There’s only a matter of weeks until Record Store Day, the annual celebration of independent music retailers and all things vinyl.
Set for Saturday 19th April, record enthusiasts have already been given the full list of exclusive Record Store Day 2014 releases to drool over – featuring Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana, David Bowie, Jay Z, Public Enemy, and Aussies Cut Copy and Tame Impala.
As part of the celebrations, an independent music retailer is offering a very special opportunity: the chance for one lucky Aussie artist to have their very own vinyl pressed and sitting among the shelves with music’s best and brightest records.
The suitably titled ‘Get Pressed‘ promotion is the initiative of TITLE, touted as Australia’s largest independent music chain with multiple stores in Melbourne, New South Wales, Brisbane, and Adelaide, and is open to all independent bands and artist. The winner will have their music pressed onto a 7” vinyl EP – two tracks a side with full colour artwork – with 100 copies going to the ‘Get Pressed’ conquerer with additional copies to be sold throughout TITLE stores nationally.
As well as the honour of having their tunes immortalised in wax, the winning band will also score a $549 Rega RP1-branded turntable to spin their winning release on and a write-up on The Music. …the chance for one lucky Aussie artist to have their very own vinyl pressed and sitting among the shelves with music’s best and brightest records.
“At the heart of Record Store Day are independent music retailers,” says TITLE CEO Steve Kulak of the ‘Get Pressed’ comp. “So as Australia’s largest independent music retailer, we think it’s the perfect time to go a step further and promote local independent musicians – those who are at the heart of the quality releases which fill our stores,” he says.
On Saturday 19th April, TITLE stores across Australia will have extended trading hours, offering the tasty selection of limited edition releases. Mr Kulak adds that Record Store Day isn’t just about the exclusives that are on sale.
“Record Store Day is fast becoming TITLE’s biggest trading day outside of Christmas. To us this indicates a prevailing interest by music-lovers (both young and old) for buying music from the traditional retailer; the thrill of discovery that comes from interacting with a physical release and the theatre of retail while mixing with other customers in store. Vinyl is definitely the format leading the way for us.”
“There is, I think, also a beautiful irony with this opportunity: the prevailing format of vinyl, which had all but gone extinct with the digital age, is now being used to showcase young and talented artists of the future.”
Indeed, while Aussie music sales suffered its worst dip ever in 2013, the vinyl resurgence continues to boom, up 77% from 2012. That was helped in large part by the success of last year’s Record Store Day, breaking previously held records in one-week record sales in some territories, bringing a much-needed boost to independent music retailers.
As with previous years, Tone Deaf will provide a one-stop guide to the many special events, gigs, discounts, and more that’ll be happening in indie record stores around Australia – including TITLE. Watch this space.
For more information and to enter the ‘Get Pressed’ competition head to http://titlespace.com/getpressed/
