Record Store Day 2013 saw record album and single sales

Last weekend’s Record Store Day saw album sales soar by 60% in independent record shops.

According to the Entertainment Retailers Association, Record Store Day 2013 saw album sales in independent record shops increase by as much as 60% on last year’s event, while sales of singles were up by 20% year-on-year.

The annual event to promote independent record shops took place last Saturday (April 20), and featured over 500 exclusive product releases as well as in store appearances by Paul Weller, Frank Turner and Gabrielle Aplin to name but a few. Shops have reported the average spend of each customer was around £45, with some spending hundreds of pounds on Record Store Day's limited edition releases.

Eight of the Top 10 biggest selling vinyl albums last week were Record Store Day exclusives, according to Official Charts Company sales data.

“Indie record shops pulled out all the stops once again to make Record Store Day 2013 a huge success,” said Record Store Day coordinator Spencer Hickman. “They proved yet again indie stores are more than just shops – at their best they are a focus for the passion, the excitement, the stubborn belief in the power of great music which is the hallmark of the true music fan.

“What was particularly exciting visiting stores on Saturday was to see so many families who had made a day-out of it, and were clearly introducing a whole new generation to the joys of record buying.” 

“Record Store Day reached a new level this year,” added Paul Quirk, Chairman of the Entertainment Retailers Association. “What is clear is that it is the stores which have done the most in terms of organising gigs and special events which have seen the highest sales. Being a music fan is about more than just shopping, and those stores which recognise that are the stores who will prosper. I am continually amazed by the effort record store owners and their staff put into this event.”

To recognise the continuing importance of independent record shops, last year the Official Charts Company launched the first ever Official Record Store Chart.

The Official Record Store Chart is published every Sunday at 7pm on www.officialcharts.com, reflecting the cutting edge music purchased through independent record stores the length and breadth of the UK.