Record Store Day returns on Saturday (April 12), 18 years on from the launch event – a period in which vinyl achieved consistent growth.
The vinyl celebration includes hundreds of releases this year, including a growing representation for younger pop acts among the collectible titles. You can read more about that in our preview of this year’s event with RSD coordinator Megan Ogleby-Page, head of operations at the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA).
In the latest Q1 figures, vinyl sales surged again – up 15.4% year-on-year, thanks in part to the huge week one result for Record Store Day ambassador Sam Fender.
So there’s considerable optimism as record shops prepare for the latest edition of RSD. But that comes amid a difficult economic environment and the ongoing challenges on the High Street.
“Indies are creative when it comes to diversifying,” noted Ogleby-Page in our interview.
Here, we get an indie retail snapshot from various stores participating in this year’s initiative…
Lawrence Montgomery, Rough Trade
How important has RSD been for Rough Trade and what are your hopes for the 2025 edition?
“RSD is hugely important for Rough Trade and a big shout out has to go to ERA, labels and distributors for supporting the event so well. The rise of RSD is perfectly aligned to the general growth in popularity of vinyl in recent years. We're hoping for another 'record-breaking' RSD and we are hosting our debut edition at our Denmark Street store. Beyond the releases, we are celebrating our partnerships with Cambridge Audio, CALM and Marshall and have a great line-up of bands playing in East London, West London, Bristol, LIverpool and Nottingham. RSD is a chance for the vinyl community to celebrate the vibrancy of the retail ecosystem – RSD always feels like a festival.”
There are reports of a younger audience for vinyl and more pop acts getting involved with the format, including during RSD. Is this an opportunity to bring a new generation into vinyl with a greater focus on pop releases?
“We've seen RSD tailor its list for the changing demographic of vinyl customers. This is represented well this year with key titles from Taylor Swift, Olivia Dean, Charli XCX, Laufey, but there continues to be a strong representation from catalogue releases from A Tribe Called Quest, Fleetwood Mac and Public Image Ltd. The RSD list is 500-strong and the diversity of the selection is a big part of the strength of the offer.”
RSD is a chance for the vinyl community to celebrate the vibrancy of the retail ecosystem – RSD always feels like a festival
Lawrence Montgomery
Finally, what are the challenges on the High Street amid the economic and tax issues for small businesses?
“We run retail and e-commerce and I know the difference in the level of investment in staffing and rent costs between online and stores. It's stark. Being frank, if we only cared about the profit motive, running e-commerce has a much better ROI, however our stores are important ways to celebrate their local community and we're proud of the investment we make in the physical spaces, people and communities we're in. We never want music retail to feel like a charity – our stores are profitable and deliver value way beyond the bottom line. However, it is important that larger stakeholders support this in the right way. The labels support us well with events, which is a key part of us keeping our retail spaces sustainable. We also invest heavily in the production and experience for these.
“From a government perspective, there needs to be a full revamp of business rates. However, I'm not sure the appetite is there and instead we get temporary fixes whilst they kick it into the long grass. The tax on working people through the National Insurance hike is a terrible move and puts a penalty on employers and employees. We don't want to be treated like a charity – we need proper reform that truly recognises the value that culturally and commercially important businesses bring to the High Street.”
Scott Gamble, Crash Records, Leeds
How important has RSD been for Crash and what are your hopes for the 2025 edition?
“RSD has meant a huge amount for us and all the shops that take part – from its early days it’s been about reminding the general public that, up and down the country, there are like-minded independent record shops still trading in our cities and towns. Whilst trends may change, we are always there to offer the music buying customer a more interesting – and rewarding – buying experience.
“For this year our hopes are, as always, to reach out to more customers who may not have been in an indie record shop before and give them that first exciting experience. I’m not sure there are many events nowadays that can compare to spending time queuing up in the hopes of grabbing that much-wanted release, chatting to the people around you and feeling that sense of camaraderie when they grab the bits they are after.”
Our hope is to reach out to more customers who may not have been in an indie record shop before and give them that first exciting experience
Scott Gamble
Is this an opportunity to bring a new generation into vinyl with a greater focus on pop releases?
“Absolutely, for a long time vinyl was just seen as something for the older generation to enjoy and reminisce over, whereas now every generation – young and old – are consuming vinyl at an astounding rate. For us as retailers, every day is a learning experience. I'm constantly hearing of new artists that wouldn't normally be your typical 'indie record shop fare' – but it's up to us to jump in feet first with those artists and stock as much as we can. You see it with every release now, it will get a vinyl release and the more interesting it is in terms of the packaging and vinyl, the better. Having a version that is limited or cool becomes something to share [on social media] rather than be filed into your collection.”
Finally, what are the challenges on the High Street amid the economic and tax issues for small businesses?
“The main challenge I believe is reminding the public that we have a High Street and to use it as much as possible – as the mail order business grows and grows, the costs of owning and running a retail business get higher and higher and you can see why the High Street is ever changing and some of the bigger retailers folding. It’s certainly strange to see how our High Streets have changed over the last decade, and even five years – I do worry for the future. Hopefully, local councils and the government will offer further incentives to small business to invest in High Street retail rather than continued growth in mail order.”
Emma Perks, Spinning Around Records, Wellington, Telford
How important has RSD been for Spinning Around Records and what are your hopes for the 2025 edition?
“Even before having the shop, RSD was a massive event between me and my friends. Waiting for the list to drop, the excitement over the titles and then the nerves over getting them. So I knew it was going to be the biggest event for my shop to undertake and wanted to aim for more happy faces than sad ones who'd missed out on something. Last year’s was amazing and everyone said how smooth it had run for my first one, so I'm hoping it'll be bigger and better this year with the queue reaching the top of the high street!”
There is a massive market for pop on vinyl and I love seeing youngsters coming in and buying Taylor, Olivia and Sabrina
Emma Perks
Is Record Store Day an opportunity to bring a new generation into vinyl with a greater focus on pop releases?
“People keep saying to me that ‘vinyl is coming back isn't it?’ when it's been more than 'back' for years now with a whole new generation collecting and loving it. When I started collecting this time around, in 2015, so few pop albums were issued on vinyl which was frustrating. But it’s brilliant to see how that's changed over the past decade and how many more pop releases there are for RSD. I love how diverse the list is this year with so many different genres so there is literally something for all tastes.
“There is a massive market for pop on vinyl and I love seeing youngsters coming in and buying Taylor, Olivia and Sabrina. I grew up with my music on vinyl and tape and it's brilliant to see a younger generation now doing the same and wanting to own a physical product that they can hold and look at rather than just stream. The amazing colour presses do help though and there is definitely a collector's appeal to vinyl, which makes it fun and exciting. And RSD ties in with that – it's all the pop releases like Taylor Swift, Wicked OST and Charli XCX that are leading what people have asked me for.”
Finally, what are the challenges on the High Street amid the economic and tax issues for small businesses? How have you adapted the business to bring in a range of customers?
“The decrease of small business relief on business rates is infuriating. High Streets, like in market towns where I am, depend on independent businesses and that extra we now have to pay takes away our security blanket and will no doubt make some struggle. I've certainly diversified since I've opened and adjusted my stock according to what I get asked for; but I need to keep doing what I do well to grow my customer base.”
PHOTO: Rough Trade (Drew Eckheart)
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