RSD U.K. SET TO DELIVER £9.7M BOOST

Record Store Day in the U.K. is expected to deliver a £9.7m boost to indie record shops this weekend thanks to 443 exclusive releases, according to data from the Digital Entertainment and Retail Association (ERA).

The annual celebration, which takes place Saturday (4/20), will involve more than 270 record shops. The £9.7m figure is an estimate of the sales value of the vinyl releases issued for the day, which will be available from the likes of official RSD 2024 ambassador Kate Bush plus Noah Kahan, Ringo Starr, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Gabriels, The 1975 and more.

The estimate does not include incremental revenue of non-Record Store Day titles sold on the day, nor money generated by food, drink and other items. Thus the actual total through store tills is likely to be higher.

“Record Store Day is a cultural phenomenon which draws in tens of thousands of music fans across the country, but it is also a financial lifeline for a vital element of music’s unique ecosystem,” ERA CEO Kim Bayley said. “Without Record Store Day, many would find it difficult to stay in business.”

In 2023, ERA estimates that exclusives sold on RSD accounted for nearly 10% of annual sales of all physical music product through high street stores. Last month, ERA announced that indie store numbers have hit a 10-year high of 461, in part propelled by RSD. During the same period, the total number of physical outlets selling music in the U.K. has dropped by 76%.

More than 80 events are set to take place on Saturday. They include all-day parties, local performances and various artists taking part in signing sessions. Over the weekend, BBC’s 6 Music will host a three-day celebration of vinyl on air.