#RecordStoreOfTheDay Campaign Relaunches In Support Of Independent Record Stores
Supported by AIM, BPI, ERA, and a host of UK Distributors
The campaign features two rounds of competitions, offering £100s in record vouchers to be won
OVERVIEW:
With record stores across the country once again forced to close their doors, the UK record business is relaunching the #recordstoreoftheday campaign to help connect fans with their favourite local music emporia.
Little compares to the joys of crate digging, swapping music recommendations and catching live shows inside our local record stores, but until it is safe to reopen we’re asking you to support them online and over the phone.
Starting today with Resident Music in Brighton, the #recordstoreoftheday campaign will spotlight a different independent record store across the country every single day of the week via the social media accounts @recordstoreotd on Twitter, @recordstoreoftheday on Instagram and on our Record Store of the Day Facebook page.
Representing all corners of the music scene — from rock to reggae, indie to electronic — 18 of the UK’s best record stores are already lined up to take part, with the number expected to grow as the campaign gets underway. These include Kingston’s Banquet Records, London’s Sister Ray, Edinburgh's Underground Solu'shn, and Brighton's Resident (full list below).
The Association of Independent Music (AIM) and a whole host of UK Distributors — Kudos, Little Amber Fish, Trapeze, Cargo, Republic of Music, Proper, Forte, SRD and The Orchard — are backing the initiative. Meanwhile ERA and the BPI are supporting across socials.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
As well as buying from their online shops or over the phone, we’re throwing two massive competition days with a total prize fund of £750 in record vouchers, with winners being announced on Thursday 26th November and Friday 11th December — encouraging fans to show their support by sharing a memorable record or purchase from an independent record store on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. This might include branded t-shirts, mugs, slipmats, books, posters or whatever you bought!
Make sure you include the hashtag #recordstoreoftheday and tag the store in your post to be in with the chance of winning vouchers worth £50 – £150, for use at any participating store.
WHAT: Share a picture or name a record or other record store purchase you love
TAG: @ the independent record store you bought it from
HASHTAG:#recordstoreoftheday
WHEN: Every single day of the week from Friday 13th Nov
WHERE: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
Fans can also follow the campaign on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, where a different retailer will be spotlighted each day, offering a glimpse of their rare and upcoming releases, stories about how they were founded and who’s behind the (virtual counter).
The campaign is expected to extend through December and beyond as more independent stores join.
SUPPORTERS
The #recordstoreoftheday campaign is supported by:
Artists including Alex Nut, Coldcut, Floating Points and Matthew Halsall
Labels including Castle Face, Eglo, Erased Tapes, Gondwana, In The Red, Jazz Re:freshed and Woodsist
Distributors including Kudos, Little Amber Fish, Trapeze, Cargo, Republic of Music, Proper, Forte, SRD and The Orchard
Record Store Day, AIM, the BPI and ERA
QUOTES
“Happy to be supporting the #RSOTD campaign again. After all, we the two founders of Coldcut and Ninja Tune did meet in an independent record store, Reckless Records of Berwick St, which, like Oldcut, is still rocking 33 years later! In fact Jon was the manager there for a while. Chatting in the store bonded us on breakbeats, vinyl and crate digging and that’s where we decided to make our first record.
“So the record store is the place where it all happened and still the place to meet fellow music heads. Let's keep that shared experience going and especially support all independent record shops at this time. IRL may be best but if that’s not possible online is still cool. Do it!”
Coldcut
“As a record lover as well as an artist and record producer, independent record stores are amongst my most cherished spaces. They are refuge, radio station and home from home. From Piccadilly to Rough Trade and King Bee to June and Soul Jazz I am at my happiest crate-digging for that unfound gem or hearing the latest releases on the decks.”
Matthew Halsall
"Indie record shops have faced the double blow this year with the postponement of RSD and now the closure of their stores for the second time round. Indie record shops are part of the DNA of the local communities they serve and now more than ever we should be finding
ways to support them. That’s why we are urging music fans to continue buying from their local shops online where possible, asking about gift vouchers and following their local record shop's social media channels.
“The Record Store of the Day campaign is a brilliant way to highlight the UK's independent shops, big and small, during this difficult time. There are great record shops in every corner of the UK and we want to keep it that way and support indies through the coronavirus crisis.” Megan Page - PR and Marketing Manager, Record Store Day/ERA
“Independent Records Shops are the cornerstone of popular music culture. What many don’t realise is that they can often offer a personalised, knowledgeable, “store counter” service over the phone and by email. Help save independent music retail by “ordering local” while you #stayathome” Danny Ryan - MD, Kudos Records
“We saw the independent community come together and support record shops during the first lockdown. Months down the line, we’re here again, and it’s crucial that we show the same togetherness this time around. Independent record shops are a cornerstone of our music community and we must do everything we can to get them through this. A good day for retail is a good day for the whole music ecosystem, including the artists we love. Many shops continue to offer delivery services, I urge everyone to show their support through online orders until they’re able to reopen again.”Jude McArdle, Membership Manager, AIM
“We love selling music - when we opened it was all vinyl, then it was lots of CDs with some vinyl, and now it's back to mainly vinyl and some CDs. It is always better over the counter, with a chat about the latest show / release, or a coffee to catch up on football / kids, but at the moment it is only over the internet / online. We will get all our shops back open as soon as it is safe to do so, but in the meantime stay healthy, and settle for the second best option of online ordering.” Nigel House - Co Owner, Rough Trade
“Record shops are such an essential part of the high street, they provide a community & cultural hub, serving their local area, where like-minded people can share their passion, ideas & enthusiasm for music and more. They’re not only a place to discover your new favourite band/artist/producer, but also rub shoulders with them, as many shops host in-store release shows and events promoting new music.” Mike Smith - Banquet Records
PARTICIPATING STORES
Vinilo Record Store - Southampton & Bournemouth
The Rock Box Record Store - Camberley
Fish Records - Stone, Staffordshire
Tangled Parrot - Carmartehn/Hay-on-Wye/Swansea
Seismic Records - Leamington Spa (Midlands)
Resident - Brighton
Frank Harvey Hi Fi Excellence - Coventry
Flashback Records - London
Sound Records - Stroud
the record store ashford - Ashford Kent
Intense Records - Chelmsford
Reflex - Newcastle Upon Tyne
Vintage & Vinyl - Folkestone
Underground Solu'shn - Edinburgh
Norman Records - Leeds
Sister Ray - London
Banquet Records - Kingston Upon Thames
Grind and groove records - Keighley
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Record Store of the Day is an initiative led by the UK’s music distributors, including Cargo, Forte Distribution, Kudos Records, Little Amber Fish, Proper Music Distribution, Republic of Music, SRD, The Orchard and Trapeze, with backing from the Association of Independent Music.
As distributors act as middlemen between labels and retailers, they are well-placed to understand the crucial role that independent retailers play in the music ecosystem. In support of this, they have launched Record Store of the Day to help persuade music buyers to continue supporting independent stores online and over the phone, to maintain the surrounding culture and community that is so important to independent music.