Record Store Day drops

Record Store Day’s April 18 releases are now set, and this year’s drop sends collectors to independent shops for a long list of limited vinyl, CDs and special pressings. (recordstoreday.com) The official U.S. guide says the titles go on sale at participating brick-and-mortar record stores on Saturday, April 18, and stores choose their own orders, so no shop is guaranteed to have every release. Pre-orders are not offered through Record Store Day, and unsold copies may move online through stores starting Sunday, April 19. (recordstoreday.com) Record Store Day sorts the list into three buckets: “Exclusive” titles that stay with indie stores, “RSD First” titles that may reach other retailers later, and “Small Run/Regional” releases pressed in under 1,000 copies or aimed at specific markets. The U.K. site uses the same over-the-counter, first-come model for Saturday, April 18. (recordstoreday.com) (recordstoreday.co.uk) The annual event started with its first edition on April 19, 2008, after independent record-store owners organized it in 2007 to promote shop culture at a time when digital music was dominating listening habits. The group now says nearly 1,400 independently owned stores in the United States and thousands more internationally take part. (recordstoreday.com) That store-first setup lands in a stronger vinyl market than the one Record Store Day was built for. The Recording Industry Association of America said U.S. vinyl revenue topped $1 billion in 2025, up 9.3% from 2024, marking a 19th straight year of growth. (riaa.com) The 2026 list stretches across legacy rock, pop and newer acts, with ABC Audio highlighting releases tied to Sleep Token, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Slipknot, Pavement, Pearl Jam, Robert Plant and Wolf Alice. Record Store Day’s own home page is also promoting a Taylor Swift 7-inch single, “Elizabeth Taylor,” alongside Robert Plant’s “Saving Grace: All That Glitters.” (digital.abcaudio.com) (recordstoreday.com) Music sites are already turning the official catalog into shopping guides. Louder said it picked 164 standout releases from the April 18 list, while TechRadar published a shorter editor’s selection focused on 13 titles, including picks tied to Pavement and Taylor Swift. (loudersound.com) (techradar.com) For buyers, the practical rule is simple: check whether a local shop has the Record Store Day “Pledge Badge,” ask that store what it ordered, and expect lines before doors open on Saturday, April 18. If a wanted title is missing, the official advice is to watch store sites on April 19 rather than pay reseller markups. (recordstoreday.com)