More varied and more colourful product than ever before - Exclusives tally hits 417 with 2 weeks to go til Record Store Day

Vinyl continues to dominate Releases from Arcade Fire, Bruce Springsteen David Bowie, Kate Bush, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds


11 April 2012: With less than 2 weeks to go to this year's Record Store Day 21 April 2012, the total number of exclusive releases has hit 417 compared with just over 250 last year and just over 150 the year before. Over 230 stores have now signed up for this year's event, nearly 40 more than last year, and taking in every part of the UK.

Established just 5 years ago,  Record Store Day exists to raise awareness of the UK's independent record shops with a raft of exclusive releases which are only available in participating stores on the day itself, together with a range of performances, parties and many other special events.

Among the releases confirmed for this year's event are:

◦Abba
◦Arcade Fire
◦Bruce Springsteen
◦David Bowie
◦Elbow
◦Iggy Pop
◦Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
 ◦Sex Pistols
 ◦The Flaming Lips/Mastadon
 
A full list of exclusives only available from participating stores is available
from www.recordstoreday.co.uk

New genres added to the Exclusives list

The Record Store Day Exclusive list continues to break new ground.  For the first time
this year there are classical releases on the schedule including


• Angela Gheorghiu / Maria Callas -Habanera EP
• Decca Singers - Side 1 Dame Joan Sutherland - Delibes: Viens, Mallika, ... Dôme épais (Flower Duet), Side 2 Kathleen Ferrier - Blow the Wind Southerly
• Decca Instrumentalists - Side 1 Nicola Benedetti - Massenet: Meditation from Thais Side 2 Benjamin Grosvenor - Chopin/ Liszt: The Maiden's Wish, Op.74,No.1 

A number of classical specialists have signed up this year which will take Record Store Day to an even broader consumer base among these stores are Presto Classical, Heffers, Foyles and McAlister Matheson Music.

BBC Breakfast business news will also be coming live from Piccadilly Records in Manchester from 6am on Friday 20th April.

Vinyl continues to dominate

Vinyl formats continue taking dominate the release list.

Of the 417 releases so far 392 of them are on vinyl and just 25 on CD. There is
also 1 on cassette.

ERA Chairman Paul Quirk said, "Many music fans prefer the sound quality of vinyl
over CD. There are also fans who buy vinyl even without a turntable because
they like the artistic tangible quality of a vinyl record"

 
The vinyl releases come in a huge variety of different forms, with coloured vinyl and
picture discs a particular favourite this year.

Said Record Store Day organiser Spencer Hickman "Vinyl allows record labels to use
their full range of creativity to create some fantastic products - there is plenty of life yet in vinyl,"


And with vinyl growing by 44% last year organisers hope that this year's Record
Store Day will continue that trend.


ENDS


For more information contact Kim Bayley on 01202 292063