As Tone Deaf reported last month, independent labels aren’t very happy with Record Store Day at the moment. Like a parent looking sternly at a misbehaving child, they’re not angry, they’re just disappointed.
Several labels, including Father/Daughter Records, a San Francisco-based record label who put out their first RSD release last year, have come out saying they will not be participating in this year’s Record Store Day.
They claim that the organisers of the popular worldwide annual event have forgotten their roots and have effectively shut out indie labels, turning the event into a cash-grab opportunity for major labels.
In addition to majors bloating stores with paltry reissues, uninspired 7″ releases, and ultra-rare box sets that are snapped up and sold on eBay for egregious sums, the indies say RSD’s own release policies work against independent labels.
But in a new statement, RSD organisers have delivered a news flash to Father/Daughter Records, Sonic Cathedral, Modern Love, Howling Owl, and other indies critical of the event’s current incarnation: Record Store Day isn’t here to help you.
“Music arouses passions,” write organisers, via Digital Music News. “The music business arouses passions. And when you’re dealing with something as emotive as music, that’s how it should be.”
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“But it does mean that almost any initiative you take in the music business, however benign, will find its detractors. That’s the situation Record Store Day finds itself in this week as UK indie labels Howling Owl and Sonic Cathedral accuse us of ‘betraying’ its purpose.”
“Set aside for the moment the fact that the two labels conveniently raise this to coincide with the release of a single (publicity stunt anyone?), what is really objectionable is the way they have misrepresented one of the most beneficial new music promotions of the past two decades.”
Organisers go on to tout some of the benefits that Record Store Day has provided the music industry, including a rise in the number of independent record stores and spearheading the vinyl revival, as well as engaging a whole new generation in buying music.
“To make it clear, the purpose of Record Store Day is not to promote independent labels,” they state harshly but fairly. “It is to promote independent record shops (the clue is in the name).”
“Of course, because indie record shops disproportionately support independent labels, indie labels are among the biggest winners from RSD.” They add that while the media may focus on big-name acts, “three out of four RSD releases are on indie labels”.
“The number of releases from the majors has remained relatively static in recent years, so the increase in the number of titles – another criticism is that there are too many – has mainly been driven by indie labels.”
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“We don’t blame indie labels – the whole point is to sell records – but we have asked all labels to think harder about quality and this year the number of releases is in fact down by around 10% compared to 2014.”
“Yes, we do suggest a minimum of 500 copies– though we do make exceptions – but with over 220 stores participating and huge public demand, we don’t think a little over two copies per store is too onerous,” they write, addressing logistics criticism.
“Remember too that smaller runs can increase costs, which does not serve fans. The flipside of limited editions of course is the eBay problem.”
“The greater the excess of demand over supply, the more likely it is that someone will really betray the spirit of the day and try and make a quick buck.”
“I could go on. The fact is that everyone involved in Record Store Day is passionate about it. We know it’s not perfect and we know we need more pressing plants. But it’s a hell of a lot better than a world without Record Store Day. Give us a break.”
