Record Store Day – RSD 2019
On April 13, Record Store Day is back for its 12th year with over 500 releases only available at independent record stores. See the list here. This year’s list is arguably the best one since RSD started in 2012.
Record Store Day is an annual event inaugurated in 2008 and held on one Saturday every April and every “Black Friday” in November to celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store. The day brings together fans, artists, and thousands of independent record stores from across the world. A number of records are pressed specifically for Record Store Day that are only distributed to shops participating in the event. The event began in the United States which remains its headquarters. Record Store Day has official international participants throughout the world including the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Australia and Spain.
The idea was originally pitched by Bull Moose Music’s Chris Brown and Criminal Record’s Eric Levin, and was in founded in 2007 by Eric Levin, Michael Kurtz, Carrie Colliton, Amy Dorfman, and Don Van Cleave. It is now celebrated by record stores across the globe with recording artists, industry executives, special appearances and performers meeting their fans. The event helps raise funds for community none-profits and releases an every growing number of limited pressings of vinyl and CD, together with a host of other promotional events and offerings.
Each stores event and offerings are unique to that participating store. So driving between stores on RSD will provide the widest range of experiences and recording selections, as not every store will carry every re-release.
Although RSD only occurs once a year, the organization provides promotions, marketing, and other opportunities for stores throughout the year, maintaining a website, social media and other means of spreading its views about the value of independent record stores. RSD is managed on a day-to-day basis by the Dept. of Record Stores, along with the Coalition of Independent Music Stores and the Alliance of Independent Media Stores.
