The combination of April 20th’s Record Store Day and the release of Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department meant vinyl sales last week enjoyed their highest weekly total in 30 years, according to analysis by digital entertainment and retail association ERA. 

Data from the Official Charts Company show 269,134 vinyl albums and 37,656 vinyl singles were sold in chart week 17, making a total of 306,791. This is higher than in any week since week five 1994 when current statistics began.

Sales of vinyl copies of The Tortured Poets Department- many of them sold through independent record stores - accounted for just under a quarter (24.7%) of the week’s vinyl album sales.

Meanwhile sales of vinyl albums exclusive to independent record shops as part of Record Store Day accounted for an estimated 37.2% of the vinyl albums market.

Last week’s success for vinyl indicates that the format’s revival shows no sign of waning after 2023 marked its 16^th consecutive year of growth. Four of the Top 10 biggest weeks for vinyl in the past 30 years have come in the past 12 months.

Kim Bayley, CEO of ERA, said it is no coincidence that vinyl should reach another high point in the week of Record Store Day, “Indie record shops were first to realise that the growth of streaming would paradoxically provide an opportunity for the most physical of physical formats,” she said, “and vinyl has sat at the heart of Record Store Day’s celebration of indie record shop culture since 2008.“

She said it was particularly appropriate that it was the combination of RSD and Taylor Swift which helped deliver the week 17.

“Taylor Swift has long been a supporter of indie record stores and served as Record Store Day’s global ambassador in 2022,” she said. “Her support has undoubtedly helped drive even more younger fans to indie record shops, helping sustain the stores which are one of the most vibrant elements of the music ecosystem.”

Highlighting the synergies between Ms Swift, vinyl and indie record shops, Taylor Swift titles led by The Tortured Poets Department account for the three top performing vinyl albums week of release since 1994.

Source: ERA/The Official Charts Company

Earlier this year ERA revealed that the number of independent record stores in the UK had reached a 10 year high of 461.