Record Store Day – Apr. 17, 2027

Expected Record Store Day Deals

While official 2027 promotions are still under wraps, Record Store Day reliably brings a wave of exclusive vinyl releases and special deals. Expect indie labels like Sub Pop and Matador Records to drop limited-edition pressings. Major artists often release rare B-sides or live albums. Local record stores, such as Amoeba Music and Rough Trade, will host in-store performances, giveaways, and discounts on used vinyl. Online retailers like Discogs may offer special bundles or free shipping on the day. Even audio equipment brands like Audio-Technica might have turntable sales. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as April 17 approaches.

History of Record Store Day

The practice of recording sounds first saw the light of day in 1877 when Thomas Edison invented the phonograph — and thus began the acoustic era of sound recording. This era saw sound recorders physically etching analogs of sound waves onto a surface. These machines could only record a limited range within the audible sound spectrum. 1925 saw the advent of electrical recording equipment designed by “Western Electric.” A broader range of audible sounds could now be recorded, amplified, filtered, and balanced electronically. This period was referred to as the ‘Electric Era.’

The ‘Magnetic Era’ began in 1945, post the Second World War, when the allied powers were able to get their hands on the German invention of magnetic tape recording. This new technology was slowly adopted and eventually led to the invention of stereo-recording. The multi-track tape recording was eventually made possible. The present era of sound recording — the ‘Digital Era’ — has borne witness to changes and the development of technology at a never-before-seen speed. Sound waves — for the first time ever — were not recorded as analogs of sound, but small, discrete samples of sounds. Sony, in collaboration with Philips, created the very first compact disk (C.D.) to store recorded sound. The C.D. took the recording world by storm till the beginning of the 21st century. The advent of digital audio files, though, has made audio C.Ds virtually obsolete.

Today, people listen to music in a variety of ways. Some traditionalists spend a portion of their time collecting vinyl records and cassettes, while others listen to music and other audio files through music streaming apps like Spotify and Apple Music.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Record Store Day