Record Store Day 2026
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This episode of All of It celebrates the 2026 Record Store Day, spotlighting the record industry's resurgence with vinyl sales hitting a record $1 billion in 2025—surpassing CDs for the first time in over 30 years. Host Alison Stewart interviews Carrie Culleton, co-founder of Record Store Day, who traces the event’s origins to 2008 as a response to the decline of major chains like Tower Records. Culleton emphasizes vinyl’s cultural and emotional value: it offers a tangible, intentional experience that counters digital saturation, fosters community, and connects listeners to artists and each other through physical artifacts. The episode features heartfelt listener calls from record store owners, collectors, and fans, highlighting how stores have become vital 'third places'—spaces for connection, discovery, and intergenerational sharing. Younger generations are embracing analog formats not just for nostalgia, but as a way to engage meaningfully with music. The episode closes with a preview of new Record Store Day releases from artists like Ziggy Marley and Brian Adams, and a celebration of Bruno Mars as this year’s ambassador, releasing his first compilation of collaborations.
Vinyl sales surpassed $1 billion in 2025, outpacing CDs for the first time in decades.
Record Store Day serves as both a celebration and lifeline for independent record stores, which act as community 'third places'.
Younger generations are rediscovering vinyl, CDs, and cassettes—not just for sound, but for tactile, intentional music experiences.
Record stores are thriving by fostering connection, hosting listening parties, and passing down stories through collectible records.
Preparation is key: fans should plan routes, check the official RecordStoreDay.com list, and arrive early for limited releases.
Vinyl’s Record-Breaking Year and Record Store Day 2026
“In recent years, vinyl has outsold CDs, the first time that's happened in more than three decades.”
Why Vinyl Matters: Tangibility, Connection, and Slowing Down
“They don't want everything they love in the arts... to live in the cloud and be kind of not in their control.”
Record Stores as Community Hubs and 'Third Places'
“Record stores are a good third place where you can find your people if your people are a crowd that likes to talk about music and listen to music.”
Listener Stories: From Legacy Stores to New Generations
Callers share personal experiences: Kevin praises stores in Red Bank and Montclair, Declan highlights his sister’s new record label and store in Freehold, and Darren shares how his store, Revilla Grooves & Gear, sees massive returns and young customers.
The Generational Shift: Young People Embracing Analog
“They're seeing a lot more kids, middle school aged, high school aged, coming in to gain experience of listening to things on vinyl cassette and CD as opposed to streaming it.”
“They don't want everything they love in the arts... to live in the cloud and be kind of not in their control.”
“Record stores are a good third place where you can find your people if your people are a crowd that likes to talk about music and listen to music.”
“You can't really take someone's phone and look at their playlists and know that much about them. But if you look through somebody's record collection, you get a good idea of what that person is about.”
Host
Guest
Record Store Day
other
Carrie Culleton
person
Bruno Mars
person
Tower Records
brand
Robert Plant
person
Garbage
other
Princeton Record Exchange
other
Revilla Grooves & Gear
other
Borough Records
other
Needle & Groove Records
other
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