Record Store Day detail logistics for visiting stores ahead of first "drop" date this month

This year's Record Store Day will see the exclusive releases split across three dates in August, September and October due to the coronavirus pandemic, after organisers had to postpone their original 18 April event.

Earlier today (10 August), Record Store Day released details on how the participating record stores will operate on the first of three "drop" dates, which takes place on 29 August.

The August date will include releases from Charli XCX, David Bowie, The Cure, Odd Future, Robyn, Slowdive, Supergrass, Tyler, The Creator, J Hus, Gorillaz, Glass Animals, and many others.

Music fans have been encouraged by Record Store Day organisers to use the store locator from 14 August to find information on how local stores will open and operate with social distancing measures on 29 August.

Live performances and in-store parties won't be taking place this year, and participating record shops will enforce social distancing in queues, as well as allowing customers to book shopping slots one week ahead of the drop date on a first come, first served basis.

For this year only, Record Store Day will also relax online sales, which means the remaining releases on the drop dates will be made available via the participating store's website, or over the phone from 6pm BST on the drop dates.

Brighton's Resident Music owner Natasha Youngs says, "We may not be partying this year but we're still determined to make sure we celebrate the artists and labels that have made special releases available for our event. Getting them into the hands of the fans safely and sensibly is our top priority this year. We will be operating a socially distanced queue and will be serving from 8am. With the releases being made available online at 6pm the same evening, customers who would rather not visit the shop in person can choose to order them online in the evening instead. They can then collect their records from the shop at a later date or have them posted to their door. We'll focus on being able to organise another exciting event next year when things can hopefully return a little more to normal."

Over 230 UK independent record shops were unsure of their futures following the postponement of the original Record Store Day event, but many believe the first RSD 2020 drop date will provide a boost in sales to help get back on track.