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Behind the Counter returns for a fifth series ahead of Record Store Day 2024

January 26, 2024

Behind The Counter is back, returning for a milestone fifth season on 30th January! 

In case you’re new to the series, Behind The Counter is an annual 12-part video series, celebrating the unique culture, heritage, and individuality of independent record stores across the UK. 

Watch the trailer now:

The series has enjoyed more than 2.5m views over the years, and is an ongoing collaboration between Record Store Day, Classic Album Sundays and Bowers & Wilkins.  


The aim of the series is to take viewers on a tour of the UK’s best-loved independent record shops, showcasing the passion and dedication of owners who are central to their local music scenes. Many independent record stores are the beating heart of their community, creating safe and personal spaces for music lovers to connect and also discover their next favourite artist.  


The series will take you all over the UK, from Edinburgh to Essex, Liverpool to Somerset and everywhere in between! Episodes will be released every Tuesday at 10am on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube in the run up to Record Store Day, 2024 – so mark your calendars! 


In recent years, indie record shops have seen a resurgence as the vinyl revival continues. Many new stores have opened in recent years, with vinyl sales now at a 15-year high. ERA, the digital entertainment & retail association, reported 2023’s year-end market figures, which saw vinyl album sales reach £177m, up 17.8% year on year. CD sales also rose for the first time in two decades, reaching £126m. 

This good news continues for record stores, with music sales overall increasing by 9.6% in 2023 to £2.2bn, marking 11 successive years of growth for the industry.  


Tony Gaughan from Blitzkrieg records said: “One of the best things about being the owner of Blitzkrieg shop, is that every day is like Christmas. You come in, there’s a delivery and you can’t wait to open that box and see what’s inside. The music coming out of the box always excites me”. 

Behind the Counter has visited a whole new range of shops for series five, giving you a taste of the classic indie record shop vibe and their instrumental role bringing music directly to fans. 


From heavy metal culture at Merseyside’s Dark Earth, to Anja Petitto’s non-judgmental space for female customers at Tough Love in Hastings, the series continues to uncover that “personal touch” (Jon Clifford, Dreamhouse Records) behind every door of the UK’s much-loved stores! 


Revered British audio brand Bowers & Wilkins continues its support for the series as the official partner by celebrating the impact high quality sound can have on the experience that vinyl offers. 

This year, the stories from Behind the Counter will feature 12 indie record shops, including: 


Blitzkrieg shop, Glasgow 


Dark Earth, Merseyside 


Defend Vinyl, Liverpool 


Dreamhouse Records, London 


Hey Joe, Essex 


JM Records, Exeter 


Raves From The Grave, Somerset 


Smugglers Records, Deal 


Tangled Parrot, Carmarthen 


Thorne Records, Edinburgh 


Tough Love, Hastings  


Vinyl Van, Dorchester 

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