In 2008, Independent Record Stores created a buzz of awareness to inform the media that Record Stores were not ready to fade away into obscurity. On Saturday April 20th, National Record Store Day is celebrating its 6th year, inviting music lovers out for in-store performances & exclusive releases.
Due to the evolution of digital retailers & the simple convenience of iTunes, there are less than 3,000 Record Stores maintaining worldwide. National Record Store Day turned out to be the best incentive to remind music lovers, there’s things at the store, you won’t find online.
“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” – Ziggy Marley
The team that founded Record Store Day created criteria to keep out corporate entities and online merchants. Stores involved in Record Store Day have control over their stock, store policies and promotions. To participate, a store has to be a physical retailer that carries at least 50% music. The store’s ownership has to be at least 70% located in the state of operation, and the company that owns the store cannot be publicly traded.
Artists have shown their growing support for National Record Store Day by doing rare in-store performances as well as offering exclusive releases, only available at the local record store, on Record Store Day. These exclusives & promotions go quick, so it’s important to prioritize your day by getting to the store early!
This year, reggae label, VP Records will unleash four vinyl selections for the unofficial holiday. This includes Barrington Levy classics from 1979-1984 entitled “Sweet Reggae Music”, two reissues of rare dub sessions including Winston Edwards’ “Natty Locks Dub” and King Tubby & Lee Scratch Perry’s “King Tubby Meets The Upsetter At the Grass Roots of Dub” and a picture disc single for Little John’s “Clarks Booty” (dye cut in the shape of a Clarks desert boot).
Last year, we saw exclusive vinyl releases from 311, Slightly Stoopid, The Expendables, The Green, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and Peter Tosh
[Related: National Record Store Day: 4/21/2012]
Look, we’re all fans of music, be it Reggae or any other genre and we at The Pier strongly encourage you to show support for your local record store. Each Record Store across the globe will have its own incentives, deals & exclusives.
If you’re not sure if there’s a record store near you or what deals they’re running, we have the answer! You can go to RECORDSTOREDAY.COM and search for a local listing of Record Stores, Deals & Releases.
Let us know in the comments below which Record Store near you, that you will be supporting. Or let us know on The Pier’s Facebook or Twitter
Article By: Mike Patti