RSD started in 2007 and artists like Metallica, Dave Grohl and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy were early supporters, but for RSD co-founder Michael Kurtz, it was when Paul McCartney emailed them after an in-store appearance that he knew they had made it. Kurtz notes, “That was the moment I think we all were like, ‘Holy crap, one of the Beatles likes us,’” adding it made them realize they “must be doing something right.”
Philadelphia, PA | Look what’s happening in Philly on Record Store Day 2024: Check out some special events at local stores, including ones where you’ll find free copies of XPN’s Homegrown Originals Volume 2. You know it: this Saturday is Record Store Day. The annual holiday celebrates independently owned record stores and brings together fans, artists, and local businesses around the world. Many Philly establishments are joining the fun and continuing the yearly event with exclusive sales, live music, and more. To add to the excitement, WXPN’s Homegrown Originals is back with its second volume with support from Dogfish Head. Featuring a slew of Philly artists, the limited vinyl will be available as a free gift with purchases at select independent record stores in and around Philly, all of which are listed below Don’t miss out on your chance to score Homegrown Originals Volume 2, and check out all the events going on – this Record Store Day is shaping out to be one to remember, and not just because it falls on 4/20.
Miami, FL | 8 Best Record Stores in Miami: From hip-hop to jazz and rock to electronica, Miami has a plethora of record stores catering to every kind of vinyl aficionado. Miami is one of the best places in the U.S. for record collectors. Sustained by a buzzing DJ scene and a class of shop owners who know the city’s scene well, South Florida’s outstanding options for diggers and vinyl fans rival, and even surpass, those of bigger cities. Specialty shops for dance music, reggae, and high-quality vinyl can be found in Miami, along with multigenre and community-oriented spaces that understand the unifying power of music in a diverse city. Here are the eight best record stores in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, in alphabetical order. Start digging!