UK | Ahead of Record Store Day, Official Charts Company marks first decade of vinyl albums chart: As the UK gears up for Record Store Day this weekend (April 12), the Official Charts Company is marking 10 years since the launch of the Official Vinyl Albums Chart and Official Vinyl Singles Chart. The charts were launched amid the nascent resurgence in vinyl sales, which has now been established for 17 years—and Q1 showed another surge in sales. Ten years on, more vinyl records are purchased today than 30 years ago, while younger fans are increasingly drawn to the format. According to Official Charts data, new pop albums accounted for seven out of 10 of the UK’s annual best-sellers of non-catalogue titles on vinyl over the past decade, with releases from Taylor Swift, Adele, Kylie Minogue and ABBA topping end-of-year Official Vinyl Chart rankings.
Sault Ste. Marie, ON | The Rad Zone promises ‘nothing but good vibes’ Record Store Day: Queen Street East retailer to feature sales, vinyl listening party, other goodies April 12. Imagine being surrounded by kindred spirits, all worshipping an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc. No, this is not a reference to a Flat Earth Society gathering, but something much more electric. Record Store Day, the 18th annual celebration of independent record stores is April 12 and, as sure as the stylus tracks a record’s groove, the atmosphere within participating venues promises to be alive with chatter devoted to everything from beloved B-sides to recent releases. That’s how The Rad Zone’s long-time manager Melodie Taylor envisions the vibe within her Queen Street East store that day. And she ought to know; Taylor’s been at the helm of many such Rad Zone gatherings, annual music love fests she holds near and dear.
Aotearoa, NZ | Spotlight: Record Store Day—Aotearoa New Zealand Events 2025: You don’t need to be a vinyl obsessive to enjoy the cavalcade of events, activities and initiatives happening across Aotearoa’s finest independent musical outlets for Record Store Day 2025, this Saturday 12th April. Scope out our rundown below, investigate the massive list of this year’s RSD releases HERE and circumvent the tyranny of online algorithms by supporting those heroes in your community flying the flag for irl releases Note: only stores currently promoting RSD events are included below…
Geelong, AU | Geelong and your favourite regional stores are prepping for Record Store Day with special stock and local performances: On Saturday 12 April, independent record stores Australia-wide will celebrate vinyl culture the only way they know how; with even more music! From free in-store performances, a full day of DJs and your favourite regional acts making some noise, Record Store Day Australia will see over 200 independent record shops from all across Australia cementing its status as a treasured day for music lovers and collectors alike. Check out what our local stores have cooked up for us to enjoy!
Medina, OH | Waiting For This Moment to Arise: Medina’s Blackbird Records & Record Store Day. Since April 19th, 2008, music lovers have gathered at record stores across the nation to celebrate their favorite songs and bond over their passion for their favorite musicians on Record Store Day. Blackbird Records is hosting its version of the annual celebration at all three Northeastern Ohio stores in Medina, Mansfield and Wooster. This year, the event will be held on April 12th, but the traditions are the same as the first experience. Blackbird Records is a mostly family-run business that first opened its doors a little over 5 years ago in Wooster. The Sorg family took over the company Lucky Records from Dave, a family friend who was looking to retire from the industry.
Invercargill, NZ | International record store celebration goes exclusive and live: It will be a one stop music shop at Threes and Sevens Records on Saturday as International Record Store Day is marked, with the celebration culminating in afestival featuring nine local bands playing original music. Threes and Sevens Records owner Jordan Cossill was awaiting a shipment of exclusive records that would be on sale on the day. The celebration of record stores was introduced in the Untied States of America in 2008 to help boost independent music stores and their culture after the economic downturn. Cossill said it’ was all about limited editions—including albums that haven’t been pressed before or not for a long time, live albums, and pressing records in different colours. Suppliers in New Zealand secure what they can and while Cossill made an order, it was not certain what they would send.
Derry, IE | MacD on Music: The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year: Record Store Day takes place this Saturday (12th April). Record shops are the heart and soul of any town. A city without a record shop is essentially a pointless collection of buildings held together by roads and sadness. Thankfully, Derry has a shop that has recently been proclaimed “The coolest record shop in Ireland” by Andy White (who’ll be gracing these fine pages later this month). Yes, I’m talking about Cool Discs, the backbone of our town and the only place where you can find the music of GRIM17 side by side with the latest release from Sabrina Carpenter and a live album by Bobbi Conn. Every year, one of the most anticipated days of the year for music lovers is Record Store Day. Starting in 2008, Record Store Day is basically Christmas for record shops, with Cool Discs being one of a handful of shops in Ireland asked to participate in that very first year.
Leominster, UK | New record shop to open by Retro Station, Leominster: A Leominster vintage and antique furniture business is set to expand, with the launch of a new record shop next month. Retro Station, based in Station Yard, will be opening Retro Records, Herefordshire’s newest record shop, on May 12. The opening will coincide with National Record Store Day, with the new shop set to sell, vinyls, CDs, and musical instruments. If customers want to try before they buy, the shop will also have two listening booths, along with a mezzanine coffee and cake station where they can sit or takeaway. …This month marks a year since The Retro Station undertook new ownership under Mark and Karen Parker. “This is really a double celebration, it has been a fantastic first year,” Mr Parker said.
UK | Dan Morris: Nothing like the sound of His Master’s Voice. It had been years, but the smell in the air and the grin on my face were the same. No, I’m not Rose DeWitt Bukater, and no, I’m not recalling the fresh paint on RMS Titanic. To many, in fact, the place in question will have no significance whatsoever, yet for me it was a conduit to young, carefree days, and I hadn’t realised quite how much I missed it. As a teenaged lad in the pre web-shopping world, I spent a lot of time in my local high street, and one particular emporium, popular in many a town, was my favourite above all others. I could take or leave Topman, say sayonara to Selfridges and comfortably bid Boots adieu. But to me, HMV was heaven on Earth. Purveyors of CDs, DVDs and gaming paraphernalia, the wondrous elves of His Master’s Voice kept the masses entertained with their one-stop shop for years.
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