This is a day for the people who make up the world of the record storethe staff, the customers, and the artiststo come together and celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role they play in their communities. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day. Festivities include performances, cook-outs, body painting, meet & greets with artists, parades, DJs spinning records, and on and on. In 2008 a small list of titles was released on Record Store Day and that list has grown to include artists and labels both large and small, in every genre and price point. For several years, 60% or more of the Record Store Day Official Release List came from independent labels and distributors. The list continues to include a wide range of artists, covering the diverse taste of record stores and their customers. On the first Record Store Day, Metallica spent hours at Rasputin Music in San Francisco meeting their fans and now each year hundreds of artistaboth internationally famous and from the block--flock to record stores around the world for performances, signings, meet and greets and to fill their own shopping bags with music. In 2009, Jesse "Boots Electric" Hughes (Eagles of Death Metal) declared himself the "Record Store Day Ambassador" as a way of shouting out how important the stores were to artists and since then Joshua Homme (Eagles of Death Metal, Them Crooked Vultures, Queens of the Stone Age), Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, Jack White, Chuck D, Dave Grohl, Metallica, St. Vincent, Run The Jewels, Pearl Jam, Brandi Carlile, Fred Armisen and Taylor Swift have worn the annual ceremonial sash. While theres only one Record Store Day a year, the organization works with both independent and major labels throughout the year to create contests, special releases and promotions in order to spotlight the benefits of supporting these independent, locally owned stores with music purchases throughout the year. In 2010, Record Store Day coordinated its first RSD Black Friday event, which gives record stores exclusive releases as part of the attempt to redirect the focus of the biggest shopping day of the year to the desirable, special things to be found at these local, independently-owned small businesses. In 2016, Record Store Day created RSD Summer Camp, a conference devoted to the unique business that is the independent record store. The conference provides a place for record store owners and staff to meet and interact with labels, distribution, vendors and anyone whose work places them in the orbit of a record store. RSD Summer Camp 2023 will be held in New Orleans August 8 through the 11. Contact summercamp@recordstoreday.com for more information. In 2017, Record Store Day was a founding partner in the Making Vinyl conference, which brings together the companies and individuals responsible for the ongoing vinyl resurgence. Record Store Day 2025 will be held on April 12, 2025. Record Store Day is currently managed by Michael Kurtz and Carrie Colliton, in coordination with Andrea Paschal and Eric Levin. Folks wanting to contact Record Store Day are encouraged to email us atinformation@recordstoreday.com
Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently-owned record stores in the US and thousands of similar stores internationally. The first Record Store Day took place on April 19, 2008. Today, Record Store Day is celebrated at independently-owned brick-and-mortar record stores around the world.
FAQs
What is special about Record Store Day? ›
Record Store Day is typically marked by special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products and events featuring artists and labels. Metallica spent hours on the first Record Store Day meeting fans at Rasputin Music in the San Francisco Bay area.
What are the criteria for Record Store Day? ›A Record Store Day participating store is defined as a brick and mortar retailer whose main primary business focuses on full time, stand alone physical store locations, with a major commitment to music retail, and whose company is independently owned, and not publicly traded.
How do you get what you want on Record Store Day? ›If you're a regular at your local shop, pay the store a visit to ask in-person. Not all shops will be willing to relay this information, but it's worth the effort. If your local shop doesn't have the record you're looking for, call other record stores in towns around you before resorting to purchasing online.
How to prepare for Record Store Day? ›- Arrive early: Many exclusive releases are available in limited quantities and can sell out quickly.
- Make a wishlist: Research the exclusive releases beforehand and prioritize the ones you are most interested in.
EXCLUSIVES: These titles are physically released only at indie record stores.
How to celebrate Record Store Day? ›- Attend a Local Event. Last year's Record Store Day was a testament to community strength, with events ranging from bustling street fairs to cozy in-store performances. ...
- Exclusive Sales & Giveaways. ...
- Meet Your Favorite Artists. ...
- Cherish Your Collection. ...
- Join the Vinyl Community.
A: The fan will then be given a list of stores near them that they can purchase physical product (including CDs, DVDs, vinyl, etc.)
How does record day work? ›Record Store Day was founded in 2007 by Eric Levin, Michael Kurtz, Carrie Colliton, Amy Dorfman, Brian Poehner and Don Van Cleave, and is now celebrated at stores around the world, with hundreds of recording and other artists participating in the day by making special appearances, performances, meet and greets with ...
What does Record Store Day first mean? ›RSD first simply means a special variant is being produced for Record Store Day and a standard black version will be released later. In some cases the album is just being release on that day first to independent shops and the same version will become available to bigger retailers later.
How to take part in Record Store Day? ›Submissions for RSD 2024 are now open!
Submit your titles for the official RSD UK list by completing the product submission form and signing the label code of conduct and sending to rsdsubmissions@eraltd.org before 24th November 2023.
How limited are Record Store Day releases? ›
Not all stores carry every release. Indeed with over 400 releases for Record Store Day, it is almost impossible for a shop to carry every title. That is why we advise customers to contact the store before the day to find out what they are stocking.
What is being released on Record Store Day 2024? ›| Artist | Title | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Come | Eleven:Eleven (Deluxe Edition) | LP + 7″ |
| Cramps, The | Ultra Twist (30th Ann.) | 12″ |
| Cranberries, The | Bury The Hatchet (The Complete Sessions) (RSD 2024) | 2LP |
| Cure, The | The Top – 40th Anniversary Picture Disc | pic disc |
The iconic Hollywood store has participated in the celebration since the start and it orders an array of the RSD releases. So expect to see a line and potentially some campers. You'll want to get there early. The first 250 people will receive goody bags.
What do you do at a record store? ›Record store jobs include a variety of positions that focus on helping customers find and buy records. In this field, you may keep track of sales and inventory levels, suggest music artists or genres, and assist customers who want to locate a specific product.
Does Record Store Day happen twice a year? ›Record Store Day is a twice-a-year holiday to celebrate record stores and bring the music community together. Typically, it is observed in April and on Black Friday in November.
Is Taylor Swift doing Record Store Day 2024? ›As of Thursday 18th April, it looks like there's no official Taylor Swift exclusive release for Record Store Day 2024. On RSD's website, Taylor's name does not appear on the official list of special releases.
What day is National Record Store Day? ›RECORD STORE DAY: April 20 | RECORD STORE DAY.