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As Record Store Day approaches, celebrating a decade and a half since its inception, one school of thought (which is fast becoming a cliché) gets louder: Is Record Store Day worth it? There have been dissenting voices for nearly two-thirds of the initiative’s lifetime, but the arguments made by the nay-sayers gain more worth as time goes on. 

Originally the brainchild of a group of independent record stores in Baltimore, Maryland, the premise was that, by releasing some exclusive vinyl available only in certain stores, buyers would flock in their droves to the stores and increase footfall. The first RSD (2008) in the UK saw the participation of a handful of outlets (mainly because they were the only ones operating) in major cities across the country, launched by Billy Bragg. Consisting only of 10 special releases, artists participating included Death Cab For Cutie, R.E.M., Vampire Weekend and Black Kids. 

The following year saw the event grow exponentially, with many European countries getting involved along in stocking 85 special releases to mark the occasion, while in 2010 the first ambassador was anointed (Josh Homme). All of which culminated in a 41% increase of sales from the previous year and 109% increase from the previous Saturday which, unsurprisingly, set the date on the calendar in stone. 

"Record Store Day’s impact in turning a new generation on to the world of physical music should not be underestimated"

But 2023 is a hugely different world from 2008. For the first time since 1987, vinyl sales outperformed CDs in 2022 by the not-insignificant number of 8 million, marking the 16th consecutive year of growth for records. Looking at those dates, the correlation between Record Store Day and vinyl sales is surely undeniable, but it paradoxically strengthens the arguments that the air has gone out of the RSD balloon.

Record Store Day’s impact in turning a new generation on to the world of physical music should not be underestimated, even if the Vinyl Resurgence can be put down to several factors: the yearn for physical media in the digital age, the ‘better’ (depending on your opinion) sound and good old-fashioned nostalgia. The ritual of opening a new record and placing it on the turntable while digesting its contents (both aural and physical) still thrills, even if there is no substitute for the convenience of tapping a couple of buttons on your phone. 

Unfortunately, in business terms, demand has outstripped supply. Despite a handful of new pressing plants opening in the UK (Press On Vinyl in Middlesbrough the most notable), there is still a backlog exacerbated by the pandemic and Brexit. Every artist of note simply must release their record on vinyl in 2023, if only to make some profit (with streaming revenue being negligible), but that means huge delays. In the lead-up to Christmas 2021, as the music industry was beginning its recovery from COVID, guaranteed big sellers (Ed Sheeran, Adele, Elton John) clogged up both the plants and the market, causing yet more delays. 

The issue is of fairness: with huge capital behind them, major label artists now get priority, leaving independent artists to delay their releases. And independent doesn’t just mean smaller artists; Noel Gallagher, having already been sat on it for half a year, announced his latest album some five months before its release, largely in part to gauge demand via pre-orders. Similarly, Arctic Monkeys (signed to Domino) completed recording of The Car approximately a year before its release last October. Yet Record Store Day releases still get priority.

Furthermore, from a consumer point of view, the well is beginning to run dry. In 2017, the David Bowie Estate released a brand-new, 3-LP live album from his mid-1970s peak whereas this year, with his catalogue nearly exhausted, fans are ‘treated’ to a collection of early singles including the infamous The Laughing Gnome and yet more versions of Space Oddity, which saw multiple releases to mark it’s 50th anniversary only four years ago. The ubiquity of vinyl now means that artists simply don’t need to rely on one day when the remainder of the year is peppered with anniversaries. Even The Rolling Stones, never shy of repackaging their canon, are half-heartedly releasing a swirled vinyl version of Beggars Banquet, complete with an errant apostrophe as on the original version. Yes, that’s right, they’re now encouraging you to fork out for a mistake they went to great lengths to correct in the first place while simultaneously releasing ‘Half-Master’ versions of their albums during the rest of year. It’s also notable that The Beatles have rarely felt the need to contribute to any RSD celebrations, so dependable is their fanbase (although Lennon and McCartney have no such qualms when it comes to releasing solo material). 

"With the spiralling cost of gig tickets and venues closing at a frightening pace, it would be cruel to take such a key date from music fans."

There are some gems in 2023, but the number of rarities gets smaller each year while the overall list of releases gets larger. Blur are marking their comeback with The Special Collector’s Edition LP, a compilation of B-Sides previously only available in CD in Japan, and the Dub version of Foals’ Life Is Yours is promising. But do we really need remixes of When Will I Be Famous? and I Owe You Nothing by Bros or alternative mixes of early U2 singles? Their fans might disagree, but such releases seem cynical in the extreme yet are a predictable consequence of major labels smelling the money. And there is internal competition too: many smaller stores have voiced their frustration at Rough Trade, the behemoth of independent record stores, having comfortably the largest stock allocation while they are left to fight over scraps.

Of course, Record Store Day isn’t just about the releases but the events: the chance to meet fellow music-lovers while listening to DJ sets or live sets. Indeed, your correspondent has made friends in the queue and is unlikely to be alone with similar tales across the country. With the spiralling cost of gig tickets and venues closing at a frightening pace, it would be cruel to take such a key date from music fans. Regardless of the releases, it’s a fun day out and should be cherished but the argument that it could and should be paired down becomes more valid each year.

All that said, I’ll fight anyone for a 12” inch version of Wonderwall by The Mike Flowers Pops. See you in the queue.

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More about: Record Store DayRSD23