With vinyl records experiencing a resurgence in popularity, hundreds of independent stores across the U.S. celebrated Record Store Day on Saturday with a variety of events and special releases.
Record stores have been instrumental in promoting emerging artists, and the popularity of vinyl has helped keep these businesses afloat. Taylor Swift, who has released several limited-edition vinyl records, has been dubbed the “Vinyl Queen” for her contributions to the format’s revival.
The first Record Store Day was held in 2008, and since then, it has become an annual event, with cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas declaring it an official holiday. For many record store owners, it is their biggest day of the year, with some even seeing an increase in sales during the event that surpasses their Christmas revenue.
This year, there were 387 planned releases for Record Store Day, including Paramore’s physical release of their digital album featuring celebrity remixes. Rock band Pearl Jam released a “Dark Matter” LP with a unique black and yellow cover, while Icelandic-American traditional pop singer Laufey offered up a live album recorded with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.
In Nashville, Tennessee, a giant block party with 14 live performances was held at Vinyl Tap, featuring Lzzy and Joe of Halestorm and The Watson Twins. The event also coincided with the annual 4/20 marijuana-oriented celebrations.
Record Store Day is a testament to the enduring popularity of independent record stores and the resurgence of vinyl records. Collectors and music enthusiasts alike eagerly await the special releases and events that make this day a unique experience for record lovers.
