All images courtesy of Michael Kurtz

All images courtesy of Michael Kurtz

In our second round of interviews with Record Store Day co-founder, Michael Kurtz, we go more in-depth about the inner workings of Record Store Day itself. It’s no secret that there’s a resurgence in vinyl and Record Store Day has survived COVID and is alive and well for its 15th anniversary where Michael has a lot in store for us fans and shops alike worldwide. In round two with Michael, we talk about what makes Record Store Day possible every year and some of the inside goings-on that makes RSD, well, Record Store Day.

RSD is a celebration of not only vinyl and music but of community, bringing many shops, customers, and people together at this time of year where people come together in unity for the love of music and vinyl. Record Store Day is truly something that needs to be experienced by everyone, whether you’re a hardcore collector or a casual listener, there will be something for you. So, get out there and support your local shops, discover new music and meet new friends!

Anthony:
Michael, thank you for coming back for a second interview with us. This time around, we want to dig further into the inner workings of Record Store Day. With RSD looming around the corner, how excited are you for this year’s event with it being the 15th anniversary?

Michael:
I’m excited and exhausted. We’re celebrating our 15th Anniversary and launching the RSD book. Taylor Swift is our Ambassador and that brought a whole other level of engagement with the stores, both here in the USA and worldwide. On top of that this year’s list of RSD titles is exceptional. 

Anthony:
RSD has survived COVID. This said, do you feel it was the decision to break up the day into multiple days for the previous two Record Store Days?

Michael:
The RSD Drops were the right move. It kept the music fans coming back during a terrible time. And the labels and stores did well. 

Anthony:
Are there any particular releases this year that you’re excited about personally?

Michael:
The Patti Smith and World Party curated albums are the ones that I feel satisfaction from, as I worked pretty hard on them. Kirk Hammett’s first solo album is exciting, as is the Lou Reed demos album. The Blur Japanese record looks cool. There are so many great unique RSD releases this year.

All images courtesy of Michael Kurtz

Anthony:
Can you take us through the process of deciding what artists and albums get featured in any given RSD?

Michael:
We have a team of about ten record store owners that review and pick the titles. They also determine the quantities. 

Anthony:
Is there a limited amount of stores that can participate?

Michael:
Not really, they just have to meet our criteria for a record store. 

Anthony:
With the massive resurgence in vinyl, as well as record shops popping up, how do you plan on making RSD more widely accessible to these smaller shops?

Michael:
We launched a new initiative this year called RSD Essentials. These are vinyl albums that are made available to record stores throughout the year, and outside of the two yearly RSD events. We also hold monthly zoom calls and invite record store owners to join us and talk about their concerns and issues. It helps them to get up to speed a lot quicker. 

Anthony:
Some records go to different stores, as such not every store has the same stock for RSD exclusives. Is there anything special that goes into what music goes where?

Michael:
Not really, we just work with the distributors to try and get them fairly distributed. 

Anthony:
Again with the vinyl resurgence, very limited space, and delayed pressing times to press records, how far in advance is Record Store Day planned and records pressed?

Michael:
Some records are discussed up to two years in advance.

Anthony:
Not only is RSD a day to celebrate the love of vinyl and get fantastic deals and releases, but you also have other forms of media, mainly The Record Store Day Podcast with Paul Myers. What can you tell us and our readers about this podcast?

Michael:
It’s hosted by musician/author Paul Myers and is available on all streaming platforms. It’s a discussion that includes record store owners and talented people like Giles Martin, Judd Apatow, Fred Armisen, Lucinda Williams, Tori Amos, Bonnie Raitt, Mike Myers, Wet Leg, Valerie June, Yola, and a lot of other great artists.

Image credit: vinylrecords.altervista.org/

Anthony:
Of course, Record Store Day doesn’t only operate in the US, you also have participating shops in the UK, Ireland, Mexico, Europe, Japan, and Australia. What did it take to get RSD overseas?

Michael:
It started with communications via email and then I organized a meeting in London to get RSD organized for Europe in 2009. After that, it spread to every continent except Antarctica, where we do get an annual email from a research team there that celebrates RSD in their tent. 

Anthony:
Michael, thanks again for coming back for another interview with us, what’s next for Record Store Day?

Michael:
We are celebrating our 15th Anniversary and the release of the Record Store Day book at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. Who knows where that will lead. Maybe a short PBS documentary, hosted by Dennis Quaid? [Laughs].

Record Store Day book, out now! Image Credit: Record Store Day Facebook Page

Be sure to check out the full archives of A.M. Radio, by Anthony Montalbano, here: https://vinylwritermusic.wordpress.com/a-m-radio-archives/

Leave a comment

Trending