The UK’s 300 independent record shops have enjoyed a sales increase to the tune of 44% during the first six months of 2013 when compared to the same period last year.
Ongoing initiatives such as the annual Record Store Day have helped to boost interest in the vinyl format, with traditional outlets directly benefiting from the surge.
“These first-half sales figures reveal a stunning result for indie record shops,” Entertainment Retailers Association chairman Paul Quirk has remarked. “Although the odds are stacked against them, indies have fought back.”
While the Official Charts Company reports a general year-on-year drop in album sales of 1.5%, 12m vinyls were sold in the UK last year – an increase of 40% on 2006 figures.
“With Record Store Day indies have created the first major new UK sales promotion for music in 20 years and as consumers re-waken to the joys of analogue, they have driven the growth of vinyl sales,” Quirk continues. “Although only a tiny part of the music market overall, indie stores are driving some of the most exciting new initiatives in music, as well as continuing to support and help break new talent.”
David Bowie‘s 2013 comeback album ‘The Next Day‘ is currently Britain’s biggest selling LP on the vinyl format this year, with ‘Tomorrow’s Harvest‘ by Boards of Canada in second place.