Record Store Day 2020 Announces Rolling ‘Drop’ Dates to Navigate Pandemic Shutdowns

Record Store Day 2020 has announced it will no longer be taking place on 20 June, but instead, the RSD 2020 releases will be available from independent record shops on three following RSD Drop Dates: Saturday 29 August, Saturday 26 September and Saturday 24 October.

A new version of “The List” with assigned release dates will be launched on 1 June and updates will be found on the official Record Store Day website RSD social media accounts. You can find the participating UK record stores here and US stores here.

Record Store Day 2020- originally scheduled for 18 April -was bound to look and feel different from any of the previous twelve. Prior events have been as much about the gatherings, parties, concerts and “group hang” element of a celebration as the financial bonus for the record shops.

However, due to the unprecedented conditions due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the focus of these three RSD Drop dates is on supporting the stores, as well as the artists, labels, distribution and every other business behind the scenes making record stores work.

Record Store Day organizers have looked at numerous possible dates and various ways to re-work an event that takes place at thousands of record stores around the world, taking into consideration the varying circumstances and situations they and their customers might find themselves in at any point this year.

The organizers say: “This current RSD 2020 plan to spread the spotlight and the support over three months, was made with as much available information as possible, and gives the largest number of stores a chance to participate globally in the strangest Record Store Day ever.

“RSD will be using the guidance of government and scientific experts to ensure these RSD Drop dates are as socially responsible and safe for all involved as possible. Don’t necessarily expect all the normal in-store celebrations and events as these changes have been made to allow customers to get the RSD product safely in a socially distanced world. Our RSD online rules will be adapted in due course in line with retail developments.

“To clarify, this year online rules have changed so that shops in the UK can sell online from 6pm. Selling online is a shop by shop decision and will be dependent on the status of the pandemic at the time of these three dates. This is new to all of us and very new to the shops. They are still figuring how to best make this work in the safest and fairest way. They will communicate how they intend to sell these records closer to the time as this is a fast-moving and ever-changing situation.

“Fingers crossed for the return of the biggest party of the year on the third Saturday of April 2021. RSD Black Friday is still being planned and is scheduled to take place on 27 November.”

Format: UK English