Most of today’s music listeners connect with songs through streaming services. Many people have never stepped foot inside a record store. For those of us who remember what that feels like, it certainly has a special place in our hearts. Even though music streaming is efficient and cost-effective for the consumer, it may never replicate the experience of going to a record store, searching through all of the albums and bringing home your favorite records.
Taylor Swift was the global ambassador for Record Store Day 2022 (April 23). She made a limited release on vinyl in celebration.
Even though there are very few record stores in existence, Record Store Day promotes them and encourages fans to support them. Record Store Day started as a grassroots organization between store owners and employees in order to celebrate what is now considered “unique culture.” Music fans from all over the world participate each year.
Swift’s latest Instagram post states she is “honored to be this year’s Global Ambassador and glad we get to celebrate these sacred and important places now more than ever.”
Her special edition release is a two-sided 7-inch clear vinyl record possessing two versions of her song “The Lakes” from her 2020 album Folklore. Only 10,000 copies have been distributed. It is going to be extremely difficult to get one of these soon and now is definitely the time to buy one. It is interesting that Swift is re-releasing a song from Folklore, the album is one of two that she released during the pandemic. The album is unique, it is unlike anything that Swift has ever released before. It is not country or pop music, it is a folk album with songs that tell great stories. Picking up the limited-edition vinyl along with the album would be a good addition to any Swift fan’s collection.
According to CNN, other artists released special-edition vinyl as well including Madonna, Blondie, Mariah Carey, Childish Gambino, the Foo Fighters and Kacey Musgraves.