RECORD STORE DAY April 18, 2009
 

NARM (National Association of Recording Merchandisers) has confirmed it will sponsor Record Store Day, April 18, 2009, for which planning has already begun. The sponsorship of the leading trade association for music retailers, wholesalers, distributors, record labels, multimedia suppliers, suppliers of related products and services, and individual professionals and educators in the music business will help the organizers prepare for the targeted event in April '09 as well as continue to keep promoting Record Store Day and the unique culture of indie record stores all year long, in the media and on www.recordstoreday.com.

"NARM is so pleased to be sponsoring Record Store Day 2009," said President Jim Donio. "The extraordinarily successful debut of Record Store Day in 2008 served to perfectly underscore how vibrant and vital record stores are to communities and economies around the world. NARM hopes that its support will enable organizers to make next year's event an even bigger and better celebration of independent music retailers' passion and commitment to the music that enriches and inspires us all."

Event organizers include the Music Monitor Network, the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), Alliance of Independent Music Stores (AIMS) and Newbury.

Music Monitor prez, Michael Kurtz says, "The Music Monitor Network was happy to see NARM get involved with indie-retail's recent Noise In The Basement Creative Conference in Baltimore and is excited to have NARM's sponsorship of Record Store Day. We look forward to now turning our attention to Record Store Day and working with Jim Donio and his crew on Record Store Day 2009. It will be hard to top last year's event but we are going to put our heart and soul into it."

Don Van Cleave of Coalition of Independent Music Stores adds, "The Coalition of Independent Music Stores is very stoked to include NARM in this year's planning for Record Store Day. While the event is targeted at independent music stores, the good vibes from last year's celebration were felt at all of the music retailers that NARM represents. NARM will help us to spread the message that stores that sell music are a very important part of the culture of music. We are looking forward to their help."

April 2008 marked the first Record Store Day event to great success with over 300 stores participating, not only stateside, but overseas as well. Paul McCartney, Norah Jones, Henry Rollins, Shelby Lynne, Tech N9ne, Raheem DeVaughn and scores of other artists and music industry luminaries all offered votes of confidence to Record Store Day which spiked revenue for indie retailers. In addition, retailers hosted in-store appearances and performances by both top name and local artists, including Metallica, (who started it all with the announcement of the Record Store Day vinyl re-issue of some of their classic albums, along with an in-store signing session), Panic At The Disco, Dresden Dolls, Regina Spektor, Steve Earle, and Billy Bragg.

NARM advances the promotion, marketing, distribution, and sale of music by providing its members with a forum for diverse meeting and networking opportunities, information, and education to support their businesses, as well as advocating for their common interests. NARM's retail members operate thousands of physical, digital and mobile storefronts that account for about 85% of the music sold in the U.S. market. Established in 1958, NARM is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.


Upcoming Events:

Fords, NJ-January 31, 2009 - Record Store Day and Vintage Vinyl bring you Buddy Holly Lives," a live in-store concert event for more info visit www.vvinyl.com

Re: RECORD STORE DAY April 18, 2009
 

The organizers of Record Store Day have been happily overwhelmed by a steady flurry of support and activity from artists, record labels and retailers wishing to participate in the annual event in salutation of the independent music store. This year Record Store Day is set to feature a number of exciting new products made especially for the event from such well-known artists as Radiohead, Wilco, Tom Waits and Lucinda Williams and the Flight of the Conchords, just to name a few.

Wilco plan to release their upcoming DVD as an exclusive release to indie stores and on the band’s website on Record Store Day. The group’s Jeff Tweedy told Billboard Magazine in a recent interview, “Even if I wasn't in a band, I'd still support Record Store Day. It's a great thing and I'm glad we could do something special with them for our DVD."

The Decemberists will release a Record Store Day 7" as well. The band’s Colin Meloy adds, “I don’t know what I would do without indie record stores. Growing up in a town without them, I can tell you that it’s no fun to shop for indie records at chain box stores.”

You can also expect a slew of vinyl releases from Radiohead, My Morning Jacket who will release a CD as well as limited run double 10" vinyl recorded live in Louisville at record store Ear X-tacy.

Also expected are classic split 7” releases from Tom Waits and Lucinda Williams who will issue a double 7” of live tracks from Atlanta and Edinburgh, as well as Sonic Youth exclusive Record Store Day split singles with Beck and Jay Reatard.

Other indie rock elder statesmen the Jesus Lizard will release a special package to include nine 7” singles and Guided By Voices will re-release their Hold On Hope LP, with three bonus tracks.

And in the “legends” category, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen will all release RSD exclusive 7” singles. Def Jam also plans to release a 4 LP gatefold history of the label, the physical version of which will be for indies only.

Fans can expect more unique Record Store Day pieces from a diverse array of artists such as Metric, Slipknot, Jane’s Addiction, The Smiths, the Stooges, MC5, Modest Mouse, Slayer, Rivers Cuomo, the Black Kids, Brandi Carlile, Taking Back Sunday, among many others.

In addition, Coachella, the world-renowned annual music festival set to take place on April 17-19 in Indio, California, has chosen Record Store Day to run the event’s popular on-site record store, with management provided by popular Southwest-based indie retailer, Zia Record Exchange. The on-site Coachella store, previously operated by Virgin, is noted for its high profile foot traffic and good vibe.

Record Store Day, April 18, 2009, coincidentally falls smack in the middle of the dazzling desert-set festival. Promoted by GoldenVoice, Coachella 2009 boasts such an eclectic mix of big name headliners as Paul McCartney, Amy Winehouse, My Bloody Valentine, Public Enemy, TV On The Radio, The Cure, The Hold Steady, Leonard Cohen, Morrissey, Jenny Lewis, Franz Ferdinand as well as many others sure to be stopping by the Record Store Day site to peruse the shelves for records and memorabilia and hang with their fans between sets.

A number of artists performing at this year’s Coachella will release product expressly for Record Store Day. Among them, Mastodon who will release “Crack The Skye” on 180 gram vinyl to include an extra 7" single and lyric sheet, Jenny Lewis will issue a split 7” with none other than Elvis Costello, and Black Keys will release a special RSD split 7” with the Flaming Lips.