New York, NY (Top40 Charts) As lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the threat to the future of independent record shops grows, but here's something you can do right now to help.
In anticipation of what would have been Record Store Day 2020 this Saturday 18 April - the biggest day in the indie record shop calendar and sadly postponed due to coronavirus - OfficialCharts.com launches a new interactive map showcasing how to support your local record shop, even when you can't leave the house.
Become a virtual cratedigger, support your local record shop during lockdown:
Indie record stores across the UK are encouraging customers and music fans to become virtual cratediggers by bringing the local record shop experience to them with online shopping and home delivery - and many are offering it for the very first time.
To help you and your readers support your local vinyl emporium, Official Charts have launched the 'Official Indie Record Store Finder' - an interactive map showcasing the 120+ independent music stores across the country that will deliver direct to your door currently.
From Honest Jons and Rough Trade London, to Piccadilly Records Manchester, Spinning Discs Sheffield, and Sound It Out in Stockton-on-Tees, to name just a few of the 120+ shops featured.
Simply search the map by shop name or city/area, click or double tap on mobile, then hit 'SHOP AT THIS STORE'. From online basket transactions, to Facebook orders, or Discogs seller profiles, we've included a range of options currently made available by the stores, just follow the links.
Martin Talbot, chief executive, Official Charts Company comments:
"Indie record shops are the lifeblood of the British music scene and now need our support more than ever. At Official Charts, we have already taken one step in doing this by rolling out a new system in super-quick time to accept sales into the Official Chart from many independent stores' new home delivery services. And the new 'Official Indie Record Store Finder' goes one step further by helping music fans track down their nearest retailer - and bring their favourite store to their door."
Need some inspo? - Best sellers and new releases:
While several acts have pushed back their upcoming albums, most are still available to pre-order on both CD and vinyl (the latter often in several variants).
Some popular and/or anticipated releases include: The Strokes' The New Abnormal (out now), Gerry Cinnamon's The Bonny (April 17) a 2020 remaster of Marillion's 1983 debut
Script For A Jester's Tear (April 17), and Lucinda Williams' Good Souls Better Angels (April 24).
Boost your vinyl collection with the best-selling vinyl release of the year so far - Tame Impala's The Slow Rush - or the biggest new homegrown vinyl album of 2020 - The Courteeners' More. Again. Forever, or the best seller on wax of the past week - The Lovely Eggs' I Am Moron.
This month indie record shop customers have been snapping up the catalogue of the late Kenny Rogers, with several of the country icon's hits collections appearing in the Official Record Store Chart, as has
Pearl Jam's latest album Gigaton and the critically-acclaimed Viscerals from Geordie rockers Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, the best seller in independent stores of the past week.
You can find out the UK's best-selling albums bought in independent record shops each and every week on the Official Record Store Chart Top 40, or the most popular vinyl on the Official Vinyl Chart, both published Fridays at 5.45pm.
"Fill The Gap" in your collection on Saturday 18th April
On what should have been Record Store Day 2020, Record Store Day UK are encouraging record lovers all over the country to show their support for their local record stores this Saturday, by pledging to buy the one record that's truly missing from their collection and "Filling the Gap". Fans are encouraged to share their pledged album on social media in the run up to the 18th April by using #RSDFillTheGap and tagging their local record store.
A campaign called #loverecordstores - backed by record labels, artists, actors and celebrities - was also launched last month, encouraging the music-buying public to support their local record store however they can.
