Record Store Day is a global celebration of independent record stores. Since its inception in 2007 by record store owners and employees in the United States, the event has grown to involve nearly 1,400 record stores in the U.S. and thousands of vinyl shops worldwide.
But what exactly is Record Store Day, and why is it so important to music lovers?
What is Record Store Day?
Record Store Day was created as a way to highlight the hard work done by independent stores for music.
This is a day for the people who make up the universe of independent stores – employees, customers, and artists – to come together and celebrate the joy of buying, listening to, and collecting records.
Since its first edition on April 19, 2008, the date has been celebrated annually in independent record stores around the world.
Each store organizes its own program – which always turns into a great local gathering of the music community.
During Record Store Day, exclusive vinyls are released, and there is a selection of albums on sale (including CDs and cassettes). The event may also include live shows, talks, autograph sessions, fan meetups, DJ sets, and more.
The Importance of this Event
Record Store Day has grown significantly over the years. Initially, it was just a small number of titles released on this date to attract traffic to independent stores. Now, it involves both major and independent artists and record labels across various musical genres.
A key part of Record Store Day is the in-store appearances by musicians and DJs, whether for performances or to shop and inspire fans. This has been one of the ways to strengthen the music community, also bringing visibility and importance to the work done by independent stores worldwide.
One of the best examples of this strengthening by musicians is the close relationship that members of Pearl Jam have with Easy Street Records in Seattle. There are always special releases from the band dedicated to this date and their presence over the years – which has helped project this independent store as a global reference.
How to Participate in Record Store Day?
Check the official Record Store Day website to see if any store in your city is participating in the event.
Another good idea is to take advantage of Record Store Day while traveling. There are plenty of ideas for organizing a musical tourism trip here at Travel2Concert!
When is Record Store Day?
Record Store Day always takes place on the third Saturday of April.
This is much more than a day of promotions to buy records. It is a celebration of community, culture, and passion for music.
Join this global event to discover what makes these spaces so special for music lovers around the world.
