Sales of vinyl records had risen 35% as of November 2009 in the face of a failing business model in cloud jukebox services.
Michael Kurtz co-founder of Record Store Day believes that his annual event has been instrumental in the growth.
The company started off in 2008 when Metallica played a special in-store is now on the verge of being recognized by more than 1400 independent music retailers on Saturday. “It really comes down to a sense of community,” Kurtz told Wired.com, adding that record stores are places people go to talk with other music lovers. These record stores also employ many musicians including some who have gone on to become rich and famous.
A former record store employee, Mike Patton, said, “What is not to love about record stores?” Mike has sung with Faith No More and is also the co-owner of Ipecac Recordings.
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All stores across the globe will celebrate Record Store Day by selling limited-edition vinyl LPs, EPs and singles in addition to cds and other items by artists from multiple genre including the likes of :
• A vinyl single and B-side from The Beatles, featuring “Paperback Writer” and “Rain.”
• A Metallica / Black Sabbath split 7-inch.
• A live, 10-inch picture disc by Them Crooked Vultures.
• A limited-edition 7-inch single by Blur, whose members got together to record a song for the first time since 2003.