Vinyl collectors queue as Record Store Day draws crowds to independent music shops

The annual Record Store Day has brought long queues to independent vinyl shops across Denmark, as music enthusiasts line up for exclusive releases only available in physical stores, reports DR.

Shops opened early Saturday to accommodate crowds, with some locations reporting over 60 people waiting an hour before opening. Among the most sought-after releases this year is a limited-edition Taylor Swift single, according to Søren Storm Larsen, owner of Noder.dk in Esbjerg.

“These special editions often come in coloured vinyl or with bonus items like posters,” Larsen said. The event, held since 2008, celebrates independent record stores by offering rare or previously unreleased vinyl pressings.

Alice Fiurst, a seller at MusicDude in Sønderborg, noted the day attracts a diverse crowd: “I see a surprisingly large number of young people, but also collectors in their 80s or kids buying their first record.” She added that the in-person experience—where fans gather for shared excitement—has diminished outside this event.

Globally, artists often participate by visiting stores to meet fans, sign records, or perform. Past editions have featured appearances by Metallica and hundreds of other musicians, per recordstoreday.com.

Fiurst called for more such events: “It would be great to have days where new releases are only sold in physical stores, like in the past when people would meet to buy the latest album together.”