Vinyl revival boosts region’s record stores

YORKSHIRE is bucking the trend for independent music shop decline according to retailers in the region as they celebrate Record Store Day today.

Nationally, the number of shops has fallen by 6 per cent since last year, according to the Local Data Company.

The rate of closures - from 293 to 274 - is “significantly higher” than that of other independent retailers, with the biggest decline seen in London.

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But owners in Yorkshire say theirs are thriving thanks to the vinyl revival of recent years and the region’s vibrant music scene and student population.

Ian De-Whytell, of Crash Records, Leeds, said: “There has been a huge increase in sales because of the resurgence of vinyl. People are quite happy to pay a little bit more to get a favourite album or reissue on vinyl because people want to play music on turntables again.”

Recent store closures by HMV plus the tax scandal surrounding online retailer Amazon had also driven more customers through the doors of the independents, he said.

Demand has not waned in Sheffield either, with around 400 people expected to queue outside Broomhill shop Record Collector today as they have on previous Record Store Days.

Details of events going on in stores across Yorkshire as part of the celebration, including limited edition vinyl and CD releases and special gigs, can be found at www.recordstoreday.co.uk.