History of Record Store Day in Timeline

Record Store Day, established in 2008, is a semi-annual event held every April and on Black Friday to celebrate independent record store culture. It unites fans, artists, and record stores globally. Special, limited-edition records are pressed and distributed exclusively to participating stores, aiming to drive traffic and support these independent businesses. The event has become a significant date for music enthusiasts and collectors.

1991: Introduction of the SoundScan System

In 1991, the SoundScan system was introduced, and Record Store Day editions have since resulted in independent retailers recording the highest percentage of physical album sales.

2007: Record Store Day Founded

In 2007, Record Store Day was founded by Eric Levin, Michael Kurtz, Carrie Colliton, Amy Dorfman, Brian Poehner, and Don Van Cleave. The concept was created during a brainstorming session at a meeting of independent record store owners in Baltimore, Maryland, with the goal to create an event similar to Free Comic Book Day. Record Store Day would be celebrated at stores around the world, with artists participating by making special appearances, performances, meet and greets, holding fundraisers, and issuing special releases.

April 19, 2008: First Official Record Store Day

On April 19, 2008, Record Store Day officially began at Rasputin Music in Mountain View, California, with Metallica launching the event. The celebration featured around 10 special releases from artists such as Death Cab for Cutie, R.E.M., and Vampire Weekend. Approximately 300 independent record stores in the U.S. participated, with Billy Bragg helping to launch it in the UK and key British stores such as Piccadilly Records in Manchester and Rough Trade in London joining the festivities.

2008: Record Store Day Established

In 2008, Record Store Day was established as a semi-annual event to celebrate the culture of independently owned record stores. It is held every April and on Black Friday in November, bringing together fans, artists, and independent record stores. A number of records are pressed specifically for Record Store Day and distributed to participating shops.

April 18, 2009: Second Annual Record Store Day

On April 18, 2009, the second annual Record Store Day took place, marked by further growth with 85 special releases and around 500 artist appearances, including Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, and Slayer. Over 1,000 record stores from countries like Japan, Canada, and Germany participated, with New York City’s Mayor Mike Bloomberg recognizing it as an official citywide event.

2009: Record Store Day Ambassador Announcement

Starting in 2009, Record Store Day has announced influential musicians to carry the honorific title each year.

November 2010: Launch of Black Friday Record Store Day

In November 2010, Black Friday Record Store Day was launched.

2011: Record Store Day becomes world's largest music event

In 2011, Record Store Day became the world's largest music event, with Ozzy Osbourne serving as ambassador. The event featured over 600 artists participating in in-store performances, including the Beastie Boys, Foo Fighters, and My Chemical Romance. Special releases that year included rare items like a limited-edition 12" vinyl of New Order's "Ceremony", and the event saw a notable 182,000-unit sales bump, as reported by Billboard.

2012: Record Store Day Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

In 2012, Record Store Day celebrated its fifth anniversary with Iggy Pop as the ambassador. The event featured over 400 special releases and saw the launch of the UK's Official Record Store Chart, further highlighting the significance of independent record shops.

2013: Jack White named ambassador

In 2013, Jack White, known for his work with The White Stripes, became the ambassador for Record Store Day. The electronic duo Boards of Canada would place six limited records in stores on Record Store Day, in promotion of their 2013 album Tomorrow's Harvest.

2013: Highest U.S. Vinyl Sales

The 2013 Record Store Day event was credited with the highest U.S. vinyl sales.

2014: Chuck D named ambassador

In 2014, Chuck D of Public Enemy served as ambassador for Record Store Day. Notable releases included exclusive tracks from Soundgarden and Joan Jett.

2014: Highest Percentage of Physical Album Sales

The 2014 edition of Record Store Day resulted in independent retailers recording the highest percentage of physical album sales since the introduction of the SoundScan system in 1991.

2015: Dave Grohl named ambassador

In 2015, Dave Grohl became the ambassador for Record Store Day, with releases from bands like The White Stripes and Twenty One Pilots coming out.

2015: Marketplace Ally Award

In 2015, the American Association of Independent Music awarded Record Store Day its "Marketplace Ally" award at their Libera awards.

2016: Metallica returns as ambassador

In 2016, Metallica, who had helped launch the event, returned as its ambassador. The event included exclusive releases from artists such as David Bowie, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash. Prince made one of his last public appearances at Electric Fetus in Minneapolis during Record Store Day, purchasing CDs just days before his death.

2016: Biggest Week of Sales for Vinyl LPs

Record Store Day 2016 produced the biggest week of sales for the vinyl LP format since the introduction of SoundScan.

2017: St. Vincent as First Female Ambassador

In 2017, Record Store Day celebrated its 10th anniversary with St. Vincent as the first female ambassador. The releases in 2017 included a rare classical title, a Soviet-era recording of Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 2, and live recordings from artists like Brandy Clark.

2018: Run The Jewels as Ambassador

In 2018, Run The Jewels served as ambassador for Record Store Day, and special releases from Prince, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bruce Springsteen came out.

2019: Pearl Jam as ambassador

In 2019, Record Store Day featured Pearl Jam as the ambassadors, with exclusive vinyl releases such as MTV Unplugged and limited-edition reissues from artists like Gorillaz and John Lennon.

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2020: Record Store Day Postponed Due to COVID-19

In 2020, Record Store Day was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to its postponement. The event was rescheduled and spread across three dates: August 29, September 26, and October 24, known as "Drops", in addition to the traditional Black Friday event.

2021: Record Store Day Returns In-Person

In 2021, Record Store Day returned to its in-person format, although it was spread across two dates: June 12 and July 17. Fred Armisen served as the ambassador for the year, and a 'Black Friday' edition took place in November.

2022: Taylor Swift as Global Ambassador

In 2022, Record Store Day celebrated its 15th anniversary with Taylor Swift as the first-ever global ambassador. The celebration included special releases and a new "RSD Drops" date in June for delayed items.

2023: Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires as Ambassadors

In 2023, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires took on ambassador roles for Record Store Day, and the event saw Taylor Swift's Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions debuting on vinyl and entering the Billboard 200 Top 10.

2024: Paramore and Kate Bush as Ambassadors

In 2024, Paramore and Kate Bush served as ambassadors for Record Store Day. This year resulted in the highest weekly vinyl sales in 30 years.

June 2025: Release of "Record Store Day" Song

In June 2025, the British band Half Man Half Biscuit released a song entitled "Record Store Day" on their album All Asimov and No Fresh Air. The song mocks the event, targeting overpriced re-releases of unpopular recordings.