Record Store Day: 21 April

This Saturday 21 April is Record Store Day - a day designated to celebrate the art of the record store industry. The day started in 2007 when over 700 independent stores in the USA came together to celebrate the art of record making as well as raise awareness for this fast declining industry. The UK followed suit and 2012 will see the fourth annual celebration of the UK's independent sector.

Independently owned record stores and companies have come together once again to celebrate the art of music making with artists. Festivities are to appear in independent record stores up and down the country. The day emphasizes the importance of relationships within the music industry. From the artist to the record store producer and store owner to record lover, the day allows for celebration of these intimate musical connections. As a result, artists are set to be making appearances at local record shops, and have released special material for Record Store Day. Some of the special releases are to include works by Eliza Carthy, Gotan Project, James Brown, Leonard Cohen, Miles Davis, Patti Smith, Yma Sumac and Tinariwen. Bombay Bicycle Club form part of 7X7' single releases that are available at Record Store Day for Teenage Cancer Trust.

In a ever-digital age, the level of record consumption has thoroughly decreased. This is perhaps due to the shift in physical attachment to the musical object. The introduction of digital platforms such as iTunes and Spotify have decentered prior musical relationships. This shift is also reflected in the lack of physical presence at the local record store itself.; the consumer's choice to explore new digital music channels has removed their presence from the local record store community. Nevertheless, recently, there has been a growing number of LP and vinyl releases to satisfy the growing demand. The LP is back in fashion. This musical fetish can seemingly be explained by the current generation's lack of physical attachment to the musical object. Having grown up with the plastic CD, and its transferability to the digital medium, the LP comes as a refreshing taster of vintage musical culture. This fetish, together with the relationships previously discussed, are celebrated in Record Store Day.

World Music Network is also celebrating Record Store Day and have recently released LPs and Vinyls - have a browse through our selection of 180gram Limited Edition Vinyls. You can find these releases at most independent record stores - so please pay them a visit on Record Store Day.