NOTE: This article was updated to indicate that Record Store Day was cancelled for 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns. It was previously set for April 18. We'll hope to see it back in 2021!
Coming soon to your neighborhood: Record Store Day! Taking place on June 20 in 2020, the goal of the day is to celebrate independently owned record stores. The day was founded in 2007 by Eric Levin, Michael Kurtz, Carrie Colliton, Amy Dorfman, and Don Van Cleave.
Each participating record store plans special events that reflect their community and celebrate special artist releases planned around the day. Special pressings are typically manufactured in limited quantities and offered only for sale on this specific day at participating stores.
Record Store Day has been responsible for increasing sales of vinyl and the growing trend of vinyl exceeding CD sales that was observed in 2019.
Each year an ambassador is chosen to represent the day and this year Brandi Carlile is the ambassador. So plan to head out to your local independently-owned record store and get in on the festivities! And just maybe you can help out a local business and walk away with some cool new vinyl.
Editor's Note: This is an unpaid message only designed to remind people to support their local vinyl purveyors!