Start Prepping For Record Store Day!

So - what the are YOU gonna be doing on Saturday, April 17? Summary executions for all who patronize Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart that day.

By Blurt Staff

A missive from the good folks behind Record Store Day. Guarantee: all dialogue reported verbatim. This has been a public service announcement - with vinyl!

As 2009, the Year of the Ox, aka the Year We All Want Wiped From Our Memories finally came to a close ushering in the Year of the Tiger, many businesses across the board were left nearly decimated. The unemployment rate had soared to a staggering 10% (on record), underemployment was at 17%, while property foreclosures remain at an all time high, all this while incomes became increasingly less proportionate to the cost of health care, real estate and general cost of living.

The music biz, already beat up from the preceding years of abuse precipitated largely (and arguably), from the industry's quick-to-condemn/slow-to-adapt reaction to the digital age, was not immune. Whereas the great big chains, (Virgin, Tower Records, et al), had pretty much reached their demise before the great big freefall, indie music retailers worldwide, reliant on passionate niche clientele, were also really starting to feel the burn as disposable incomes became, well, less disposable.

Enter Record Store Day, a now global event set this year for Saturday, April 17th-a single day in celebration of the unique culture surrounding over 1,400 independently owned record stores worldwide-- one day that all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music.

Notable/platinum-selling artists have rallied for the cause by issuing everything from quotable shots in the arm to doing in-store appearances and performances to releasing exclusive/special product for indie retailers.

For example, this year, Billy Corgan's label, Rocket Science Ventures will be doing an early release of a new EP by The Smashing Pumpkins along with a performance to fans hosted by Amoeba Records and Urban Outfitters in Los Angeles on Record Store Day. Corgan says, "I used to work at an indie record shop so I'll always have a soft spot for the places where I still go to find the most vital music, whether new or still hidden."

Among other notable luminaries who have participated in Record Store Day in some significant way, shape or form, include Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Metallica, Radiohead, Eminem, Lil' Wayne, Jay Z, Bruce Springsteen, Wilco, Queens Of The Stone Age and Kanye West.

Last year's Record Store Day can take credit for an extraordinary spike in traffic to the stores on that specific day, largely due to the limited availability of more than a handful of exclusive releases. When RSD launched in 2008 there were approximately $10,000 products made and sold on the day. By 2009, this increased to over $250,000. According to Soundscan, overall indie retail sales on Record Store Day 2009 grew 21% from the prior year, and organizers expect this to be closer to $500,000 this year. Record Store Day is now the biggest retail sales day of many indie stores, surpassing Christmas.

Vinyl sales were remarkably high, with a growth spurt from RSD 2008 to 2009 by a whopping 225%. For example, 30% of all products sold at the Coachella Record Store Day store in 2009 were vinyl. In addition, DVD sales for the indie retail sector grew 13.8% on RSD from the prior year, as well.

However, getting folks into the record stores to buy product is just one part of the event's raison d'etre. As well, Record Store Day is about focus and support for a mere faction of an ailing industry, but one that can arguably be looked upon as its heart and soul. This, not only because the indie music stores, run by passionate music lovers, cater to the passionate record buyers, but also because, from a solely economic standpoint, the indie music stores are now responsible for 10% of all record sales in the United States, alone. In general, the percentage of sales that the indie retail community represents grew from about 7% in early 2009 to closer to 10% in early 2010, which indicates that the indie sector is now more focused and growing.

Perhaps the grandest example of that growth is the aforementioned Amoeba Records in California. Supporting 3 fantastically stocked and staffed stores (Los Angeles, San Francisco and Berkeley), Amoeba is one of the most trafficked outposts for independent music in the country.

On the other side of the world exists the longstanding, uber-influential, London-based retailer, Rough Trade Records. Not just a record store, but a viable "brand," Rough Trade also houses a record label and promotes shows around the city. Most notably, they recently opened another 5,000 square foot space in the East End complete with coffee shop, performance stage, exhibition space, and an internet center.

Indie retailer, Dimple has 6 thriving locations in the Sacramento area and in addition to music sales, regularly host in-store performances and contests.

The lasting success of Criminal Records in Atlanta, the city's largest and most popular indie music store, can be attributed to well, pure passion, engaging the local music community as much as possible. Store owner, Eric Levin adds, "We're heading towards our twentieth year better than ever. Sales are down somewhat, sure, this is America 2010, but we've never had more fun. We produce music, promote shows, throw parties, listen to music 24/7, read comics, play with toys and talk to pretty girls all day long."

Waterloo Records in Austin remains thee pilgrimage point for the throngs of music folk (over)attending the South by Southwest conference in March. Hosting regular in-store performances, Waterloo is one of the most successful music retailers in the country, with consistent yearly revenues above their profit margin.

Washington DC's CD Warehouse continues to thrive, benefited from a great location on M Street, where the foot traffic is especially heavy. The store also attributes their good clientele to fair pricing, a knowledgeable staff and an extensive stock of imported product.

Other noteworthy retailers include Boise, Idaho's Record Exchange, Seattle's Easy Street Records, New York City's J&R Music World, who, at last year's event, played host to a ceremony including Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Official Declaration of Record Store Day. There's also Denver's awesome, Twist & Shout, Rockaway Records in Los Angeles, Rasputin Music in the Bay Area, Boston's Newbury Comics and Minneapolis' Electric Fetus (the store who's shirt Ringo Starr sported at the Grammys).

The cold hard fact is that the past year did still see the closing of dozens of independent music stores, some of which had been in business for decades. Certain markets were more profoundly affected by the fiscal collapse than others and can cite factors such as location and state or city economics as culprits. That said, the ingenuity and staying power of the independent music retailer stands as a front-line barometer for the rest of industry- generally, those who stay in it are those labels, independent contractors, managers, booking agents and artists whose passion gives birth to the smartest, most innovative and adaptable and inclusive ideas.

A worthy example of this is Junketboy Distribution. Formed in 2002, Junketboy was launched to give indie record retailers a competitive edge within the retail music industry.

By providing indie retailers with special releases, including exclusives, rarities, tour items, live releases, merchandise, toys, books, etc., Junketboy gives the true music fan the opportunity to find quality,  collectible, hard-to-find pieces and to support their local, independent retail community.

Owned and operated by the Coalition of Independent Music Stores, Junketboy sells directly to over 400 customers, including direct indie store accounts, one-stops and importer/exporters and has over 2,000 titles in its catalog ranging from partnerships with Pearl Jam and The Black Keys/Damon Dash hip-hop project Blakroc, to special releases from John Mayer, Kings of  Leon, Phish, Beck, My Morning Jacket, Beastie Boys to hundreds of independent and developing artist releases.

Michael Bunnell, Executive Director of Junketboy Distribution and the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), states, "Junketboy was created to service and partner with independent record  stores across the country. We are proud to continue our support of indie record store culture as a founding and active member of Record Store Day. By helping indie stores survive in today's ever-changing music retail world by providing quality special releases, Junketboy Distribution hopes to make every day Record Store Day."

Out with the ox, in with the tiger...

Record Store Day is managed by the Music Monitor Network and is organized in partnership with the Alliance of Independents Music Stores (AIMS), the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) and celebrates the culture of independent record stores by playing host to in-store events/performances, signings and special product releases on a global scale. It takes place on Saturday, April 17, 2010.

Record Store Day Sponsors:

Crosley Radio, EMI Distribution, Fontana Distribution, Gotta Groove, NARM, RED Distribution, Sony Music, Universal Music Distribution, Vivendi Entertainment, WEA Distribution, and Warner Bros. Records.

For more information on exclusive Record Store Day events, products and participants, visit http://www.recordstoreday.com