Rochester, NY | Record Store Day 2025: Fans line up in hopes for exclusive titles. It’s that time of year! Despite the damp outside, record collectors and music fans alike lined the doors of record stores across the country to grab some new, exclusive titles—including in Rochester. Our News 8 crews headed to Record Archive just before 9 a.m. Saturday, where there were hundreds of fans lined up hoping to get everything on their list. On the coveted ‘RSD 2025’ list this go-round: Taylor Swift & Post Malone’s “Fortnight,” Gracie Abrams’ “Live from Radio City Music Hall,” an exclusive pressing of the 2024 “Wicked” soundtrack — just to name a few. Where did you shop for Record Store Day 2025? Did you get everything on your list?
Alexandria, VA | Vinyl enthusiasts line up overnight at Crooked Beat Records for Record Store Day: Music enthusiasts lined up for hours—some overnight—outside Crooked Beat Records (2417 Mt. Vernon Ave.) in Del Ray on Saturday for the annual Record Store Day celebration, hoping to score limited-edition vinyl releases. By 8:39 a.m., approximately 120 people had formed a line outside the independent record store. The first customers had arrived nearly 12 hours before the doors opened at 9 a.m. Carol from Arlington arrived around 9 p.m. Friday night to secure her spot at the front of the line. She camped out with her fiancé to ensure they could purchase Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman: Wu-Tang, The Saga Continues Collection by Wu-Tang Clan and DJ Mathematics. “It was very cold,” Carol says about the overnight wait. “But just got to spend some bonding time with my fiancé.” …Nevertheless, the wait proved worthwhile as she obtained everything on her wish list.
Savannah, GA | People camp out to score exclusive items on Record Store Day: Saturday was a big day for vinyl enthusiasts around the country, it’s record store day! To celebrate, artists will release special vinyl’s and Cd’s made just for the day, just to be sold at independent record stores. This led to people lining up outside of Coastal Empire Records on Wilmington Island all night, just so they could get their hands on these exclusive items. Some we spoke with said they were determined to find certain records only available Saturday. “Coming specifically for a band from the 80s called Tesla, and they got an album called Real Real 2, which is like a cover of Classic Rock. And I’ve got on CD, but it’s the first time I’m pressing on vinyl, so that’s why I’m here,” said Rich Leach. People camped out as early as Friday afternoon to get their hands on their favorite records.
Seattle, WA | Easy Street Records hopping for Record Store Day 2025: Never a dull day at Easy Street Records in the heart of The Junction, but as previewed in our Saturday list, this one is really jumping—it’s Record Store Day, which offers special deals, treats, and sights. WSB contributing journalist Jason Grotelueschen sent a few scenes: Making an appearance for just a few hours, that’s the legendary touring van used by The Melvins, featuring art by Kurt Cobain. Past the van and on down Alaska, people were still lined up as of about an hour ago. Inside the shop, Easy Street proprietor Matt Vaughan is the busiest man in showbiz, with freebies as well as sales—he told us about 500 people were in line when the store opened at 7 am!
Grand Rapids, MI | Record Store Day 2025 takes over West Michigan record shops: The 18th annual event carried on the tradition designed to gather the community and uplift brick-and-mortar record stores around the world. Record Store Day 2025 kicked off on Saturday morning and stores across West Michigan welcomed crowds of people eager to get their hands on special edition vinyl and CDs. The 18th annual event carried on the tradition designed to gather the community and uplift brick-and-mortar record stores around the world. This year, RSD featured 370 special vinyl LP releases, including hits from Taylor Swift, Gorillaz, Charli XCX and more. West Michigan record stores celebrated with prizes, contests to win concert tickets, discounts at local restaurants, coffee, donuts and even chili dogs.
Horseheads, NY | People Pack Squatch Den Records for 2025 Record Store Day: April 12th, 2025, is Record Store Day, a day to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding almost 1,400 independently-owned record stores in the U.S., and thousands of similar stores internationally. At the Squatch Den Records in Horseheads, people packed the store to grab new vinyls, CDs, and posters. “Record Store Day is the biggest day of the year for independent record stores like ourselves. They put out hundreds of drops that are exclusive to independent record stores, so you can’t find these at bigger box stores… You have to come to an independent record store,” said Ash Cullen, the co-owner of Squatch Den Records. Cullen said Record Store Day at a locally owned shop has its perks, compared to going to a big-name store.
Houston, TX | Houston vinyl music lovers visit independent shops for Record Store Day: Several record shops across Houston on Saturday were busy as music lovers stopped in for Record Store Day. The event was created to celebrate independently owned record stores and vinyl records. Record labels and artists sell special limited releases to help support these small businesses. The independent shops have seen an increase in vinyl sales due to younger music fans. There were 330 new and limited special edition records released on Saturday. The list of artists includes Houston rapper Bun B along with The Cure, Patsy Cline, Charlie X-C-X, Post Malone, and Taylor Swift. The Recording Industry Association of America said revenue from vinyl record sales rose 7% last year to $1.4 billion.
Calgary, CA | Calgary record stores sell Taylor Swift, Bon Iver vinyl exclusives for Record Store Day: It’s not just about the niche artists anymore, with folks lining up to get vinyl exclusives by the mainstream artists. This Saturday started a lot earlier for some Calgarians. Across the city, lines began forming outside neighbourhood record stores, with some enthusiasts barely getting a wink of sleep the night before, just to maximize their chances of getting the coveted Taylor Swift exclusive, in vinyl format. “Taylor Swift is the one,” Austin Geis, who manages Recordland Limited in Inglewood said. In lieu of Record Store Day, which falls on April 12, he and store-owner Eraz Cohen put out a request to customers asking them what vinyls they want brought in. Taylor Swift, Post Malone, Charli XCX — it’s not just about the niche artists anymore, according to Cohen. “It depends on the crowd,” he said.
South Portland, ME | Mainers celebrate Record Store Day: It’s a music lover’s dream, the return of Record Store Day. It’s an annual tradition where brick and mortar shops sell exclusive, limited-edition vinyl records. More than a dozen stores in Maine took part, including all eight Bull Moose locations, Newbury Comics at the Maine Mall, and Everyday Music in Farmington. Store owners say customers were already lined up by the time they opened at 8 a.m. Record Store Day started in 2007 after Chris Brown from Bull Moose thought of the idea.
Lima, OH | Classic-music fans celebrate record store day with Groamy’s pop-up: It’s an exciting day for classic-music lovers. Saturday was National Record Store Day, and Groamy’s Cd’s and Tapes was downtown at the Central District holding a pop-up shop for the community. They had all the usual items, with vinyl, CDs, DVDs and even VHS tapes available to the people. …Since the store was damaged in a fire back in January, there’s been uncertainty about where Groamy’s would end up—but no matter where the store is, people will be there to shop. “I love what they’re doing downtown here. Being across the street from the amphitheater basically and the social house next door has amazing food. Everything they’re doing in the central district up there with Touch of Europe and Winan’s with the coffee and the sweets. I like it down here and more than likely, this is probably going to be the new location for Groamy’s,” said Groamy, owner of Groamy’s CD’s and Tapes.
Fort Wayne, IN | ‘Our biggest day of the year’: Record Store Day 2025. Thousands of vinyl records found new homes after Record Store Day during one of the busiest days of the year for record stores. The day started with around 70 people waiting in front of Welcome Back Records before its opening at 8 a.m., some who had been there since 10 p.m. the night before. Owner of Welcome Back Records, Morrison Agen, said it was “heartwarming” to see such a big crowd since the store had relocated from Broadway to Calhoun Street just months ago. “It’s kind of like seeing our old friends,” Agen said. “A lot of the folks who hang out and stand in line all night they’re people who are here all the time anyway. We see a lot of new faces as well. A lot of folks bring their kids.” Beyond bringing the community in to celebrate the spirit of vinyl, Record Store Day also boosts brick-and-mortar sellers’ sales.
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