I was very enthusiastic about Record Store Day when it first started getting off the ground back in the late 00s. Amazon was sweeping all before, independent record stores faced complete obliteration and it was a worthy exercise to show those that were hanging on some love and support. One of my most enjoyable Record Store Day experiences back then was a on a weekend trip to Antwerp, wandering from store to store, catching a variety of live bands playing instore and coming home on the Eurostar with an armful of CDs, both new and second-hand.
These days, however, Record Store Day has become so synonymous with the vinyl revival craze and all the attendant limited edition vinyl releases that go with it that it just doesn’t speak to me at all. As a dedicated CD collector, I don’t bear it any ill-will and I am very happy for stores to cater for their vinyl market in this way, and for the artists and record companies that supply them. But it’s not my day.
I am a dedicated fan of the CD format and will remain so – and remember there were still 16 million of them sold in the UK last year, bringing in revenue of £115 million. Yes, CD sales are declining but they are far from disappearing and – nor will they!
As this article makes clear CDs are still a great format for musicians:
Why do musicians hate streaming?
– Streaming services reduce sound quality
– Musicians make significantly less money from digital sales and streaming
– This combination of reduced audio quality and income undermine the musician’s work
https://www.blankmediaprinting.com/blog-article/why-cds-are-still-best-platform-musicians
Easy to produce and cheap to mail out and easy to sell at gigs (unlike lugging huge crates of clunky vinyl around) CDs provide a decent revenue stream for musicians on a quality format for fans.
That is why I now think we need an annual day to celebrate the CD each year, and those who sell them – whether that’s record stores, independent online retailers and the artists themselves. I don’t begrudge vinyl fans their day. There’s loads of cultural events that completely pass me by – from Eurovision to football to royal weddings. And Record Store Day is one of those. Great for those who it means something to but it’s no longer my day.
So let’s have an international Day of the CD each year. Who’s up for it?
Related articles:
The changing demographics behind charity shop CDs
In praise of the CD: Seven reasons why CDs are my favourite music format ever
Darren's music blog 
I wrote about this a couple of years ago. Record Store Day should encompass more than just LPs. That or they should have a “CD Appreciation Day” to counter the RSD madness.
They took LPs away once…why would I want to go back to a lesser form of recording?
EB
https://earlburton.com/2021/06/08/why-record-store-day-means-nothing-to-me-2/
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I think it’s just wrapped up in the vinyl revival now that there needs to be a dedicated day – that makes celebrates the format regardless of whether it’s being sold by independent stores or sold by independent online retailers.
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One vote against.
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I’ve absolutely nothing against it whatsoever but it just doesn’t speak to me and I do think we need a dedicated day that celebrates the durability of another format…
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As a close-minded bigot Darren I hear your utterly reasonable and carefully made point and go Nah-nah-nah-nah VINYL FOR EVER!!!
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Hahahaha – but do you really want us weirdos cluttering up the shops on Record Store Day?
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Props to you man! I grew up with CDs and I’ve always preferred them to vinyls because they’re easier to collect and I can play them in a CD player without scratching the discs. I’m not against vinyl people, but I agree that CDs deserve a special day just for them, since vinyl seems to get most of the love these days.
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Yes I think the role would be different than RSD – about celebrating the format not just the physical shops. They are great for independent artists to sell their music and actually make a little.
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That’s true cause as you pointed out, CDs are easier to sell and produce.
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