Record Store Day, to its credit, seems to be firmly established as an annual event. Originally held in 2007, this year’s installment is this Saturday, April 16.
On the positive side of the ledger, RSD provides a formal opportunity to celebrate independent record stores, recognize the resurgence of vinyl and reward devoted collectors who have contributed to both.
Regrettably, RSD has also quickly become a shameless opportunity to exploit those who the day/event is meant to reward.
Record labels release records in such limited quantities so as to create scarcity and, consequently, encourage scalpers and unscrupulous collectors alike to scoop up what they can and re-sell to sadly desperate collectors at inflated prices.
Although it would be easy to blame the majors for these problems the indies are culpable, too. Many of the indie labels artificially limit releases and availability to record stores. Secretly Canadian, for instance, has made it nearly impossible for Canadian record stores (funny that!) to obtain their RSD releases through normal distribution channels.
To be sure, I’ve attended RSD events here in Toronto for the last few years and I’ll likely do so again this year, too. This year, however, with the aforementioned problems in mind, consider me nonplussed.
I agree. It’s disconcerting to say the least, to find a piece you really wanted to get a hold of in such limited quantities (i.e. only 2 per store) that by the time you attempt to get it, it’s already in the hands of two others. Then to get home and see that those same pieces are already up for sale on Ebay for exorbitant amounts of money. BS!
I know you’re pretty good friends with the guys from Criminal Records. Any inside scoop if they’re going to do a midnight opening for RSD like they did last year?
Hey Jeff,
I expect them to do the midnight thing again this year but don’t have any confirmation. They usually post details on their Twitter/Facebook.