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Record Store Day all day, everyday

For fans of any form of popular media, the 21st century is an ideal place to be. From streaming music services, to movies and shows on demand, to even ordering your pizza online and tracking where your driver is, the modern age is truly an amazing time to be alive.

This sentiment may not ring as true for local business owners or the entertainers who bring us our easily streamed content, specifically musicians; they don’t have the luxury of making millions at the box office when they release an album. However, there is a sort of holiday created to celebrate both the business owner and the musician, and that beautiful day is Record Store Day (RSD).

It was created back in 2007 to help celebrate independently owned record stores on the third Saturday in April. Record stores across the country participate, selling special edition records and generally having some sort of sale to encourage patrons to stop in.

Many bands have done their part to help support this day by pressing special edition vinyls, whether those are picture disks or vinyl pressed with a color other than the classic black.

Vinyl records aren’t the only item to be had on this day, though. Many shops have special in-store performances from artists who may in turn be selling an RSD exclusive something. For example, Fifth Element in Minneapolis always has an RSD party of sorts, with crazy sales, performances and limited edition merchandise like shirts, collectibles and screen prints.

The interesting part of RSD is why we need a holiday to support these shops and bands. It’s no secret that music streaming sites give the artists a very small amount of money per song played, and other services like Tidal are just too expensive for those who are broke but still want to indulge in the vast array of music at their fingertips.

Keeping that in mind, we should want to support our favorite musicians so that they don’t up and stop recording new albums. That doesn’t have to equate buying their entire anthology of music, but rather a record or a CD (or even a tape, those are coming back) here or there.

For those of you who like music, which I would argue is the overwhelming majority, going to a record store can be a Zen-like experience. You’re surrounded by the sounds that influenced your favorite artists, and your new favorite band that you’ve never even heard of is likely somewhere in the rows of music just waiting to be discovered.

Streaming services are great for hearing about a group. But to really give back to your favorites and the community you’re living in, think of every day as RSD and find an excuse to show your support.

So, girl put your records on and venture into your community to find your local record store.

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