Record Store Day is an annual celebration held every April to honor the unique culture of independent record stores and their impact on the music community. For decades, independent record stores have played a vital role in shaping local music scenes. Beyond selling records, they serve as community hubs where people get together, discover new artists, support local bands and share their musical knowledge. These stores often cater to niche genres and foster a personal, curated shopping experience that streaming services can't replicate. In an age of algorithms and playlists, indie record shops keep music human, passionate and rooted in community.
As our chart shows, there's still a place for indie record stores in today's day and age, as they play a key role in the comeback of vinyl records. According to Luminate, independent retailers are the number 1 purchase channel for vinyl LPs in the U.S., accounting for almost 40 percent of total vinyl sales in the country last year. At the same time, vinyl accounted for three quarters of the 23 million records sold by indie stores last year, meaning that music lovers who buy vinyl are crucial to keeping independent record stores alive.
