For those of you who have never heard of this event, Record Store Day was created in 2007 as a celebration of the culture surrounding over 700 independently owned record stores in the USA, records stores outside of the US.
This is the one day that all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists and music lovers to celebrate music and rarity that is a record store. If you have noticed more and more record stores are dying. Independent stores are becoming more and more scarce as well. Many seem content to download music or burn it rather than purchasing music in a store.
Downloading music is fine however I personally have always preferred the process of purchasing a cd. I love the atmosphere of independent music stores, rumaging to find what I'm looking for and the excitement of being able to take home what I have found. Additionally, I enjoy the artwork that often comes with a cd, being able to hold something in my hands and play it.
In celebration for the day special vinyl and CD releases and promotional products are put out by artists in and outside of the United States. Artists in support of the day also perform in store store concerts. Some festivities include cook-outs, meet & greets with artists, parades, djs spinning and more Metallica kicked off the first official Record Store Day at Rasputin Music in San Francisco on April 19, 2008. Record Store Day is currently managed by Eric Levin, Michael Kurtz, Scott Register, and Carrie Colliton.
NOTE From the Record Store Website: A Record Store Day participating store is defined as a physical retailer whose product line consists of at least 50% music retail, whose company is not publicly traded and whose ownership is at least 70% located in the state of operation. (In other words, we’re dealing with real, live, physical, indie record stores—not online retailers or corporate behemoths).
Here are some quotes from musicians about music and record stores:
Henry Rollins
“I have watched independent record stores evaporate all over America and Europe. That's why I go into as many as I can and buy records whenever possible. If we lose the independent record store, we lose big. Every time you buy your records at one of these places, it's a blow to the empire.”
Jack White
“I think it’s high time the mentors, big brothers, big sisters, parents, Guardians, and neighborhood ne’er do wells, start taking younger people That look up to them To a real record store and show them what an important part of life music really is. I trust no one who hasn’t time for music. What a shame to Leave a child, or worse, a generation orphaned from one of life’s great beauties. And to the record stores, artists, labels, dj’s, and journalists; we’re all in this together. Show respect for the tangible music that you’ve dedicated your careers and lives to, and help It from becoming nothing more than disposable digital data.”
Neko Case
“I love the smell of them. I love that people actually care for and know about the music they are selling.”
Billy Corgan
I used to work at an indie record shop so I'll always have a soft spot for the places where I still go to find the most vital music, whether new or still hidden.
Paul McCartney
There’s nothing as glamorous to me as a record store. When I recently played Amoeba in LA, I realised what fantastic memories such a collection of music brings back when you see it all in one place. This is why I’m more than happy to support Record Store Day and I hope that these kinds of stores will be there for us all for many years to come. Cheers!
Ben Harper
“Independent record stores are much more than the name suggests. They are an international community and platform where music has an outlet and an opportunity to grow over the long term, in a way that sincerely connects with community and culture. They are also a magnificent mob of highly opinionated musical bandits which I am proud to call my pals! Bill, keep that indian ring shining for me. Matt, I'LL meet you in the morning for breakfast. John, we'll always have paris. Rhino.....straight outta Claremont!”
Nellie McKay
Independent record stores are aural cathedrals, havens for those who find music as much a spiritual endeavor as passing entertainment. Indie employees will go out of their way to help you find a rare or back-catalogued recording, commiserating over neglected artists & all-but-forgotten masterpieces. They offer discounts & suggest records they enjoy with genuine interest & enthusiasm. Indies embody mom&pop, individualist expression - they're in it for love, not to turn a huge profit or to bend popular taste to a uniform will. viva la indie!
Brett Netson (Built To Spill)
“The local record store is a cultural event. Every purchase you make , every day, every year, it is a rich cultural history in the making. Go down to your favorite shop and grab some coffee, a nice pastry and then head in to the record store for the ultimate recorded experience. Maybe see some friends. Next thing you know you just had a nice afternoon.
Go to one of those big box stores and get the full assault.
Bright sterile fluorescent lights and all that fake, old timey crap on the walls that drives home the point that this is an approximation of an experience. You are one of a million cattle herded in and out of those crapholes. This history can easily be rewritten. And you sure as hell won't talk to anyone there, cause everyone else is just as annoyed, alienated and lost as you are. And, as you get trapped in that endless parking lot it really seals the deal. I have precious memories of my favorite shops and so do many of my best friends. That's shared history man. And buying my first Velvet Underground record or Love's "Forever Changes" , or seeing my first "punk show" flyer, takes that whole experience deep into you. That lasts forever. That's powerful stuff.”
Chuck Berry
"Music is an important part of our culture and record stores play a vital part in keeping the power of music alive"
Ziggy Marley
"Record stores keep the human social contact alive it brings people together. Without the independent record stores the community breaks down with everyone sitting in front of their computers"
G. Love
“Independent record stores are where kids like me learned about the music that made them the musicians they are today. Independent record stores are about the love of records not the love of money!”
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