SAVE THE DATE: This year’s Record Store Day to take place on 16th April 2016

BBC Music today announces an exciting new partnership with Record Store Day UK as the event gears up for its ninth annual celebration of independent record shops and the vinyl format.

Record Store Day was conceived nine years ago in the USA and is coordinated by the Entertainment Retailers Association in the UK. The day brings together hundreds of the UK’s independent record shops to celebrate their unique culture on the third Saturday in April. Exclusive vinyl is made available on the day and shops often have live music and in-store events to celebrate.

Special programming will take place across the BBC radio networks. In the run up to Record Store Day itself, Steve Lamacq (15.00 – 19.00) on BBC Radio 6 Music will be speaking to different record stores around the UK toreveal what events are taking place.  It is expected that more than 25,000 music fans will be taking to their local record shops from the early hours on 16th April.

Lauren Lavern’s show (10.00 – 13.00) will also be broadcasting live from a record store on Friday 15th April.

BBC Radio 6 Music will also be the first to announce the very exclusive Record Store Day product list.

James Stirling, Editor, BBC Music said:

“BBC Music is always keen to support moments that unite people through their love of music. Record Store Day does exactly that and we are very happy to be officially involved this year.” 

Rupert Morrison, of The Drift Record Shop in Totnes, said:

“The BBC have an utterly unique voice and are an organisation like no other on the planet. Their commitment to promoting music and artists both breaking and established is hugely important and a perfect partner for all of the record shops under the Record Store Day banner.”

Record Store Day launched in the UK in 2008 and has since recruited over 220 independent record shops across the UK to take part in the event with keen record buyers queuing through the night to secure limited edition records.  Vinyl has always been a core part of the event since its launch, and Record Store Day has in turn spearheaded the UK vinyl revival as sales topped 2.1m units in 2015.

More on BBC Music

BBC Music is the corporation’s strongest commitment to music in 30 years – comprising of new partnerships and ground-breaking music initiatives led by Director Bob Shennan. Since launching with the stunning recreation of God Only Knows in Autumn 2014, initiatives have included regular music performances on BBC One’s The One Show, the BBC Music Awards on BBC One, the classical music initiative for schools ‘Ten Pieces’ and BBC Music Day, bringing communities across the UK together through music. A raft of exciting BBC Music commissions exclusively for BBC iPlayer include Amy Winehouse in her Own Words, Elton Live at Eden, Festival Pass with Rudimental and Duran Duran and Music Box with Guy Garvey. The Mercury Prize returned to the BBC in November 2015 with extensive coverage including live programming on 6 Music and BBC Four. Adele at the BBC, a world exclusive BBC Music commission for BBC One was broadcast in November and included a sketch featuring Adele impersonators which has now gained over 42m views over the BBC YouTube channel.  Festivals come alive on our digital platforms, with world leading coverage of Glastonbury, Radio 1’s Big Weekend and a whole host of unique events. The BBC Music website is also your first step to a personalised music service with playlists of your favourite tracks and the ability to follow the artists you love. 

We covered Record Store Day at The Drift Record Shop in the past, for both events, click for 2014 and 2015 photos.