NewsThree is the magic number as Record Store Day moves to a trio of ‘drop’ days
20 June date not happening as RSD event split into three days
This year’s Record Store Day is moving again, due to the COVID19 pandemic, and will now be split into THREE ‘drop’ dates: 29 August, 26 September and 24 October.
Record labels are being encouraged to evenly split their releases across these three days and the online sales rules for participating retailers are expected to be relaxed with RSD shops likely to be able to sell stock online at the end of each of the three dates (instead of waiting a week).
A new RSD list will be published on 1 June which will show which releases will be available on which days.
This new plan of action is thought to be a compromise solution that takes into account various territories around the world and the different stages they may be at in terms of managing the pandemic situation.
This is clearly an incredibly challenging situation for labels, retailers and the industry in general and it remains to be seen how it will all work out. By definition, the event has been diluted, and while the end of August seems like a long way away, we have no idea at this stage what social distancing rules may remain in place, wherever we may be in the world. Also, if stock does indeed become available online more quickly, is that likely to be a deterrent to getting out there and queuing up at your local record shop?
The other thing to consider is whether the record labels are still willing to honour their original RSD intentions. They have been sitting on stock for quite a few weeks at the time of writing, and may not be delighted at being told that at least some of their releases can now only happen on 24 October, which is nearly seven months away. There will be a temptation, perhaps, to redesignate releases as non-RSD and get them out into the marketplace much earlier. They could still support the local record shop community by making the releases ‘indie-exclusive’.
Of course, let’s not forget that as well as these three days, there is also the ‘RSD Black Friday’ which apparently is still being planned and on schedule for 27 November. So that’s four Record Store Days in a row in America, which certainly seems like overkill.
What are your thoughts on these plans? Do you think three days is the right solution? Leave a comment.
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Has anyone else who got the Roxy Music album, found that the download included is just the original version not the Steven Wilson remix? Seems a bit shoddy really! Surely there is a digital version of the remix.
For me the Situation for RSD2020 with the ability to order more Items to normal prices online is perfect since there is no anticipating shop anymore to visit in my home area. The next one is 100 km away. So i am happy to have ordered favorites like the 4AD release of The Wolfgang Press – Unremembered Remembered.
It’s all about the social side for me so i haven’t bothered with it this year. Chatting to other music fans and having a shuffle through the boxes is where it’s at. Covid has put paid to that. Plus I’m never really that thrilled with my RSD albums anyway. Too much hype. Give me a Blue Note release any day as at least i can see where the money has been spent.
There were not a lot of releases I was very excited about. I’m a huge Bowie fan, but not a completist, and I simply didn’t need or want another 70s live release. I already have ’72 Live, David Live from ’74, and Nassau ’76.
The one release I did want was Alphaville’s ‘Sounds Like a Melody,” which is apparently a new remix by Marian Gold and Bernhard Lloyd with Blank & Jones. I’m not aware of Marian and Bernhard doing any work together for several years – so that’s pretty exciting. I was not able to find a copy in the few local stores, but ended up getting one through Discogs – haven’t received it yet.
My local store was opening for queues from 8am, and then for general from 10am. I didnt want to queue so I rocked up at 10am, and only got 3 of the 6 releases I was after (Gene, Pale Saints, Slint)
I tried the other store in town and got two of the others (New Order, Suede) but I was still looking for Galaxie 500.
I spent an hour or so that evening getting frustrated with various websites (I had it in my basket at both Resident and Picadilly) but both of them wouldn’t let me check out.
Eventually, a friend in the US offered to get it for me and guess what – the US list price was $25 vs a UK price of around £34.
Quite a good RSD for me, all things told :)
Got all the items I was after including Bowie’s, Duran Duran, Roxy, Morrissey, Ocean Colour Scene, The Cure PDs, The The, Manics, Sugar Hill Gang, Cinematic Orchestra, Ultravox, Elton, The Who. But then I was second in the queue outside my store at 2:00am. Everyone behaved sensibly in the queue and inside the store. I was all done by 8:10am. And before anyone asks, no I’m not a spammer. It was my 11th RSD – just doing my bit to support my local store, who do their best to look after me on the other 364 days.
Incidentally – all Bowie RSD – vinyl and cd – are currently in stock at Assai for normal price if anybody needs them
Hi Paul
Your newsletter took me back as I am originally from Islington and my grandfather had a sweet stall in Exmouth Market. This is all long before it became the trendy place it apparently is now. I haven’t been there for probably 40 years.
I am now on the Isle of Wight, with sadly not much in the way of record shops.
Thanks for the excellent site.
Pete
I didn’t go to RSD20, I had no intentions of buying anything other than the Bowie cd’s if any were available. Eventually when stuff appeared online. I got plumped for both Bowie RSD vinyl plus the E.L.P. from Assai in Edinburgh, reasonably priced and free postage. I then managed to get the Bowie cd’s from Banquet records, who once again were extremely reasonably priced. The Ron Carter I got yesterday from Concorde in Perth, a shop like Assai always worth a visit.
The one I missed out on was the Sun Ra Egypt 1971 5LP set, reasonably priced in Assai at £54.99 but sold out, now more than three to four times that price on gouger central.
Firstly, thanks to Mr Ireland for the “heads-up” on Banquet Records for the Bowie. Yes, I would have liked both cds, but one is better than none.
Secondly, I had a look on D*s**gs to see what the “scalpers” were charging – only to find that only one was located in the UK – all the others were in Europe… Roll on 1/1/2021!
Easiest/best RSD yet here. Decided that online was the best option, and had a handful of trusted vendors ready to try at 18:00. All but Banquet Records worked beautifully, so Bowie x2, Roxy, Cherry Ghost, Mellow Candle, BMX Bandits, Morrissey, New Order and Tull were spread over 4 record shops.
This RSD for fans of late 1960’s to 1970’s classic rock is outstanding. I went online to Townsend Music/Rough Trade 8.30pm on Saturday and picked up eight releases, no website problems, and got another eight the following day from Ebay/Discogs etc. No complaints from me.
Just picked up the Bowie 74 from Banquet Records. Changes Bowie is sold out. But 74 is miles cheaper there to get than on ebay as you can imagine.
Whilst I get the purpose of RSD the disparity in prices between shops was quite shocking to me. I mainly buy CDs but as I have a reasonable amount of vinyl through box sets (!) I decided to buy myself a Rega Planar 1 and consequently will be paying more attention to future RSD ‘drops’. I picked up the Bowie 74 live set on both CD and Vinyl and also the Pale Saints, New Order (completist), the Loop Boxset and the Cure‘s 17 Seconds and was tempted by the Wake, LKJ and Vini Reilly but over £150 for five records and one CD had left me feeling a bit fleeced tbh. Didn’t help that I could find the same items with as much as a 25% price difference if I shopped around (Sister Ray and Banquet Record Stores deserve honourable mentions here for decent pricing). Had I not shopped local I could have added another album for roughly the same overall cost. Seems a little against the grain? The next RSD 2020 drops have little of interest for me, save perhaps getting yet another copy of Songs for Drella!!!
Like you said in your Week in Review update Paul, I was in two minds this year about going at all but then the lure of RSD won me over and off I went to (not so) sunny Bangor (NI) to Bending Sound records who always look after everyone who calls, RSD or otherwise. Glad I went as I got the ChangesnowBowie (sorry to rub it in Paul) and the Meat Loaf double Bat out of Hell 2. They had a pre-owned sale on too so scooped Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells and a Genesis LP for £15 the pair. That’s all I could afford this year (again as I hadn’t been planning for it) and put a whole lot back on to the racks. But happy overall as the Bowie is really good (sorry again Paul – hope you pick up a copy somewhere). I’m not planning to go to drop 2 but…..
I have to say that while on the one hand, I love the excitement of the RSD days, it is becoming more of a money grab with the passing of each event. And we also have National Album Day, Black Friday releases, HMV Exclusives, Target Exclusives (the latter two releasing different shades of blue vinyl Queen’s Greatest Hits II).
And the price difference across stores in-country is only surpassed by the difference between US prices and UK (Judas Priest – British Steel averaging GBP 50 while in US averaging USD30 before sales tax).
So if the intentional is truly to stimulate demand for vinyl, how about an alternative approach? Offer timed releases for releases with final pricing based on the numbers produced. You specify which local store you would collect from and they get their cut. Make a few extras for in-store purchases. That way, the real collectors are not getting stuffed on eBay within minutes of the stores opening. That means they have more money to buy more vinyl.
Labels/artists could run polls for most in-demand releases, offer options on colour vinyls, pic discs, etc. Perhaps even on track listings. If you can make runs of 500-10,000 for RSD without knowing demand, you can defintely make requested runs where demand is known before release.
Just my tuppence.
As a CDist, this was the first time I had a couple of must-gets at RSD, so I joined the longish queue at my local shop Some Great Reward. After an hour and a quarter, I got a copy of Changesnowbowie only, so hoped to pick up the Soul Tour one on line later. I had the same experience as others of crashing sites, but Banquet’s one had settled down later on Saturday evening, and I got one. They were great in updating their dispatching process on Twitter. One said they had taken 6 weeks worth of orders in 6 hours. Next – Metrobilist!
If anyone still wants the bowie live vinyl rarewaves still have it thru amazon. Ordered yesterday I’m Only Dancing (the Soul Tour ’74)(Limited Edt.) (Rsd 2020) [VINYL] https://amzn.to/33905rE
For RSD Tokyo, I went to Tower Vinyl in Shinjuku. I was in the first 10 allowed in the store (only 5 people per elevator). In the past I’ve tried the Disc Union stores, but felt the Tower system much better. Picked up both Bowie, Roxy, Kinks as well as Robyn, Slint, Galaxy 500, Tyler and Wipers. I fell into temptation buying the New Order disc since I have the original. Also visited HMV in both Shinjuku and Shibuya – both had lots of stock and were busy. People digging into the other crates in the store, not just the RSD section, which was good to see.
Went back around that area yesterday (one week later) and most of the items are still there, buckets of Loaded for example. Even both Bowie still available which is unusual, as someone else pointed out.
I had thought the ‘Songs for Drella’ was out but I gather it’s out in October now.
In the U.S. Amoeba’s site constantly crashed so I kept trying periodically And got some of what I wanted probably because everyone else went through what I went through. Nothing was open for in person in California.
As I suggested to Amoeba, they really needed to do a test run to see if this was going to be able to handle the traffic. At least they will be prepared for next time.
And again I didn’t go for fomo day. I wouldn’t have gone as I don’t intend to jump trough hoops as a paying customer and otherwise I wouldn’t have gone for being in the highest risk category. So I didn’t support my local record story although I would have loved too but not, ever, this way.
My first ever record store day. Happened to be in Newburyport, Massachusetts visiting family and realized there was a great little record shop called “Dyno Records”. Parked about two blocks out, got there, waited in line…walked in and grabbed the last copy of Bowie ’74 on cd. Psyched!!!
I was wondering where all the RSD chat was going on until Paul’s Week in Review email directed me here.
There’s been a lot of mentions of the Rough Trade website being down for so long. As I understand it this was due to the sheer volume of people hitting refresh on two items: Tyler the Creator – Cherry Bomb and The Weekend – My Dear Melancholy. I think they had to take those two listings down in order to relaunch the site. The interest in those two releases is understandable and goes way beyond what might be considered normal RSD levels of demand, especially with the new added bonus of being able to order online without having to visit an actual store…
I’m not sure there’s anything that will see the levels of demand for September, maybe Notorious BIG?
My usual RSD haunt Piccadilly Records took the understandable decision to go online only as they didn’t feel they could manage a socially distanced queue and process the sheer numbers of customers expected. Come 6pm inevitably their website crashed, as did Rough Trade and a few others I tried. Most small-ish businesses don’t have the web infrastructure to deal with the sheer number of customers hitting their sites at once, even the likes of Ticketmaster struggle!. I did eventually manage to get 3 of my wants list (Pale Saints, Spacemen3 and The Wake), and was surprised how fast items sold out as Picc usually has big stocks and stuff left over after a normal RSD. I guess loads more people than usual were getting their online orders there – probably shipping far and wide to people who have never set foot in the place!. I do wonder if they might have been able to give regular customers first online dibs somehow maybe for the first hour or so. Anyway RSD seems to have gone as well as it could under the circs and got the tills a-ringing. The next 2 drops seem to have fewer big releases IMHO so they might be a bit more low key – maybe?.
Both Bowie cds still in stock at banquet records
Thanks for this just ordered both!
Honestly, between family and Covid and general ‘stuff’, I completely forgot about the Saturday ‘drop’.
Managed to make it in to Rough Trade Bristol instead on the Sunday – they still seemed to have a *lot* of the two Bowie albums available. Is the Bowie bubble bursting, I wonder?
Anyway, picked up two of my five intended titles – namely the Roxy Music and Jethro Tull. They did also have the Philip Glass boxed-set I was originally after, but in the end I couldn’t justify the price.
No sign of the Elton John or, more disappointingly, the Spacehog. If anyone has a copy of the latter….
As much as I had a great RSD, I’ll be unlikely to go to the other drops as Aug seemed to be the main event.
Also, I know that this is about physical products but why no download codes? Last year most (including 7” singles had one included) but nothing in the Czukay/Wobble 10” (they also omitted 2 tracks from the original release!), The High LP, or the FSOL 7”.
Popped into my local Golden Discs here in Ireland around 12 pm and all copies of the U2 12″ were already gone which I thought was a bit odd, but there on the shelf was a single copy of the Duran album which I wasn’t planning on getting, but picked it up as, like Paul, didn’t feel like leaving empty handed.
Pretty glad I did now! And picked up a copy of the U2 12″ cheaply on Discogs later that day. So happy enough for a change.
I bought the two Bowie CDs mid afternoon on the day at Sister Ray and Reckless in Soho. I hope there will be more CDs issued on future RSDs. Paul is this likely?
Where to start? My RSD experience in Covid times was brilliant. Queued at 5am and by 7am it was populated by the usual RSD “gang”. All socially distanced but in general good mood. This year Vinyl Underground (Northampton) held the event outside at the rear of the store. It worked really well and we went along as you would at a buffet! They provided gloves too and if you didn’t want to touch the records, staff were on hand to get the records for you.
Well organised, well stocked and a big WELL DONE to Aidy and his team.
Got everything I wanted. Czukay/Wobble 10”, Bowie Changes Now on CD, Working Men’s Club 12”.
Plenty still in stock too. No need to go to Discogs or eBay!
Several record stores in France put up the list of RSD titles on their web site about a month ago and were accepting pre-orders.
I ordered 11 titles with Balades Sonores who has a store in Paris and Brussels. I received an email last weekend that all titles I pre-0rdered but one were there waiting for me to pick them up which is what I will do tomorrow at the Brussels store (New Order, Hot Rats, Bowie Live, Suede, both Gorillaz compilations, ….). Most efficient way certainly in the current climate.
I managed to get the Bowie 74 vinyl live album on Rough Trade online. I completely forgot about RSD and went online at just after midnight, websites all seemed to be working fine at that point, pretty much everything I wanted was sold out, so lucky and pleased to get the Bowie really.
The store I went to here in Orange County, CA said they were going to open at 5am. They started early so luckily I got there when I did. 5th in line. Walked in by 4:30 and was done within 15 minutes. All RSD titles in the back and an employee handed over what you asked for.
-Ultravox
-U2
-Alphaville (for my brother)
They only received 1 New Order and someone in front snagged it up. When walking out, the line was much longer. Was back home by 5.
I went with a list of two items I wanted, and I luckily got both: Elton John and The Pretenders.
I was very dismayed that the Elton John, which is purported to be purple vinyl with a 2nd disc of rarities & demos + a digital download card did not have the hype sticker on the front stating all of this (which the photos on the RSD site showed). Nor did it have a silver RSD sticker. Nothing to signify this is any type of collectible or special edition. I have no idea if I even have the RSD collectible, as I’ve chosen to keep it sealed. I contacted the RSD site + the Elton John store, but neither have responded. :-p
I didn’t go to my nearest shop for once and waited until 6pm just hoping to get a couple of items online. The guy who runs it seems to get quite a lot of stock in, so I was hopeful. Anyway, come 6pm, I had the page loaded and ready and all the stuff I wanted was still available. Cue frantic clickings and I quickly snagged all the ones I wanted and checked out as fast as I could. I looked a couple of minutes later and they were already going out of stock. Managed to get Motorhead, Madness, New Order, Ultravox and U2. Luckily these were all on the same page which helped. No site going down or any such goings on. Items turned up on Tuesday and were so well packed it was pure pleasure unwrapping them. All in all best RSD experience I’ve had so far :)
Still way over-priced though!
All in all, a pleasant experience.
My son and I joined a queue, which was all of four people including ourselves at about 6.30am both with a “wants” list in mind:
Mine was, Roxy Music, Pink Floyd, Suede and Morrissey.
My sons was, Pink Floyd, Nick Mason and The Who.
Well, we got all of the above, though the prices ranged between £3.00 and £8.00 above what I believe they should have been.
Value wise I think the Roxy and Suede ones are the best. However, the one I really wanted, and I know it is still easy to get, was the Floyd single. This is because I was at the Gig when it was recorded.
So, very happy.
I happened to be in Stockholm that day to do something else. But I had an hour window so I ran The rain to “Bengans” Record store. I wanted to get the half-speed mastered “McCartney” RSD release and the orange colored RSD vinyl of Keane’s “Night train”. They didn’t have them in stock locally but I could place an order on their website and have them sent to me. So I did even if it’s not the same thing this particular day at least. I haven’t heard or seen anything about My order since then so we’ll see if it arrives at all. Fingers crossed!
McCartney isn’t due out until the September drop
I got the same answer from the store today too. They had mistakenly added it to the first drop list. But they’ll send it to me as soon as it’s out.
Due to family commitments I couldn’t get to a shop on the day but a friend picked up the Bowie and The The releases for me from David’s in Letchworth.
I then joined the online scramble at 6pm. I was trying a few sites but Banquet in Kingston’s was the first I actually managed to checkout on about an hour later. I picked up The Cure and Mansun releases from them.
The Duran Duran album was on my list but like many I was unlucky. Originally it was a German-only release of 2,000 but I heard 600 were allocated to the UK – a paltry amount for such a big band. Anyway, super hard to find and a few are now on Discogs for silly money.
I’ve never bothered going in person to RSD (way too early to line up) so I was thrilled there were some online sales this year so I wouldn’t have to overpay on EBay. Went on Newbury Comics at 1PM EST and got the 2 Cure records and U2. Was really going to impulse buy the 2 Bowie records but didn’t like my cart total so decided to pass on those for now. Received everything a week later. Wish they would do this every year.
The timing this year is awful with HMV vinyl week just happened and national album day coming soon. I’m worse off due to covid and all this pre christmas spending doesn’t help. I know nobody forces us to buy but I’m a collector.
Anyway, got everything I wanted bar Duran, both my locals got 1 copy each.
Looked like I got one on line at 6pm but when I chased up on Tuesday, as I feared, there was an online f up and the order was invalid. Bah.
I wish DD would take notice of the huge interest in physical product and put more out.
I grabbed Bowie’s I’mOnlyDancing and the Groundhogs Split.
I did find Lennon’s Instant Karma 45 but could not justify paying $25 for two songs.
A very good haul from the excellent Black Circle Records in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. I
bought Bowie, The Damned, The Wipers & Motorhead amongst others.
Got there about 1am, but I and others in the queue had to put up with an aggressive drunk who lived nearby (we were between his flat and the pub) which made life unpleasant for an hour or so. And it rained and it was cold! But the owner turned up at 6, gave out raffle tickets for queue places so we were able to go & come back. I went home, showered and had some breakfast before coming back ready for the opening. In & out & home by 8.25! Result!
Paul, did you get the Bowie CDs?
Went online at 6pm with Assai Records in Edinburgh. Website ran like a dream while so called ‘bigger’ names went into meltdown.
Got all I wanted bar Duran Duran (VERY scarce!). They still had plenty stock in the shop on Sunday.
My haul:
Elton John
OCS
Roxy Music
Gary Numan
Meat Loaf
Bowie
Christi XCX
Morrissey
Jansen Barbieri Karn
A good shopping experience under difficult circumstances
Assai Records are always excellent on RSD, they always seem to have a fair amount of stock – managed to get Mansun online from them and was in the Dundee store yesterday and picked up Dave Davies excellent live album. Both Bowie records were still on sale in store.
I was in Folkestone for the weekend so I went to Vintage Vinyl Saturday morning around 10 and no queue just 1 other person plus shop owner in the shop. Got most of what I wanted.
Online was a joke. At 6pm every website I tried (resident music, rough trade, sister ray) had already crashed.
Rough trade was the worst they didn’t fix it until the next day. Resident music I managed to get onto it, put Suede in my basket. Tried to go to pay, it had gone from my basket.
I did manage though to get Suede and Pretenders and Bob Martley on discogs. Some things are still available from various shops for the price they were in the shops.
Rough Trade and Resident reckon they’ll have fixed the servers for September. Let’s see eh.
I got Manics, Bowie Now, both Gorillaz, Kinks, Who, Paul Hardcastle, then online later Suede Anoushka Shankar The Pin Up Girls.
Bob Marley and Pretenders off discogs.
Am hoping the Cure bring out Bloodflowers on regular lp later.
I’m gonna go to Rough Trade in September for the few I want during the day cos I think most people will do the same, stay home and try online later.
I think both Bowie releases are fantastic. Particularly the double live. An amazing record of the end of the 74 tour fully switched from Diamond Dogs to Young Americans. And they were both issued on CD which will please some.
Got the Jansen Barbieri Karn LP too And my still get Philip Glass.
Only wanted the Bowie CD so got it on Discogs for £20 plus p&p on the Saturday evening. Not being a vinyl buyer wasn’t worth a trip to the shop. There are still loads of the Bowie sets CD + Vinyl on Discogs today.
decided against queuing and very little of interest this year.
picked up THE THE 7″ and the Godfather waltz (theme) on white vinyl 7″ to go with my three LPs from the movies. Both bought hassle-free from indies online.
off topic, Coppola is re-editing Godfather III for re-release at Xmas!! Well, it can’t be any worse than his 1990 version ;-) His daughter’s a superb director these days but she was no actress…
I had booked to see Tenet at Imax South Bank, 8am showing that Saturday, so went straight to Sounds Of The Universe after the movie finished. I got there after 11am and there were only three people in the queue. I found the 2 Bowie releases on CD, I think they were the last copies.
The only other release I was after was The Hitchhikers Guide Of The Galaxy triple LP which none of the record shops in Soho had. I went online later in the evening and found a copy on the Piccadilly Records website. Thats all I was after.
Being in quite a unique situation on the Isle of Man, we have no social distancing requirements here, so shopping for Record Store Day was “as usual”. As many record collectors with kids will undoubtedly tell you, getting up and out early wasn’t really possible for me, and after finishing family duties it was about 2pm before I stopped by Sound Records, the only vinyl seller in Douglas (the capital of the Isle of Man). Having seen many people in town with Sound Record tote bags crammed with goodies I wasn’t hopeful, but after rooting through the selection, found the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy 3LP coloured vinyl and the white vinyl LP of the alternative Mansun album/B-sides compilation ‘The Dead Flowers Reject’. Was happy with those, and they also still had the Suede fan club rarities compilation ‘See You in the Neft Life’ which I had thought about, but passed on. I guess we’re spoilt here with less people, and hardly any queuing… albeit there were about ten waiting at opening time when I spoke to Jack, the store owner. I’ve always managed to grab what I want for the past two years, and Sound Records is quite a hidden gem in my eyes! So a good RSD here, and can’t complain!
Well, this was a first in that I did not brave the early mornings of the past April RSD’s and instead ventured into Wokingham and the great Beyond The download at around 2.30. No queue, limited numbers in the shop and after sanitising and gloving up I was browsing in minutes. No Bowie/Roxy/Duran or Suede, but I did snag the Durutti, which was my number one alongside a couple of 7inches plus the Eno Rams soundtrack and the Manics. So part one all good. 18.00 found me with multiple browsers open in search of Suede, LKJ and New Order – plus the 2 Bowies and with a bit of persistence shopping across 3 or 4 different sites I got the lot. Rough Trade seemed to have the biggest issues in terms of managing traffic on the night, with the site repeatedly crashing over the first few hours, but as I had nowhere else to be and a glass in hand, hitting refresh was no hardship and I got everything I was after. Sure postage stiffed me a bit in terms of additional cost but if this is the new normal, I can live with it. All I need to find now is what happened to the Kraftwerk reissues!
What happened to the Kraftwerk releases, they are not on the list anymore!
Is anybody really looking forward to the inconvenience of queuing out in the cold, ALL NIGHT (or even on 2 or 3 separate nights if rsd decide to spread out the Bowie/ other artist releases), just for some bits of music that the record companies really should offer in a more sensible way, instead of just seeing how far they can push loyal customers.
Imho rsd isn’t about giving music fans exactly what they want, its merely a form of control from a small group of selfish t*@t organisers.
This is crazy and a sure way or turn people off the whole RSD idea.
Why did/does RSD only cater for vinyl buyers? I never really understood that. Straight away it cuts off a market of potential buyers. As it stands RSD offers no incentive to me or other cd collectors to support physical record shops on the high street.
Both Bowie releases were also released on CD.
This is madness. The organisers of RSD need to wake up – they seem quite prepared to put the health and safety of record buying public and shop staff at risk x 3 times . It should all go on-line just for this year. Social distancing is likely to continue for sometime so it’s not going to be a safe enviroment and will cause friction
I know you’re not wanting more comments about the virus, Paul, but it has just claimed Dave Greenfield. I’m sure you’ll put up a fitting tribute in due course
Still sinking in
It’s a non starter as far as I am concerned and it should be done just online or scrap it all together and move all the releases to next year. The idea is to get people into independent record stores so moving all back a year makes more sense.
However, I think the whole RSD thing is a complete farce. The idea was to get people into stores with unique releases etc. whereas a lot of the items have previously been released albeit in different formats. Plus it nearly all gets hijacked by those who put it on Ebay for ridiculous prices. I personally have lost complete interest in it.
I’m out.
Totally out. The releases I saw where hardly worth the usual hassle to acquire them. Sadly, There is usually only one or two I kinda want, nothing I can’t live with out.
BTW, that is a super stupid idea.
I have read todays observations regarding RSD and the three day event. Its rediculous, I have to travel a long way to get to a record store, I am after at least 5/6 releases so may have to make a number of trips. The only solution is to have an on line RSD, let everyone know where the releases will be available by publishing a record store list with a link to their website. This would be easy to achieve and reasonable fair, it will not however stop the rop off merchants. The websites would need to open at the same time.
It’s absurd this 3 day idea.
We are in the midst of a worldwide virus killing thousands,scrap the whole day for 2020,put it online get it done.
2021 go back to the usual one day event,it makes more sense to do this,it’s a no brainer.
Just a few thought that have sprung to mind.
If the three days are designed to help RSD to happen across the globe, as countries come out of lockdown at different times, I assume each country will only have one RSD each?
Or will the organisers release different stock for each of the 3 days, meaning countries coming out of lockdown later may miss out?
In my view, each country should decide which RSD they will open for and be supplied with stock for that day only. That said, on public health grounds I find it inconceivable that we will witness scenes normally associated with RSD as social distancing will be with us for a good year, either by Government decree or by our own actions.
On balance, an online RSD is the only sensible option, and any independent record store has between now and the Autumn to get a website up and running. Indeed, RSD & Black Friday should be combined so we just have one mega-RSD this year.
Online checkouts can better restrict sales to individuals as they would need to be registered first and even register a payment method. Any duplication will be rejected. Of course, it won’t stop duplicate sales completely but such an idea is preposterous anyway. All we need to know is that scalpers can’t buy lots of copies to sell on. The record companies don’t give a monkeys so long as they shift stock so it’s up to store owners to police their own sales.
All in all, RSD needs to accept that our shopping habits will be severely altered due to Covid-19 and it needs to adapt to the new world. Online will be where its at for the foreseeable future. It’s not great but that’s where we’re at. Those stores that understand this will prosper. Those that don’t may well close. The RSD organisation needs to recognise this stark fact and assist stores as much as possible, especially if a store’s online presence is currently poor.
Each country has all three days and each day has different stock. So if the Bowie releases are on day 1 and you aren’t ready (for whatever reason) then it’s tough luck. That is the situation as things stand.
As it happens I visit(ed) my local store (Rough Trade Bristol) semi-regularly anyway – but I don’t like being told I have to visit on three specific days.
Fingers crossed then that all the titles I want “drop” on the same day (yeah, like that’ll happen!) so I only have to spend the one day queuing (or more likely, turning up a bit later to see what’s left).
One UK supplier has just mentioned to me he main reason is the stockists in the good old USA don’t have surficiant funding to buy everything in one go, It’s being done solely to help out struggling stockists.
But let’s face it 90% of RSD 2020 product has already been made, why not just up the numbers on each item and release them in batches every week so the stores can sell them on line.
Surely this will be more beneficial to struggleing stores.
Most RSD releases are limited pressing runs, so will, say, a 1000 pressing run now be split into 3 x 333 pressings across three dates? Very complicated – keep it simple stupid has surely got to be the RSD watchword here, ie one RSD date only.
Things I like;
The anticipation of the list, the banter and camaraderie in the queue, the hope of getting real exclusives released for the day and of course giving support to my favourite record shops.
Things I don’t like;
Labels who reissue with nothing “extra” to the release or release it on coloured/pic disc.
I know these are limited but pricing is ridiculous at times.
I agree that once the exclusive version has been released then I don’t have a problem with it being issued as a standard version (CD/LP/DL). At least we can all then get a copy of something we missed out on.
RSD is a day to celebrate but this year is a challenge and whatever way it goes, I’ll still participate.
I think the RSD this year needs scrapping or putting online and organisers should spend the time reconstructing the whole thing.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I love the concept of RSD, the celebration / festival aspect of it and the thrill of the chase, queue camaraderie etc.
Possible refinements for a post-pandemic future?
a) Price caps: eg. in the UK, 7″ singles max. £6, 12″ singles, max £10, 1LP, max £20 etc and regardless of novelty (pic disc, pop-up band figures etc)
b) Minimum quantities printed according to popularity / collectivity of artist (highly subjective I know!)
c) Stores introduce a loyalty scheme so those who regularly buy from there have ‘early entry’ (that’ll discourage the ‘one annual visit’ ebay scalpers). My closest store stamps a card for every vinyl purchase over £20 (1 stamp per visit, not per vinyl) and then you get £20 of free vinyl once you’ve bought 10 LPs. Such cards could be used for RSD selection.
d) Limit to the percentage of releases from the majors (who have flooded RSD in recent years)
OK there’s bound to be plenty of holes in my arguments, so fire away! But it’s a start….
Hi thanks for the great article and interesting replies. I got tired of RSD a while back and it helped put a nail in the coffin of me buying physical music. I was a record, CD, book, merchandise and art work collector for almost 50 years. I have been obsessed with collecting records and CDs (I once had a plan to break into Selectadisc to steal all the records I could not afford to buy, this included breaking through from the adjacent car park – it didn’t happen). Over the years have made the effort to get what I wanted and been prepared to pay over the odds to scalpers after queuing for hours on RSD not getting what I had waited for, so haven’t had a problem with the scalpers (not like the resale of concert tickets which is another story). Over recent years I have become fed up with “limited editions” which are anything but limited and on several occasions have felt ripped off by record companies buying these exclusives only to find they are not limited or exclusive, this has included inflating of the cost by having to pay expensive import duties. I actually feel more ripped off by the record companies than the scalpers. If RSD has raised the profile of independent record shops brilliant but maybe it is time to return to how record collecting was in the past where music is released throughout the year and sold through shops and you manage to get one or you don’t, this could also be online (which is not too different from me buying records from mail order ads in NME or Record Collector). Because of these factors I decided to sell all my records and CDs and audio equipment. To be honest I was a collector who had a lot of stuff that I had never listened to, never actually opened, which is ironic as I do love music and feel it is in my blood. I have now purchased a smart speaker and subscribe to a streaming service, I am now listening to a lot more music and enjoying it so much. The sound quality is great but I have never been a music snob and worried to much about quality. I do miss holding and looking at records, box sets etc but my obsession has changed. To me it does seem ironic that something that was designed to help independent record shops has actually helped me to stop using them.
So you were a collector for 50 years, and RSD is the reason you quit. Weird to say the least.
Hi Kevin, just to clarify as I said in my post there are various issues that have made me quit after nearly 50 years. I was keen on the vinyl revival and initially on RSD, however RSD was just another feature of what has stopped my need. Weird probably.
Reading the comments I have come to the decision that I like and dislike RSD for all the already said reasons but me and the wife would have been queuing as normal should the event gone ahead. This always causes great logistical issues as we run our own business and need to bring in staff to cover us, to have to do this 3 times will be out of the question.
An absurd decision. The shops that take part ( those that are left ) need the income NOW. They might as well bit the bullet and go online for this year, one copy per customer.
I have only twice tried to go to my ‘local’ (20 minute drive) record shop on RSD- both times getting up early, coffee in the car, change for the parking meter, toast to keep me going, and on both occasions I gave up. 1-2 hours before opening the queues were around the block and after 10-15 minutes of waiting in line it was fairly apparent that most of the other people in the queue were not really into music- they were just there to buy and then resell whatever they could get hold of. Totally pointless and of no real value to the record shop at all.
I am a sucker for limited editions and rare recordings, but It’s just not worth spending half a Saturday morning for the lucky dip of what’s left in the shop. I know it just adds to the problem but I’d rather wait a few weeks and buy what I want on ebay- when the prices have come down and if they price is too high then I’ll leave it. Let’s be honest, it’s all ‘nice to have’, none of it’s life changing nowadays because it’s almost always available on digital somewhere.
This year’s RSD should just be online. The current proposal is comical and somewhat delusional. I’m not going to queue once let alone 3 times, and given the health risks nor should anyone else until there’s 100% safe environment to do so.
Going forward why not have RSD online but with the buyer having to collect from the shop- so he/she then ‘connects’ with the retailer and has the opportunity to look around the store and see what else is of interest?
Finally- thanks again Paul. Brilliant as ever.
I queued for 6 hours and got to know many people in that time.I was amazed at the amount of people that don,t even own a turntable,and items were on ebay before I got near the front of the queue.As a hifi enthusiast and vinyl lover, I support my local record store on a regular basis,and the rules state they can,t put aside for me!!!!!!!!!!! I will never do that again.
With this lock down more people have got used to the idea of buying online.That should be a lesson to small local record store traders that choose not to have a web site.Adapt to survive.Many traders have had to resort to this.Not just record stores.Then we the regular vinyl lovers that visit and get to know our local record stores can if rules were changed place orders.We the buying public get what we want,The record trader gets his profits,and the chancers looking to make a quick buck loose out..
Yep. I started to loathe RSD years back. I’m a music lover with probably 2500 LP’s and I’ve bought them all to actually listen to, not as an investment, not to mount on the wall and not to flip on fleabay.
RSD is all about exclusivity. Pay twice the price for LP’s with half the songs and make sure you get up really early and wait hours to compete with the flippers.
No thanks.
Record Store Day should be an online event this year.It’s just not safe to go anywhere these days.They can turn it into a fun virtual event.
RSD 2020? Silly concept, ridiculous actually.
A better way to handle the ‘consumer-retail interface’ in times of corona is the approach of the American Book Center stores in Amsterdam and The Hague (Netherlands): customer orders online and picks up his or her book(s) in the shop at a designated time slot. It works pretty well.
Re: distribution of physical product vs. streaming: the record industry should do well to consider the pre-corona distribution concept of the film industry.
Exclusive release via cinemas for a limited period (usually 3 months), followed by distribution via other media and outlets (dvd/blue ray via shops, online and physical), followed by streaming services, followed by tv.
For music and records that would mean: exclusive release of physical product (vinyl, cd) via record stores and the artist’s website for a limited period (say 6 to 8 weeks), followed by online shops, followed by streaming services.
Stay safe!
Additionally, those whining about prices and saying they’ll “sit this one out”…
Record shops NEED your business now more than EVER. You are NOT helping us out with this continual negativity. If stores inflate the retail prices (over 20% above suggested list), they can be banned from participating again. The margins on these pieces is very slim, and yet you want to blame the shops for the high prices. Blame the manufacturers who set those prices if you have a problem. Otherwise, just don’t buy them and send your message that way.
I order from Norman Records and discogs. I probably give more money to these record stores than the flippers who come out only for RSD.
Do people have any idea how hard it is to be a record store owner right now? To just say outright RSD should be scrapped is meanspirited and shortsighted. I may be biased as a store owner and I personally do not relish seeing tons of people in my shop, much less 3 times over the course of 3 months, however, I do understand why RSD organizers would rather this than have one person exposing themselves to an even larger group of people in a one day event.
Ultimately what needs to happen is that it should be left up to the stores to come up with their own plans as to how to address this. If they feel uncomfortable enough to even do the event but want to sell online, let them be closed and start selling at 1pm on the specified date as has been allowed. I am currently coming up with a plan to do curbside service ONLY from 8am to 1pm, using an email system where people can reserve their place in line by sending a timestamped reservation email, assigning them a specified time in a return email (3 minute increments) and asking for their car model/license and wantlist. They send the email back with their wantlist, and we will bag and fill it with mask and gloves, confirm their total by another email so they know what they are getting and the cost, and handle the payment curbside when they arrive. This is just an idea (I am lucky to have a parking lot as well), but at least I am TRYING to come up with something. My store lost the equivalent of more than an entire month of sales by not having RSD last month, it’s THAT big of a deal. I am not in the business of putting people’s health at risk, hence the curbside idea, and when I do open later in the day, it will be masks, sanitizer, and social distancing with limitations of numbers, but please don’t suggest taking the entire thing away from the stores. It is what keeps some of us going, and you’ll likely have WAY more angry customers who want what they want and are unhappy about the naysayers than those who would be angry that we are trying to come up with safe and thoughtful ways to address the problems. None of these plans are perfect and will require a lot of patience from customers, but they are being made with the best of intentions and a lot of concern for their health and wellbeing. I certainly don’t want to be responsible for putting anyone’s health at risk.
Please let’s remember that RSD is an entirely voluntary event when it comes to anyone’s participation – such as consumers, record stores and music companies – so choose as you like and let others do so too…
RSD should be scrapped.
The record industry needs to have a good hard look at what music means to music lovers who are into physical product. Why not have a similar model as watching movies at the cinemas and then 4 months down the line it can be streamed or bought?
If an artist has a physical product of their latest single or album, this should be sold exclusively through record stores, the stores website and the artist site only.
1 or 2 months down the line, it can go on streaming services, sold through online retailers such as Amazon etc. It is the only way for record stores to survive. If labels want to do exclusives, they are not restricted to just one date every year.
This would all depend if record labels are willing to change the practice of how music is released but I don’t think they will.
RSD like all other music enterprises needs to be redefined. As noted, pricing has escalated, product is often over-hyped, scalpers persist and only luck will have it if you are able to secure what you’d like for personal use. A suggestion to offer product over 3 days is a non-starter. Waiting in line became a fun exercise with like-minded treasure seekers. Over time though, the appearance of difficult to secure items on auction really put a damper on even that exercise. I’ll sit this out until such time as the original RSD sprit resurfaces between the labels, artists and Indie Shops where greed is put on the back burner and valued, well-conceived, fairly priced treasures once again emerge enticing my interest once again.
As usual Paul, eloquently put by yourself and summed up well.
I’ve grown more disillusioned by RSD over recent years, fed up with waiting and queuing for nothing only to see the records I wanted on ebay later that same day. To ask for to do it 3 or 4 times is daft.
I’ve written this year off so they should just release online and get banning for next year.
Keep up the great work,and stay safe.
It really should be done online this year. If the releases are only available in the same record shops that qualify for rsd, then they will be the ones still reaping the rewards from it.
Expecting people to queue overnight only to be let down or ripped off (by sky high prices for complete rubbish), is ludicrous and (especially this year) irresponsible.
I wonder if the organisers of rsd also work for my local council? The lack of common sense and the “couldn’t give a toss about what customers want“ attitudes sound very familiar.
I like RSD and it has done a huge amount to support bricks and mortar and reignite interest in vinyl and record buying over the years and there are a few things on my wants list for this year.
I have to say I agree they should cut their losses and do an online RSD. It can’t get people into Record Shops for the foreseeable, but The one thing it can do is provide some cashflow for record shops who are going to be struggling.
However, not all shops have an online store or any mail order operation, for example Probe Records the main Indie shop in Liverpool since the late 70s doesnt sell online. Lots don’t and you need more than just an e-commerce site to sell and ship online.
I suggest that they centralise the operation and use one or two large online retailers with sufficient infrastructure to to take on the ordering and shipping, and the profits are pooled and then apportioned to participating stores who were signed up (this would have already been arranged pre lockdown) according to their annual turnover so everyone gets a fair slice of the pie and shops aren’t having to pre order sale or return.
I actually like RSD. I like the celebration of vinyl, the live bands, the 2am camaraderie with fellow vinyl fans in the queue. I like travelling 50 miles to queue up because there’s no store near me – I make a day (or night & day!) of it. I like the fact that it brings financial lifelines to our indie record shops who might not be around if it didn’t exist. I like the thrill of the chase – will I / won’t I get all my choices? I like taking a punt on a bit of vinyl from someone I’ve never heard before – it’s nearly always paid off.
But I am puzzled by the RSD moaners. Don’t like the rain? Don’t like queueing for hours? Don’t like the inflated prices? Solution? Don’t bother then and stop whinging about it. Have you noticed that some of the most vocal critics come from a purely selfish perspective – some in this thread in fact. with them it’s a case of ranting ‘I want, I want”, displaying the same level of selfishness as the ebay flippers! RSD may not be perfect, but it is what it is, so just enter into the spirit of it or stay at home. It’s not all about you.
This year, it’s sad but inevitable that things have to change. People’s lives always have to come first. I’m not sure the 3 days thing is the best way, so I’m in favour of scrapping it for this year. In its place, stores get their quotas and sell them online, all going on sale at the same time in the country they’re in. If I miss out on something on my list, so be it. Not perfect arrangements, but what system is?
Now, if only there were a way of preventing online sales to the ‘I want, I want’ critics of RSD. that’d really give them something to throw a strop about!
Definitely in the minority. I buy records every week.i dont like the fact of being told o today u pay more because we have inflated the price.ive supported piccadilly records in Manchester since the 80s.so why should I pay more that day of the year?. If your a fan you don’t really have a choice if your a collector of that artist you want that album …I like bread milk tea coffee..I’m glad asda dont say this year on that day the price will be doubled..and as a nhs frontliner like my wife this year we really cant stand in the rain.were to busy saving lifes
Well I guess I’m a Want Want guy. I want to be able to walk into my favourite record shops like I do 364 other days of the year, with or without an umbrella.I want to be able to buy records at the same price I do the rest of the year. I want to be able to buy them like I would any other time of the year and not have to get up at stupid o’clock to do it. I don’t want them to be so limited that I can’t buy them without paying inflated flippers prices for records that should be in the racks for everybody who wants a copy to be able to buy. I don’t want artificially overpriced created coloured or picture discs that no one would buy on any other time of the year…and I especially don’t want to get in a queue with someone who unintentionally might kill me.
Enough of this RSD nonsense. If it was to get people back into record shops it worked now get over it.
Strop finished.
We’re now into May, people are still falling ill, people are still dying. There really is no end to “social distancing” in sight. And even when it does, things will not return to the way they were before. My local shop, 26 miles away, is large enough to fit in 10 at a time on RSD, with overnight queues, stretching for almost half a mile at opening time. What will it be like with only 2 customers allowed instore at a time? I’m in my late 50’s and wouldn’t feel comfortable with it at all. And if the current lockdown restrictions are still in place on the “drop” dates, are record shop owners really think they are going to be allowed to open? They can hardly be described as “essential”. I would rather face a mail order, take-your-chances, ballot for the titles I want. Or scrap it altogether and just make everything available online as limited editions. Even leaving it to next year would be preferable.
This needs a re-think.
The queues on RSD are crazy – 5 hours before you enter the shop is not uncommon and that is without Social distancing. So how are you going to police this a small record shop? Impossible and Unworkable.
And let’s face facts the majority of people who queue to buy vinyl are of a certain age – myself included – so you are putting a large proportion of vulnerable customers at risk.
Record Store has never been “just” about buying vinyl. It’s a huge social event where you meet people, share stories and facts and generally have a brilliant day, then there’s the bands!! Take all that away – as you would have to – and all you get is people queuing with little or no interaction to buy vinyl. Kind of defeats the object of celebrating Independent Record Shops.
I hate to say this (I really do!!!) but would it not be best to make RSD 2000 an online only experience only. Give everyone a chance to buy the vinyl they want in the safety of their own homes. Yes it will mean some shops will lose out but at least this way they help keep their current and future customers alive!
I hate shopping online it’s soulless and boring. Give me the thrill of picking up vinyl in a Record Shop and discovering something I’ve never heard of or something I’ve been searching for any day! But, regrettably, 2000 is not the year to do that.
This year put people before profit and plan something spectacular for 2021 instead!!
Who actually likes rsd?…I love the records but not the standing in the rain or the inflated prices or missing out on the vinyl I want or this year possibly putting my life on the line..I’ll tell you who like it the flippers loving it on ebay
I’m very happy to pay a surcharge to online sellers just so I don’t have to stand near other people. And that applies every year, not just this one.
I think that Chris Carter has hit the nail on the head. Best solution that I can see. If stores have any extra stock that they have decided to order. Maybe extra copies of a much requested item, let them sell them online from the Monday after the RSD rather than wait the lengthy period that they do at the moment. But still limit it to one copy per customer.
I gave up on it years a go as I no longer listen to vinyl, and certainly no longer collect it just because it is out, to keep on the shelf. (I once had 27 copies of one album – demos, test press, imports, pic disc, etc, etc) . Although it is called Record Store Day the aim was to help footfall through the Independent Music Stores. CD was, as it still is, the biggest selling format at the time. But the companies released less and less CD product. This year there appeared to be more CD on the list (Particularly by Bowie) So I may have ended up in the queue this year. At least one has appeared in digital format on Spotify already, so do I want the discs if expensive, or do I want the music? As long as it is in good quality I am inclined to say the latter. But I am still a sucker for the deluxe box set = extra music and a book about the album. I don’t need paper fans, plastic keyrings or some of the other “stuff” that gets included at times.
My local shop is Spillers Records. The oldest record shop in the world. All the customers are treated like friends, we hope that our friends there come through this safely. Along with your friends in your local shops.
Ian burgess….
27! Copies of one album. Which one?
My guess is smile by the beach boys.
Record Store Day Should be postponed until Next Year and not happen online – defeats the whole object of RSD in the first place !!-
All stock should be held by the Distributors until then – the only way i see this going – even more than normal is the Records will end up straight on Ebay with Totally over inflated prices – even more than normal – i did comment on an earlier post a month or more ago that it would not be happening this year – Record stores should have enough Good stock that will easily sell – to keep them going – i run an online record store and am plodding on ok – have been for years.
I hate to say it but i can’t see many actual Bricks and Mortar record shops being around for too much longer as everything has shifted online anyway – I owned/ ran a real record shop until a few years ago, but could see the beginning of the end so shifted everything online…… I’m afraid RSD will not be the same online and could well be The beginning of the end for it in Real Record shops – So If you want your Local Record store to be there in 5 years time – Support them now – Buy that Record you want online Now from your local store – There is No Need to wait until RSD – you probably wouldn’t get what you wanted anyway !
record store owners need the money now, so they should be allowed to sell them online as soon as they have the items available. stay safe everyone.
Agreed. Plus it’s driving me mad that I can’t buy the items I want.
Some were allowed to in the U.S. so they could request it the Question is did they and if they were restricted due to Covid-19. U fortunately, different countries have different circumstances. Covid-19 has been handled so poorly in the U.S. that even Amoeba has had to do a go-fund me donation to stay in business.
I think 2008/2009 saw the lowest ever new vinyl sales (I have never seen as consistent secondary market sales figures but the fact Record collector and goldmine books exist say it must have been pretty significant). RSD came along in 2008 and since that time it has seen a rise in new vinyl sales every single year. It clearly had an impact and to such a point that in monetary terms it will soon have (or possibly has) overtaken CD. It probably saved a lot of record shops even although it had and still has it’s detractors among them. But it did do one important thing – it made new vinyl available to buy and continues to do so. So has it outlived its purpose with many companies seeing it as a cash cow and the buyers also seeing that also? Maybe and with the absolute glut of new vinyl available everywhere now perhaps it has done its job and has to evolve or disappear – the virus has just brought that question to the fore. With steaming now dominating I suspect physical purchases will be more targeted so the vinyl market will start levelling off. We are probably the luxury brand in music so a soft target in times of hardship. If it goes look forward to CD, Cassette and even Metal Cylinder Store Days. Good debate on here, RSD probably needS that now.
So many comments already…
RSD was set up to get people to visit shops not to buy on-line…
We are in a different place here – No-one wants to queue outside for hours risking their health for vinyl… Especially 3 – 4 times! Isn’t that likely to be worse? Normally long queues would be ridiculous as I mentioned on the S Wilson thread.
Why not just get the stock sent to independant shops for them to sell exclusively on-line through their own sites if possible… That way the companies sell their stock to the right places (not ignoring the high street shops that need to keep going) and the shops can sell to their customers on-line… Stay home – Protect the Independant Shops – Save queuing (till next year… maybe)
I think policing the online sales could be a problem in terms of fairness. Think of the ticket industry, where professional touts have multiple credit cards, multiple laptops and multiple addresses so they can bulk buy tickets by big artists which they they resell for silly money. The same could happen here. At least if you queue up on RSD, you’re only allowed 1 of each item, even if your intention is to flog everything on eBay or Discogs afterwards.
I predict this is the end of RSD. I said that in 2012 when no one in the store knew what T.Rex was, even though they had a rack filled with the special T.Rex box. And the store wasn’t crowded. But this time I really mean it.
The best thing from this thread is discovering there is a recordshop in Glasgow called ‘Some Great Reward’. I will order something from them just because of their name, the fact that they actually sell that album too, and because they are in Glasgow.
For many small stores, RSD creates their biggest sales of the year. I don’t know how many stores can survive until August. Other retail outlets (clothes shops, etc.) will presumably be up and running by end of May/into June. Record shops may re-open around the same time, but they need an event like RSD to bring in good money for all the many weeks they’ve been closed. It’s going to tough for everyone, but I’m fairly confident stores like Primark will be back into profit fairly soon after lockdown is over. Record shops won’t.
However, unlike many “sale or return” stock normally sold throughout the rest of the year, it’s perhaps not a well known fact that stores have to pay up front for all the stock they decide to sell on RSD. And they can’t send it back to the suppliers if it doesn’t shift. Hence a couple of years ago a Bristol shop was heavily marking down the price of the Alan Partridge picture discs a few weeks after RSD because they were stuck with them!
So from a financial point of view, stores need an event like RSD to bring them big money, but they are also required to spend big money up front to order in the releases. I doubt many stores would still had the money they stored up for April to be used instead on June 20th, so I guess this gives them more time to make some money on normal trade before shelling out for the August releases.
The whole experience for the day though isn’t just about queuing up for limited releases. Many stores have a series of in-store mini gigs. That certainly won’t be happening if you spread the day over three Saturdays. But maybe by November stores can book a few live bands for the final blow out.
I think the labels should be looking at changing these terms, at least for this year. HMV get ‘consignment’ terms of everything. Which means they get the stock free and only pay for it when it sells!
I live in a fairly large city, and we have one independent “mom & pop” store. 99% of their records, DVD’s & CD’s are used. It appears to me to be a dumping ground for people who can’t be bothered with physical music or movies when you can download or stream for a fee or free.
The last time I went on RSD, I asked a guy if they had the T.Rex Electric Warrior box sets (the 45’s in a clam shell box). He said who are they? Then he said no. Turned the corner & there was a display filled with them. I could see they had a lot of the RSD specials but there was no line of people to buy them.
I feel like many that it seems even by August/Sept/Oct this year RSD 2020 is not going to work in it’s intended format – there’s bound to be social distancing etc in place until we hopefully get a vaccine which may be next year. So clearly that’s not going to work for crowds going to a record shop this year. But I can’t understand how an alternative “on-line sales only” angle will work for RSD. As Chris Carter points out, unless there is sufficient product generated rather than limited editions, how do you secure the item you are after when you normally have to beat everyone else to an early queue spot outside the shop?
Personally, in the meantime I’ve been guilty of spending my intended RSD money already on other record and CD purchases – given the uncertainty over RSD. The record shop I go to on RSD is trying to keep going by online sales and they even deliver locally for free, or post 1st class to those outside an 8 mile radius. I’m keeping money aside for example to order the National High Violet release in June from them. So in the meantime we should, if possible, support our record shops anyway over the coming months which is bound to be vital to their survival hopes.
I said a 1man band,not 6!
“This is clearly an incredibly challenging situation for labels, retailers and the industry in general and it remains to be seen how it will all work out.”
Perhaps, but in this case it’s entirely of their own making. They’re trying to continue – in one form or another – a celebration that is preposterous in the first place. Record Store Day is completely self-serving, and does consumers no favors. Just release the damn music. No need for a special day. No need for exclusives to drum up interest. To truly be successful stores need to be doing business all year round. There’s already Birthday’s and Christmas to draw people to them. Forcing fans to be at a certain place, at a certain time, with a certain amount of cash to burn is simply ridiculous, and frankly anti-consumer. It’s just BS.
We don’t need the pantomime. The only people who may get hurt here are ebay flippers. RSD is a terrible idea that needs to die.
Whilst there are some interesting items I find the prices in general prohibitive on RSD and it’ll be interesting to see how sucessful it is this year as many people have reduced incomes due to COVID. When I last went down to the store on RSD it was full of people on the ‘phone listing stuff on eBay as they queued to pay for the items. For me the fun’s long gone from the physical RSD, and as a regular record buyer, RSD is generally a time for me to avoid the record shop so perhaps making the “special items” available online might work out better?
I think mushc as though I am a diehard RSD’r I think given the unprcedented times we find ourselves in we should be allowed to buy the items online and then collect them at the local store of our choice or have them posted. In my case as there are many itesm I am after it might be cheaper to collect them instore! I understand that during the 3 days in question whatever is left from earlier on will be available online from 6pm in the evening but why not just put the whole lot online until this Corona virus has been dealt with?
2020 should really be considered a “lost” year in many aspects. We won’t get back to any semblance of normaility for 12 months or more. With that in mind, we need to re-calibrate lots of things (concerts, sporting events, social events etc. etc.). To this end, RSD 2020 in its recognised format needs to adapt, and the only way to adapt this year is to make it online only, in my view. Yes it’s not ideal, but we are living in a far from ideal world at the moment and we have to compromise. I, like everyone, am extremely worried about the economic landscape after this pandemic and record stores are top my list of worries. So for RSD 2020, at least if it were made online for this year only, then those record stores are still profiting – and for many (if not all) it will be the one day in the year that they can guarantee a profit at the end of the year.
Personally, I’m not a fan of RSD anymore, it’s changed into a money making machine for the big labels and It doesn’t sit easy with me. But, if it proves to be a lifeline for record stores, then I’m all for the concept continuing, althouth I think it needs an overhaul.
We all need to diversify for the foreseeable future, at least for this year, so this proposal for RSD 2020 is ok with me, except I’m not too sure of the staggered days to be honest.
I work in a record store and have been closed for 7 weeks,who can say when its going to be to reopen. that depends on where you live and who makes that call. rsd in NOT a priority right now.
Just cancel it for this year!
Labels can do what they want with stock – sell it, hold it or just destroy it.
People are experts at making things overly complicated.
Ultimately, the RSD organisers have forgotten the whole point of RSD.
Fluffy Paws,I totally agree with you RSD 2020 should be scrapped this year,for one we don’t know what is going on regarding corvid 19, and 3 separate RSDs is ridiculous and stupid, For this year just let the record stores sell their goods however they want , the whole point of RSD has gone and has become too complicated.
Agreed! It’s for flippers and collectors now, not for music lovers.
Are they going to reduce the ridiculous prices they charge for some of these items to take into account peoples lack of disposable income? If people have lost, or are likely to lose their employment, are they really going to be bothered about having that 10″ demo?
This is insane. Three days? Three trips, waiting in line etc? Do they think it will mean fewer people each time? I doubt that. Well, I won’t be doing it. They should skip it this year and just sell the records on the fan sites or whatever.
The purpose of Record Store Day is to encourage people to support their local independent record shops but, to me, RSD has never actually achieved this. I believe that a huge number of people – possibly the majority – only ever step inside a record shop once a year which is on that particular day. There is no opportunity to review what the shop actually has to offer as people are herded in and out as quickly as possible to secure their wants.
Those queuing overnight in the freezing cold have no guarantee that the shop will have the item(s) they want or will have them in sufficient quantities when they finally make it inside. As we all know, many buyers have no interest in the products they buy as they put them onto eBay as soon as possible to make a quick buck. I also believe that some genuine buyers buy “extra” product to sell as means of compensation for their efforts.
Therefore, RSD doesn’t work for record collectors, independent record shops or even the record companies who still need to make money. I really don’t understand why a record label would produce less items than there is genuine demand for! If I could wave a magic wand I would change the way RSD works…
1. Record companies would announce their planned releases.
2. By a given date, buyers would visit their local record shop, place orders for the items they want and pay for them upfront.
3. Buyers would then collect their purchases from RSD onwards – at their leisure.
This would allow record companies to make sufficient quantities of product.
This would enable genuine fans to secure their wants.
This would eliminate the secondary market of selling for profit.
This would maximise profits for record shops as they won’t carry additional product.
This would enable buyers to visit record shops at their leisure and see what else they have to offer which is the whole purpose of RSD in the first place.
I AGREE 100% – This is a much better model – Tell them – make them do it this way!!!
Couldn’t agree more.
To encourage people to visit the independent record stores you need to have products spread over the entire year and an environment that gives the customer a chance to not only buy the new product but browse the rest on offer. RSD, where I am at least, is just a very long wait with a quick in and out for your choices. How exactly does that encourage further purchasing for those who aren’t like us who go in to the shops anyway. After queuing for hours you’re literally in the shop just a few moments. Not sure how other shops do it but mine gives you a form to fill in while queuing and on entering the shop, you hand it in, they bag up what you’ve asked for, you pay and you’re out in minutes as there’s no room on RSD for anyone to stay inside the shop.
Your plan has my vote for sure. That’s how to get people into the stores all year round. I do appreciate that the stores take a lot on that one day. But a better run scheme, that means less opportunity for the profiteers to make money for doing nothing and gives artists, labels, manufacturers and record stores a true reflection of the demand (without the need for silly limited edition pressings) is a much better offering.
On you tube, a record store in america, The in groove, has a very interesting recent article. Titled, will record store day be permanently canceled?
The gist of the article is money. It also touches upon the very survival of some stores.
The cash outlay for record stores is considerable, in his case $20,000 last year. Yet the question posed is whether record store will be able to make that commitment at this stage. They will have been paying out rents, wages etc.
It sounds like the RSD model has attempted to address this by dividing the one off outlay into three. Plus it looks like it is allowing those record stores with websites to see through that.
I see this as a fairly decent solution for what is hopefully a one off.
Sadly though it doesn’t answer the basic question, unless record stores physically open they will fail, they will die out, soon.
Perhaps some shops have spent this time catalogueing their products online? That might put them in a slightly better position. Yet even that route carries hard to know costs.
Oh dear.
I don’t go to my local record store anymore. I wanted the new PSB – Hotspot 2CD. It was sold out and couldn’t be ordered, while many online stores had stock. The local store drive people to the internet…RSD is so 90’s…Sell items on internet.
If RSD does go ahead , in store or online, it might also help if there was a broader range of stuff to buy, rather than what oven appears to be a focus on gimmicks and obscurtities. I think this is particulalry important in the short to medium term as shops are likely to have fewer regular releases to sell. Presumably no one is spending much time in a recording studio at the moment. And if you can record, how Many people will want to release a record they can’t promote and sell on tour ?
This is going to be bad no matter what.
There are several problems…
1. One of the main things is the aspect of actually going to an independent store to purchase items, and this hopefully leads to people going to those stores at other times. I know that at my local, some people hang around and buy other stuff after buying their RSD stuff. Most are locals, but some are from out of town who leave their bigger or smaller towns in hopes of getting things might not be able to get in the bigger towns (or would have to be in line 3 hours earlier than they would in my town), or couldn’t get at all cause they have no store at all.
2. The idea of going to online would actually make it worse for many people with limited funds, and open up the virtual queue to loads of waaaaaay out-of-towners, out-of-staters, and re-sellers. Those of us that live in small towns with only one store would be at the mercy of the latter group who do not show up to queue at out only local store.
3. While I understand that many to not enjoy queuing up, it is a necessary thing in small town stores especially. Many people do not realise that RSD (at least in the US) allots amounts of releases to stores based on their previous sales. Virtually every time there has been something that I and others have wanted, and the store was unable to get. Related, the stores base their purchase choices on what they know our local buyers want. So in my town, the store will try to get as many copies of Bowie releases as they can, and likely not as many Grateful Dead stuff. In other towns, it could be the opposite.
So unless the store was able to somehow limit the online purchases to ‘local’ people, you’d find people from across the country buying stuff and having the faithful locals losing out.
4. As one of the faithful who has been in line (sometimes too) early, and has been 1st most times (2nd only twice), I know that there may be literally one copy of a particular item, and as I live only about 5 blocks away, I’m happy to crawl out of bed at the crack of dawn to get those only copies.
In addition, it’s good to be able to hang out with other fans and compare lists. A couple of times, knowing that a friend has come late, or in one case a stranger has, I have actually bought an item for them I knew they wanted and might not get because of their place in line for them. OK, so yeah, I cheated for them a bit, but it was for a good cause.
But of course if everything goes online, then I could get up as early as possible and miss out on something I would’ve gotten to someone far away who would never go out in 20°F weather as I have done several times. Would I be pissed? You bet I would!
Of course you may say, well why don’t I buy from some much bigger store online where they’ll have more copies? Then I’m as guilty as the other carpetbaggers, but more to the point…
the idea is to help out your local store(s), and this online thing does not necessarily do that.
Also, as many small stores in small towns do, my local prefers to do things with cash instead of charging as much as possible, and will give you a break for doing so. This obviously goes away if everything had to be charged.
5. Finally, there’s the elephantine virus in the room. Many places in the US may still be under lockdown, or under a second lockdown when these various dates come around. The people in my local store, which is in the basement of another store, might not be able to go there, or may not have any way to get the stock, so ultimately many people will not be able to get anything at all.
Meanwhile, it’s already a long slog, and it’s likely to be a much longer one, so I hop everyone out there keeps their heads about them, and doesn’t get too upset if everything goes Pete Tong.
You make some good points, but let me counter, if I may:
I live in a big town, and within a 5-mile radius of myself I have 4 record stores that sell new product on RSD, as well as another 3 which are second-hand vinyl shops only. Stretch the 5 miles to 12 miles, and I have another 4-5 record stores which participate in RSD.
Before the virus hit, I was a record store shopper. I went to probably 10 different stores within the course of any given month, sometimes hitting 3-4 a day as they were all almost in a straight line from work to my home. My point being, I go to stores a lot, and I rarely see anybody in them. I’m also not limited to the only shop in town, as you seem to be.
But therein lies the ridiculousness: I see people lined up around the block, from midnight on, to get into all of these stores. For what? All these people are really looking for the Soft Cell reissue? Or the Wolfgang Press ‘unreleased’ album (just pointing out 2 things in this year’s RSD)? Really? They’re not actually listening to, say, the Smiths, or Guns N Roses, or Ed Sheeran (not that there’s anything wrong with those 3 artists). My point being, the people who stand in line are the people, it seems, who want to flip things on ebay. And the people who go to these stores on the regular (like myself), they don’t get special treatment. They don’t get first in line. They aren’t guaranteed to get that copy of the new Wire release. Although, they would probably buy that vinyl Wire release anyway, on any given day, if they weren’t forced to stand in line with others who may or may not even want it, but buy it to resell it.
I think RSD gives record stores an influx of cash, but does so at the expense of their everyday customer base. Personally, I say let it go online this year, to insure social distancing, and maybe it gives your regular customers a more even playing field when it comes to purchasing things they actually want to put into their collection.
Paul, that’s a fair point about the on-line purchase but there is also that “intangible” effect that comes in to play when you are actually in the store, which I imagine is not as prevalent on-line to the same degree. If you go in to get a RSD release there is a fair chance you will buy something else. I suspect this is a big factor financially for stores on the day. I would think if you are on-line and your local shop doesn’t have it you probably find another on-line store and not buy anything from your local store. So not really helping the store in the way the day was designed. I agree this is the best job that could be done in the circumstances.
The owner of my local record shop says this is an important aspect of the day (see my longer reply to Marcel below). He expects to take a month’s money in one weekend – a significant proportion of which is non-RSD.
Countless comments here presume that the “RSD Drop” dates are going to function precisely like RSDs of yore. No one has said there will still be queues down the sidewalk on these three dates.
A friend owns a record shop and I’ve volunteered there on RSD for several years running. He has been plotting how to manage RSD in the time of COVID for weeks now, and none of his ideas involved allowing the usual massive queues.
The other part is, stuff like the ChangesNowBowie are already available digitally. Things were planned a long time ago, deals and contracts already made, even small labels that press things for RSD can’t be expected to wait until the next 8 ball drops. This is the worst of the worst idea. Even Amoeba has started a gofundme page to help cover losses. RSD was a cute idea but the idea here is just so out of step and half baked that it almost does more harm than good, by the time these things get out there the respective labels may have moved onto the next thing as well. Oh well.
This is/was my 2020 RSD want list (70’s/80’s collector here):
Alphaville –Sounds Like A Melody
Erasure – Blue Savannah
Giorgio Moroder ft. Kylie Minogue –Right Here Right Now
Kid Moxie – Big In Japan
Kraftwerk – Kraftwerk I
Kraftwerk – Kraftwerk II
Metronomy – Metronomy Forever Remixes
Roxy Music – Steven Wilson Stereo Mix (for my honey)
Silent Circle – No. 1
Soft Cell – Mutant Moments EP (got that online now)
Ultravox – Sleepwalk
The only item I REALLY want is Erasure, but I truly can do without all the rest. I will NOT get up early three times in order to get all that stuff I did not know is going to exist in 2020 a year ago. If they intend to sell all these items online I will buy nothing because I’m not willing to pay hundreds of Euros for postage, receiving damaged items in the end. This event is called Record Store Day for a reason and not Mail Order Day.
Something else to consider is the amount of disposable income that will be floating around in four months’ time. It’s not just the future of record shops that’s currently a concern, the people who spend money in them are facing financial uncertainty too.
And a lot of people will also have bags of wedge that they have accumulated because every where is closed,a night out in Glasgow will cost you about a ton, and your lucky if you get change out of£50 two people in pizza hut,!cant do that theas days so money stays in bank,,,not that I’ll be wasting it on overpriced, unlimited edition records, don’t theas things suspiciously turn up a few months later in hmv a lot cheaper anyway?
Why not just set up a pre-order online organized to your local record store. You buy it from RSD website and pick up at your local store. there is a maximum any store can sell. No lines, no overstock to weigh down your local retailer. Pricing does not go sky high, This could all be done proper and it would be a way to support your local record store. Standing in line getting covid 19 for a David Bowie record is for the stone age. Keep this kind of garbage going and there will be no record store to sell the damn things.
Spot on.
Bit of a joke this one and utter fail from an RSD perspective – But ridiculous in the current climate – So now to avoid one day of excessive socially distant queues there will be three!! You cannot make this up
I hate record store day with a passion because the few times I went early to my local shop I couldn’t get what I wanted. No sales for them, disappointment for me.
Why not do a digital record store day. All local record stores I know have websites so I don’t see a reason why not. Order what you want in advance, make sure enough records are pressed, and ship them to customers.
Although i share some of the sentiments expressed here, i think selling the RSD items online defeats the purpose of RSD. It is supposed to support the brick and mortar indie record stores. For these stores RSD has been a life saver. I think a lot of the suggestions on here don’t take that into account.
So if I’m Bricks and Mortar store and sell a £20 RSD release online, how is that supporting me any less than selling a £20 RSD release in-store? This is a reasonable one-off solution for 2020 and hopefully next year things can go back to normal.
And they will probably get that ten grand,rent freeze,no council tax for a year,no leccy and gas to pay for,
I can c a wee one Man band record shop doing quite nicely thank you out of this virus!
Not sure about that. It’s definitely not easy to survive running a small shop…
We employ one person four days a week have three young people who usually alternate on Saturdays. All are paid above minimum wage. My wife does all the accounts etc and takes nothing out of the business. When you take into account the hours I put in at home outside the shop’s usual business hours I’m on less than minimum wage. And now we’re closed for the duration of the lockdown. “Micely thank you from this virus”? I think not!
I agree with you, Marcel. The whole reasoning behind RSD is to benefit the independent bricks-and-mortar stores, to remind people they exist and drive traffic through their doors. This is a site for collectors, so I guess that’s going to be the bias, but it’s not Record Collectors Day!
I agree that the RSD content has got less interesting in the past few years, but the basic premise remains – record stores need support, especially as more and more sales go online.
My local record store doesn’t have a proper website, so that’s not really an option. I also know from talking to the owner (who has run the shop for 40 years!) that RSD brings in more than a month’s takings in one weekend – including a significant proportion of non-RSD stock! I can therefore see the benefit to him of spreading the RSD releases and exclusives out over three separate weekends.
Sorry not seen the actual RSD communication yet and sorry to point out the obvious but RSD started to get people to actually go to independent record shops and buy vinyl. So you can see the dilemma of how to sort this to everyone’s satisfaction (i.e. they probably can’t) The records are printed but the problem is stores have to pay upfront as some have already pointed out. How do you do that after having no income for months? I believe that there will be an online element to each date (rather than the usual wait) not seen the detail of that yet. This was probably the best solution with all available information out there as a window of opportunity was opening up for stores (U.S. led I would think) . I suspect at least one of the dates will fall and companies will go the online route via individual stores or directly at that point.
As the records have to be bought up front by the record shops – and not sale on return – the financial risk each year to the smaller record shops can be considerable. But this year with several months being closed how many shops will have spare cash up front to entice people back onto shops, when many people would still question if its safe to do so. Or how many shops will still be in existence by August.
What???? 3 seperate Saturdays in Aug, Sept and Oct. Absolutely ridiculous. Why not just online ffs? So instead of just one visit you got to go 3 different times with social distancing . Same people will go every one more than likely, so you have to go through the stressful process ( as it is in previous years ) 3 times over in this one !!! Fuming and i will not go and buy online instead ..They cocked up bad with this. No Wimbeldon., Eurovusion etc . We will survive without RSD. Still buy from independent retailers online so this whole ridiculous botched up plan leaves a very unpleasant taste in my mouth.
Why not put online as there is no certainty of any of the three dates being able to go ahead. My thought would be let the shops have their allocations as they would have had on the special day so they would still have their sales without losing out but the product is despatched from a centre that can handle the volume and payments with the sales then sent to the stores. Saves on 3 if lucky visits and stores keep their sales.
I have to rely on eBay anyway to get the interesting titles as each year NONE of the 4 stores in my region ever get the rarer releases.
I was looking forward to the day in june but completely lost interest now as it’s basically a way to get us all to go hunt for a few releases on 3 more days. Pass.
Not a solution at all. Hypothetically fans will now have to wait on line overnight three nights instead of one. Most people won’t do that.
My recommendation is that those who attend RSD#1 get a non transferable online code for access to RSD#2 and 3 through their retailer of choice.
I really don’t want to wait on line three times less than six feet distances.
One related comment and a terrible sad news: Amoeba is closing down their Hollywood store in Los Angeles…deemed as the biggest record store in the world and certainly one of the most amazing with more than a million references and some great gigs by famous artists. One positive note: owners might re-open a store close by, to be followed !
They are moving, the only change is that they won’t reopen the old store as it makes more sense to use this time and energy for the move. Like all businesses, nothing is guaranteed but that’s the plan
I imagine that these proposals will change between now and then due to the unpredictable nature of Covid-19. I fear permanent closure of many of our independent record shops who have spent so long getting themselves established.
My opinion–let the stores sell all of the available titles on-line in June (since they are already pressed and waiting), pour the extras into ‘Black Friday’ sales-both in store if is safe enough by November-doubtful-or online.
It may be that many of the stores are no longer with us-even in June-depending on lease agreements, etc..
It could be the end of a once fun record collecting event-like so many more important things-never to return again. Covid 19, coupled with the distribution collapse, as well as projected acetate shortages for BF and subsequent vinyl editions..
It devalues the event really. If it’s supposed to be a once a year special, then keep it special. It just seems greedy and inconsiderate given the circumstances. I would be interested in knowing what record owners thought.
Selling the titles online wouldn’t work,at least as far as designed to support the stores. I live close to 7 different stores, none of them have an online store set up for sales.
First off let’s see how many indipendent record shops will be able to go back in business after lockdowns. Here in Italy little shops of whatever sort are going to be decimated after two and a half months of lockdown, which could be even longer considering the uncertainty that rules. Can’t speak for other countries though, different policies might determine different situations.
skid row “slave to the grind” red vinyl was the only thing I wanted from RSD2020……
…..and despite asking a few “local” stores if they were gonna be stocking it (before covid arrived) I received not a single reply whatsoever. Not a sausage.
So, evidence gleaned here is that Record Store staff are unable to use a PC/MAC/etc., so online sales would be impossible.
Do not travel.
Do not make unnecessary journeys.
…er…..but…..please buy your records from the rekahstaw in person, though.
Online sales please. It is the only way.
RSD retailer code means shops are banned from reserving items or telling you if they’re getting them in.
They replied to a couple of tweets I sent – apparently a lot of stores are struggling and thus unable to afford to buy a lot of stock in, which is one reason they are putting it back. But when I asked what would happen if the stores had no money down the line or if the lockdown was still in place and they basically floundered in a slightly rude way (I’m sure they’ve had lots of questions). So while I’m sure they have thought about why they’re doing it, I’m still not convinced that going ahead with specific dates rather than just scrapping the day and allowing stores online sales wasn’t chosen.
Those stores not able to sell online – and there are a number – could be given an account with the official RSD website and sell their stock through their, as a way to clear that issue.
I tend to agree with many on here – the best way forward for 2020 is to permit RSD-participating indie stores have their stocks, allow them all to put them online at the same date and time, and just let people buy online. It’s by no means the most joyous approach – I genuinely enjoy bantering with like minded people in the queue, and that angle will be missing if we did that. But for safety’s sake, this may need to be the way to do it. Three lots of queuing (if your wish list ends up happening to be split over all three dates) might put people off, I fear. I’d probably rationalise my wants list down a bit in that case, so as to just go to stores once or twice, and if lots of people did that, that may not help retailers No, do it now/soon (before lots of labels and /or artists start breaking ranks and selling their product direct instead), get the support to the local record stores quickly, limit things to one per customer, and hope for the fuller experience to return in 2021.
The queues in normal RSDs can snake up the street and get in the way of other shops. If lots of shops will need social distancing queuing when the high street re-opens, then where are all these multiple queues going to be on the pavement? It’s easy for a supermarket with a big car park but a regular street with multiple shops is going to have major problems.
I agree that individual shops should be allowed to sell the RSD releases online, as soon as possible. For the first time, there are a couple of RSD releases I hope to get – the Bowie CDs – and given the trouble I’m having getting the CD of ‘Is It Any Wonder’ online from DavidBowie.com I’d rather have the chance of ordering the RSD Bowies from my local, Some Great Reward, in Glasgow.
Given the possibility of a second wave of the virus it’s pointless to schedule any RSDs in 2020.
Make the product available to retail shops so they can sell it to their customers on-line or via telephone, and regroup for 2021.
As a non-vinyl purchaser .. wot’s in it for me to visit the local record store anyway? Stay safe people and order online …
Paul, while I love what Record Store Day stands for, I think it’s clear 2020 has been cancelled in many respects. As an exception, these releases should just be put online and be done with it, as you said, by the time the 3x dates finish, it’s then time for RSD Black Friday, and 5 months later it’ll be RSD 2021.
If the stock is ready, there’s no incentive for the labels to hold this back, just get it out there online. Also, standing in a big queue once a month for 3 months is a bit much.
This new ‘RSD 2020 for 3 Days’ idea just seems to favour the retailers and not the music buyers attending. 3 times the travel expense to maybe not get what you went for and 3 days takes the shine of it being a ‘special day’ too, just like ‘why have a black Friday’ event in November when we have RSD! Why not have the releases as Indie or online Shop Exclusives instead (which could be sold online and in stores when the lockdown is lifted) or even let the artists sell the releases themselves from their own website stores. Most of these releases for RSD 2020 will already be made, they are stuck in storage somewhere! Another idea is give certain online retailers (SDE SHop, Banquet records, HMV, What Records, Udiscover, Norman Records etc) the exclusive sales of certain items. I know some will end up on ebay afterwards but that’s the nature of ebay it has it’s good and bad reasons for existing. There’s other ideas they could have come up with, this is not the best option IMO.
Absolute joke. There’s absolutely nothing to suggest record shops will be open in August, or that the numbers won’t be worsening as winter sets in by late October. All Record Store Day organisers seem to be interested in these days is promoting Record Store Day.
Ok, as we all know RSD cannot continue this year in it’s current format. Plan B was to move the date to june 20th. That now doesn’t work. Plan C, split it over three dates. Why. Putting the event on line would seem the safest way, as a one off. But how?Some of the smaller shops don’t do online retail. Some of their websites are not equipped for the sheer volume of traffic & would overload their servers as they are not set up for that much traffic. I have tried Rough trade/Banquet online and had stuff in my basket, only to be told it had gone because I had the audacity to search for another item before i came to pay for them.
These records are by their very nature in small quantities (ltd runs), with the idea of encouraging people to get to an independent store & feel the experience, of mingling with like minded souls when purchasing a physical product, supporting the smaller stores. That has gone. So split over Three days. That is three journeys for some people, as the items they want won’t all be released at once. And no, you can’t just release more. That’s not the point. This is not the right solution at all.
Help is needed now and in 4 months time I fear too many great independent record stores will have closed never to re-open. We have moved so many aspects of our life online (except recorded music of course, which still remains on a 12″ disc), why not RSD?
So now we are potentially faced with THREE days of queuing.}
Jeez.
Totally agree with the majority of repsonses on here – put it online. That said, will we then be faced with site crashes, payment made then advised out of stock, percentage of ebay flippers will raise, worldwide buyers (I have nothing against before you start), postage rates, crushed product if not pakcaged well… I think there are pros and cons to this whole day whatever is decided, but 3 (4) days is definitely overkill.
I note that Soft Cell pulled their RSD item Mutant Moments from RSD and are selling it direct from their web store. Same with The Grid item. They sent round an email about this on Tuesday. I would have thought that model plys allowing stores to sell online would be the way forward for the time being, if only to help the shops.
the Soft cell and The grid releases
are the first to start the soft cell 2020 Remaster/definitive releases campaign
dave ball book in june
album remasters in september
2-cd with pre-phonogram records
Cruelty Without Beauty on vinyl for the first time
This is not a good idea. My local indie shop has been doing “Curbside service.” Call or text, let him know what you want. He calls when it’s in, and you pay over the phone. Next you rive over (in your mask), he shows up in gloves and mask and hands you your record. No problem.
BUT, his business is down, the record stores need an event now, not in the future when we have no idea what Covid-19 holds. Do it online, let the record stores take pre-orders, but 4 RSD’s in row is quite silly (and quite honestly, do the companies really want to hold onto stock for 4 separate months?
Call it for the year, ship the stuff out and regroup for next year.
I am most always (not this time) excited for a reason to go to the record store. This sounds like a stressful way to inject new releases. I will still go and try to get the issues I want, but I have to say I am not a fan of this approach as it seems ill advised. As in, the people that conjured this up are not people that actually buy music.
Just in time for Coronavirus – the backlash…. or Coronavirus 2 – the sequel.
There are two different discussions here. The ongoing relevance of RSD. Whether it has served it’s purpose or mutated into something unhealthy. But also the argument for and against continuing the lockdown and the continuing politicization of a virus.
I love it when I am wrong, I am married, I live for that kind of thing, there’s nothing happier than a wife who has proven herself to be right, by-the-by, I have a feeling that coronavirus is not going to go away so easy and this race to be the first out of lockdown will come to bite us on the behind. The modern equivalent of the flat-earthers and stupidly religious or religiously stupid “folks” who think that getting on your knees will defeat a microbial killer. Personal faith is one thing but putting others at risk to prove an unprovable point is another. Just cancel RSD, do it online and save what is savable, leave it to 2021 if we haven’t messed it up even more by then. A white vinyl limited edition isn’t worth risking lives for.
Sorry we are going to have to live with it
As many other less developed countries
Have to live with very serious life threatening diseases
Unless of course you fancy staying indoors for a couple of years until a vaccine is developed ( by the way flu is a virus no cure for that after how many years? )
Common cold is a type of coronavirus too, apparently . Again, no cure
You do know there’s a flu vaccine? Not a universal one, and not perfect, due to the rapid mutation of the viruses, but it does exist: I get called in for my jab every year (I really felt the impact the year I missed it).
The 1918-20 Spanish Flu and 2009 Swine Flu were variants of H1N1 – H1N1 vaccine is now in the seasonal flu jab (I believe) but you can’t protect/vaccinate against novel forms of these strains.
I think the common cold is a Rhinovirus – and, while annoying, is rarely fatal.
Enough of the arguing about vaccines please. Not what people come to SDE for.
If you don’t like, don’t publish. Simple.
Publishing comments from a position of power/authority solely to publicly criticise is a form of passive-aggressive virtue-signalling bullying.
I’m telling you what is acceptable and asking you to work within those limits. You wrote that comment presumably because you WANTED it to be published, so please don’t resort to the whole ‘passive agressive virtue signalling’ nonsense when your comments are criticised. This site is about physical music. I would have though it was obvious that rants/arguments about Vaccines are inappropriate, but apparently not!! So I had to remind you and my comment also serves to remind others.
Chris, I’m religious but I don’t consider myself stupid; and nor should you, seeing as you’ve never even met me. Stay safe.
That’s excellent Tim, if you read the pertinent bit of my post again, you might realise I wasn’t calling you or the millions of sane religious people stupid. In fact I would argue that in that section I wasn’t calling any specific people “stupid” in the sense of unintelligent. In any walk of life you will find the fringes who are not only a danger to themselves but, even worse, A danger to other people. That’s who that was aimed at. A lot of clever people can act quite stupid without being actually stupid. I will now, religiously, avoid any more comment for fear of annoying the editor.
RSD is meant to support local record stores. Under the current conditions, they need help asap. Don’t delay. Let the record stores sell direct to consumers on-line to help out the record stores. And not in 4 months!!! Or over 4 months!! Now.
If things ever get back to (semi) normal, then go back to the old model. But the stores need help now, and the only way is to allow them to sell on-line (unless you want to take the chance of killing off your customers!).
Wake up.
Sorry, 3 days of getting up at stupid o’clock, probably queuing half way up the country due to Covid-19, and eventually getting to the counter of the purchase you want to buy, is sold out or even didn’t have it in stock.
I say do it on line this year easier for most buyers and safest at this current climate. RSD is stuffed this year, who knows ,it’ll probably go on and on. Sensible thing is on line. Also if people cannot get on line, ask their friends to look up for them..!
Personally I really feel for both the organisers and the independent record shops. I will happily support the local record stores if I have the money. It’s tough to try and plan for a future that no one can confidently predict. I just hope the record stores survive.
should of allowed shops to sell on line ( as a one off this year as stock is already )to keep things going for them.
Not a fan of RSD anymore and making it a three day event I couldn’t take that much time off work to stand around and not get anything etc.
Maybe a idea was something U2 did with one of there releases, you had a month to order your record ( purple vinyl one time pressing)and it came out three months later,
You could do the same with your local record store and see what you get yes there will be ltd Editions etc but if demand was high it could be possible to press more etc
I think for this year, it maybe best just to knock it on the head, and instead allow all the Independents to put pre-orders up for all the allocated stock -or you know, possibly produce more copies so that everybody can benefit from it, just not the eBay flippers -you can gauge numbers by pre-orders and produce more if necessary, and then all the Independents will benefit from it now, rather than months down the line where some may no longer exist!
I’ve always gone to get into the queue early at my local and managed to get what i would’ve liked to get, but in the current situation, hundreds of people congregating for hours on end, then sardine themselves into small shops, on three separate occasions in the current climate (i doubt this will sit all that much better a few months down the line) doesn’t seem like common sense to me.
Exactly – pre-orders for loyal customers. I buy a lot on RSD, and the thought of going three times in these scary days – well not for me.
This is an absolutely terrible idea.
With the current situation, there is no way they can keep the events safe. Queues for the three days will potentially be ridiculous, given the likelihood of the advice that will continue for most of 2020 regarding social distancing.
The best way to do RSD 2020 is to send the stock to the stores and let them sell them ONLINE ONLY. One copy per customer. They still get the sales but the organisers aren’t encouraging people to risk theirs and others health with a, quite frankly, completely irresponsible idea.
Record Store day has become a joke anyway. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the releases and chatting with those genuine people lining up at the stores I and they ALREADY VISIT ANYWAY. But it’s now nothing more than a profiteering exercise for many in the queue who haven’t come to genuinely buy, just sell online. Every item is listed on eBay before the majority in the queue have even set foot in the store that morning. That’s not what the purpose in the day was but has unfortunately become.
Kevin, everything you’ve said is 100% accurate. I’m with you. Let the stores sell this stuff now (since the event was supposed to be last weekend) and let them stay solvent until regular foot traffic can resume.
Totally agree with this.
The original RSD was pretty lame anyway.Maybe they could ADD some more compelling titles this time around
Totally agree, Thomas. The list for this year was the worst, most drab and unexciting RSD list since it began.
I agree. I think there will be excess copies of most titles from this year floating about for a long time. Obviously your Bowies etc will do OK, but most, nah.
I’ll be getting it all online. I rarely queue anyway. And now I can’t see that ever happening with the distancing, as most have pointed out.
I just want my Cure! LOL
Like a vaccine?
Be careful you don’t end up with placebo instead
What is the actual point of RSD now. It’s been pointless for a while now for a lot of reasons.
I buy a lot of vinyl but hardly ever set foot in a record store.
Am I a bad person?
This week I have bought vinyl online from stores in Texas, Germany, Canada, England and Chicago.
Why would I want to queue up at stupid o clock. Why do they even want people to do this?
I don’t get why supporting vinyl (For that is 99.9% of RSD releases) etc has to be done in store.
In what way does it benefit my local store if I buy in store from them or online from them.
I’m out.
It’s not the format the day is meant to be supporting but the emporium for selling it: Record STORE Day. This is why it’s always been strange to all but exclude CD (the format which still sells best).
Let’s call it very-inconvenient-middle-man day, and just cancel it. Time for new ways to distribute physical product!
Cue the whinging men-children over at Steve Hoffman in 3…2…1…
Just put the whole event online. And not just this year.
RSD has been awash in ebay flippers for years. Asking people to get in line on 3 separate occasions (4 if you count Black Friday) is pretty ridiculous – because if you’re a collector, you’re going to want at least one thing from each staggered release date. I love going to record stores, but my patience for RSD is slim, so going to 3 or 4 shops 4 separate times over the course of this year does nothing for me. Which makes me think even the most diehard collector will throw their hands up in disgust, leaving the stock for said ebay flippers.
I’m with the people here who believe the stores should be allowed to sell it online now – this, I think, actually benefits the collectors. The flippers probably haven’t thought much about it since the rescheduled date was announced, so they would be less likely to start an online hunt for RSD titles (at least, that’s my hope). Plus, it would give stores some much needed cash right now.
An on line RSD is the only solution. That’s the only responsible thing to do and the only guarantee that it won’t be rescheduled again. Probably the only way to guarantee a full turnout too.
The concept of RSD , queues around the block is a non starter.
If for example at Piccadilly Records in Manchester everyone was 6 feet apart the queue would end at Old Trafford.
As someone who loves vinyl and RSD but hates queuing with a passion , maybe this is the time to end it.
I just want to hear the Bowie ‘lost’ concert… whatever way get it to me asap – none of us are getting any younger. I’m very happy to buy from independent shops online or in person BUT just make sure I can get it rather some online profiteer.
Well, talk about diluting what is a great annual event!
I did wonder, with COVID still raging, whether the date would be pushed back again.
Splitting the event into 3 and still retaining ‘Black Friday’ is ridiculous. A lot of collectors get up in the middle of the night, with some travelling many miles to queue outside their chosen store.
I don’t know why they didn’t decide to combine the November event with RSD and re-schedule in October.
Now, I hope some records are released early as I don’t particularly want to get up extra early to attend all 3 events!
Instead, I will likely consider attending 1 of the 3 events (probably the 1st event) dependent upon the schedule of release, and order other releases direct from the store or through e-bay.
Can someone explain to me how it’s ok to queue
For 30 mins outside a supermarket, then walk around inside for another 30mins in the present “crisis” but you can’t do the same with a lot less people to buy records . While I appreciate they are not necessities
a little more imagination from the powers that be are necessary or there won’t be a high st or record shops when this ends .
I would assume that supermarkets are your local supermarket. Whereas record stores and especially RSD, folk travel miles to attend , this is deemed non essential travel.
A. Food is a necessity, records are not (yes, I know, they nourish the soul and all but….)
B. Supermarkets are large with wide aisles, and those like my local maintain a one-in one-out system to keep people widely spaced; every record shop there is (or has been) in my local area are very small and very tight for the customers before you even pack RSD customers in sardine-like.
C. Who are the ‘powers that be’ – they’re independent stores with no ‘powers that be’.
D. There probably won’t be much of a high street when this ends.
E. Why “crisis”? That implies you don’t think there’s problem: there is – it is a crisis.
Terrible idea, for so many reasons.
As others have suggested, I would make it an online-only event this year.
If they did do this, I imagine some of our favourite record shops might need to boost their server capacity in order to cope with the increase in web traffic (unless there was a way to drip feed releases out over a number of days/weeks).
I just want ChangesNowBowie and I’ll be satisfied.
Im happy to support record stores in any way possible, surely an online solution would have been advisable this year
So that’s three date I have to queue up from 4am now…..not feeling that much
If they sell them online now at indie shops only then maybe some of these shops will stay afloat until rsd 2021
100% this.
And once again: it is all about the money! Just release if you want, like DeWolff did in The Netherlands, or don’t release it all, but stop this ‘you are getting something special if you get up early and pay for an overpriced vinyl item’.
First RSD releases are too expensive. Secondly they are seen as limited and therefore rare releases but after a few months most of them show up on Discogs at much lower prices (beside a few exceptions).
Thirdly although the objective is to promote local independent record stores which is of course a great idea, these record stores have to stock way too many releases and end up with dead stock they’re selling at half price a few months later. So not great for them in terms of cashflow.
I would rather much prefer a smaller selection of items but on a more regular basis, eg selection of the week, still primarily sold in record stores and later online if still available.
Well, there wasn’t much that I wanted this year anyway. One of them was the Soft Cell one, which as luck would have it has now been made available … and purchased :)
And I didn’t have to get up at stupid o’clock in order to get it.
As already mentioned, what a load of absolute nonsense. I’ve only ever participated once in a RSD event, and even that was a huge letdown. Never bought anything, couldn’t justify the rip off prices that year (and every year for that matter). No interest to me whatsoever, there are other things to think about this year. RSD is well past it’s sell by date, just cancel it altogether and get the stock out there. And anyway, I usually get anything I see far cheaper 6 months or a year down the line.
What a load of nonsense. What are they going to do if people still can’t get into record shops? Delay it again until we run into RSD 2021? They should just accept that this year’s event has been truly stuffed and sell them all online in June. Under this plan some of these items will be so old their sleeves will have begun to show sign of yellowing through age by the time they go on sale. What is their problem? All the items have been manufactured and sitting in warehouses. Get them out there to give hard pressed record shops the chance to sell them online and keep their businesses going.
I agree Alan!
No dont think people will be willing to get out of bed early and queuing for 3 days also what about people who have to work on a Saturday that cant get there ?
Yes, I am still working and get 1
Saturday in 4 off.
I always book the April Saturday as holiday.
This is really difficult now!
The Grid, Soft Cell and Killing Joke RSD releases are already for sale online direct from the labels.
It’s great to support record stores across the world. I don’t live near any record shops that do RSD sadly but I’ve not been a fan of it for a long time, ever since the time Paul Weller pulled out of it because of people selling the exclusive items online for so much. I am rather cynical so more record store days I don’t think is a good thing for the consumer but is only really good for the labels. Having spoken to a few indie store owners, none of them take part due to prices, demand etc.
If labels want to support record stores, stop pushing streaming as much.
I couldn’t agree with you more. This whole “limited edition” thing does nothing for sales of physical product, because, once the thing goes out of print or out of circulation, almost no one is going to pay robber baron prices for the “privilege” of owning that cherished item. Cancel this Record Store Day thing and sell online so that anyone could get the item!
ah… c’mon Kev, those of us who don’t reside in larger metropolitan areas… well… we just don’t deserve to have access to such audio goodness.