April 14, 2010

April 17th marks the 3rd annual Record Store Day, a holiday held to celebrate and attract traffic to retail music stores.  And what, you might ask, does Record Store Day mean for you?  For starters, that this Saturday only, participating shops all over the country are offering limited edition vinyl and CD releases from bands like Ani DiFranco, Bruce Springsteen, MGMT and Neko Case, in addition to giving away various promotional products to folks just for stopping in.

Now we know that you love your iPod, Rhapsody and SiriusXM too (it’s all grand!), but why not get out and smell the roses this weekend by walking to a music store?  Perhaps you’re wondering if vinyl could work for you.  Or maybe you want a few new CDs for your car, or music videos for your DVD player.  Whatever the reason, consider stopping by a real record shop this weekend to celebrate music and the local retailers bringing it to you.

Beyond the chance of getting free giveaways (including some free American Apparel tee-shirts we donated) we also hear that  artists across the country (and globe) are planning  special in-store performances.  Bands like Alice in Chains at Gallery of Sound's Mundy Street store in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Drive-By Truckers at Harvest Records in Nashville, TN, Yo La Tengo at Rhino Records in Claremont, CA and plenty more. So get out, and be on the lookout for new music this Saturday at a Record Store near you!

Liz Kennedy, Deputy Director, Communications, RIAA