THE BLACK FRIDAY FAQ

 

THE BLACK FRIDAY FAQ

Q: Why are the organizers of Record Store Day celebrating Black Friday?

A: In the past Black Friday was an American event celebrated by large corporate retailers as a shopping day that promoted mass produced items at super low prices in hopes of driving customers into their stores. RSD’s Black Friday subverts the model and creates pieces of art in the form of limited special editions, often numbered, from some of the most revered artists of our time. RSD’s version of Black Friday is an excuse to celebrate the specialness of music in our lives by putting out these unique releases. In other words, cheapness is not a main goal. Celebrating art is. 

Q: When is Record Store Day’s Black Friday?

A: This year Black Friday takes place on Friday, November 25th.

Q: Who is on board to celebrate RSD’s Black Friday?

A: This year Black Friday will be celebrated by approximately 900 independently owned record stores/shops in the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Holland and the UK.

Q: Is Black Friday really Record Store Day II?

A: No. The special releases for Record Store Day are made to be sold solely at independently owned record stores on the day that Record Store Day takes place (the third Saturday of every April) whereas Black Friday releases are made for the holiday season. This means stores will launch the special releases on Black Friday but may choose to carry them beyond Black Friday (as supplies last). 

These independently owned record stores/shops will also choose whether or not they want to sell their Black Friday releases on their websites to draw attention to the fact that many of them offer an excellent customer service option for those who wish to support independently owned record stores via internet purchases during the holiday season and beyond.

Q: Can fans of Record Store Day expect a similar number of special/unique releases made for Black Friday as they’ve seen for Record Store Day?

A: Record Store Day will only be releasing about 10% of the number of releases for Black Friday as compared to Record Store Day itself. For example, there were approximately 300 unique releases made for Record Store Day this year. For Black Friday there will be about 35. By design, Record Store Day is not attempting to create the massive music celebration of Record Store Day. Rather, we are reminding music fans about the gift of music at the kick off of the holiday season. We will call it a victory if less cheap toasters and socks are given as gifts and more awesome music by some of the greatest artists of our time exchange hands.

Q: How can music fans find a local store who is celebrating Black Friday?

A: Music fans can go to HYPERLINK "http://www.recordstoreday.com"www.recordstoreday.com and click the link for participating stores (both in the U.S.A., Canada, and in Europe).

Q: Will every store listed on the website participate in Black Friday?

A: By definition these stores are independent. This means they will choose whether they wish to participate. Generally speaking, a lot of them will.

Q: Will the participating stores carry all of Record Store Day’s Black Friday releases?

A: Some will but selection will vary from store to store, depending on what they think their customers will want.

Q: Where can music fans get a complete list of Record Store Day’s Black Friday releases?

A: On October 20th a complete list of Black Friday releases will go up on HYPERLINK "http://www.recordstoreday.com"www.recordstoreday.com, complete with track listing and artwork for fans to view.