Record Store Day 2020 will be delayed due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Due to take place on April 18, organisers will stage the annual record shop celebration on June 20.

"We are sad to announce that, following a decision made by the organisers of Record Store Day, the event will be postponed to June 20," they explained in a statement.

"This decision comes at a time of unprecedented uncertainty and the health and safety of the general public must come first. This was absolutely not an easy decision to make as hundreds of independent shops and labels have been working hard towards this year’s celebrations."

In the meantime, RSD has urged consumers to support their local record shops as far as possible. 

"Given the challenges now facing the independent record store community we urge music fans to continue to support their local record shop in whichever way they can to see us through what is about to become a very challenging time," they noted. 

Record Store Day has been a key factor in the revival of the UK's independent record shops. For most outlets, it is their busiest retail day of the entire year. It has also become a vital source of income for independent labels, many of whom plan special releases around the day. Moving the event back two months is likely to have a major impact on both sectors.

The 2020 event has already had to deal with dropping its UK ambassador, Slowthai, after his controversial behaviour at the 2020 NME Awards.

Rates relief for smaller record shops was announced as part of the Covid-19 measures in the recent budget, although ERA have called for these measures to be extended to bigger stores too.

* To read our 2019 interview with Record Store Day UK coordinator Megan Page, click here. To subscribe to Music Week and never miss a vital music biz story click here.

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