Record Store Day UK Reaches Historic High

Preliminary results from Record Store Day – held on April 12 – confirm that it was the largest and most successful yet in the annual event’s 18 year history.

The number of participating stores increased to 278 reflecting the increasing health of the sector.

Meanwhile the event sparked the highest weekly total vinyl album sales through UK independent record shops since at least 1994.

Kim Bayley, CEO of ERA, the digital entertainment and retail association which organises RSD on behalf of the UK’s indie stores, said, “An initiative designed primarily to support UK indie store culture has become a multi-faceted success, not only delivering on its original objectives, but also giving a boost to the UK’s hard-pressed High Street and generating incremental promotion and revenue for artists and labels.”

Vinyl album sales in indie record shops were up by over 270% on the weekly average so far this year, while overall vinyl sales –including through non-indies - rose by 80% across the UK market. Compared to last year, RSD 2025 saw an 18% uplift in sales, making it the most successful yet.

The indies share of vinyl sales in the week of Record Store Day also increased dramatically. In a typical week indies account for just over a third of vinyl sales (34.6%), but RSD 25 drive that share to more than two-thirds (72.1%), another all-time record.

RSD’s impact was felt in the charts with Oasis’s Time Flies - 1994–2009, an RSD exclusive, hitting No.3 on the Official Albums Chart. Significantly nine of the ten top-selling albums on the day were by UK artists – a notable highlight in an era of global streaming hits.

Darren Draper of Southampton’s Powerhouse Music said,  "Record Store Day totally exceeded all of our expectations. From start to finish the vibe was electric. Being a new store, the event really helped to put us on the map, with new customers on the day already returning. It was an absolute pleasure to be involved and witness people's reactions when they picked up those records they were so excited about.” 

Record Store Day's Cultural Impact Across the UK
Record Store Day continues to play a pivotal cultural role across the UK, with over 70 official events taking place in independent record shops nationwide - including live bands, DJ sets, signings, and exclusive drops. The event's impact also extended to social media, with a notable surge in engagement, particularly among younger and female audiences, which was felt up and down the UK.

Russell Elder of Monorail, Glasgow said, "Record Store Day always feels like celebratory, worthwhile culmination of the work that goes in. We see early birds of all ages and musical backgrounds out for those treasured limited editions of their favourite artists and the excitement is palpable. For people with a special connection with music it's just a brilliant time of year."

RSD is over for 2025, but a continuing flavour of indie record shop culture can be enjoyed in Behind The Counter - the original videos series spotlighting UK independent UK record shops, created by RSD and Classic Album Sundays in association with Bowers & Wilkins, offering a window into the people, passion and stories that make record shops the important cultural hubs they are. This year's 12-part season reached over 5.5 million viewers across platforms, marking a significant milestone in the series' continued growth and impact.