Plus: Market album sales up 26% for the week, physical album sales at indie shops see biggest week in over a year & Billie Eilish’s “Live at Third Male Records” leads Record Shop Day sales parade.
Thanks to Record Store Day 2020’s very first drop on Aug. 29, U.S. vinyl album sales surged to a new weekly high in 2020, as 802,000 copies were offered in the week ending Sept. 3, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. That’s a 63%boost compared to the previous week’s sales.
That 802,000 haul is likewise the largest week for vinyl album sales because the week ending Dec. 26, 2019, when 1.243 million copies were sold.
Even More, the 802,000 sum is the most significant week for vinyl albums beyond the Christmas shopping season given that the week ending April 18, 2019, when 848,000 were sold. That week consisted of Record Store Day 2019 festivities.
Due to complications caused by COVID-19, Record Shop Day 2020– which was slated to take place April 18– was split into three separate drops: Aug. 29, Sept. 26 and Oct.24 In turn, the Record Shop Day-focused releases and special titles that were all due to strike independent and little chain record stores on April 18 were spread throughout the three days, consisting of the two upcoming dates.
The biggest-selling album at indie and little chain record stores in the week ending Sept. 3– as reflected on the weekly Tastemakers albums chart (dated Sept. 12)– was Billie Eilish’s Record Shop Day release Live at Third Male Records, with 13,000 copies sold. The 10- track acoustic album was recorded on Nov. 6, 2019 and was launched solely on blue opaque vinyl.
Eight of the top 10 albums sold at indie and small-chain retailers (see list, listed below) were either launched for Record Store Day or had a new format of versions issued for the vacation. Just Taylor Swift’s Folklore(No. 3 for the week) and Metallica’s S&M 2(No. 4) were not Record Shop Day-focused, though the latter had a color variant special to indie shops for its release on Aug. 28.
Here are some fast facts on Record Store Day 2020’s First Drop and its sales effect, along with the top 10 selling albums of the week at indie and small-chain shops.
All data is for the week ending Sept. 3 in the U.S.
Leading 10 Selling Albums at Indie and Small-Chain Stores– as reflected on the Tastemakers albums chart (dated Sept. 12):
1. Billie Eilish, Live at Third Male Records(13,000 offered by means of indie and small-chain stores)
2. David Bowie, ChangesNowBowie(10,000)
3. Taylor Swift, Folklore(9,000)
4. Metallica, S&M 2(9,000)
5. David Bowie, I’m Only Dancing (The Soul Tour ’74)(9,000)
6. Gorillaz, D-Sides ( 9,000)
7. Gorillaz, G-Sides(9,000)
8. Tyler, The Developer, Firecracker(7,000)
9. The Cure, Bloodflowers(7,000)
10 The Who, Chances & Sods(7,000)
Total album sales throughout all formats (physical – consisting of CD, vinyl, cassette, etc. and digital download): 2.212 million— up 26.1% compared to previous week.
Physical album sales (CD, vinyl, cassette, and so on): 1.561 million— up 33.3% compared to previous week.
CD album sales: 751,000— up 11.7% compared to previous week. That’s the best week for CD album sales since the week ending Aug. 13 (767,000).
Vinyl album sales: 802,000— up 63% compared to previous week. It’s the biggest week for vinyl album sales given that the week ending Dec. 26, 2019 (1. It’s likewise the greatest week for vinyl album sales outside of Christmas season because the week ending April 18, 2019 (848,000), which consisted of Record Shop Day 2019 effect.
Independent store physical album sales: 718,000– up 93% compared to previous week. Greatest week for indie store album sales given that the week ending April 18, 2019 (848,000), showing Record Shop Day 2019 impact.
Independent store CD album sales: 191,000– up 24% compared to previous week. Finest week for indie shop CD album sales because the week ending March 12 (239,000).
Independent shop vinyl album sales: 525,000– up 143% compared to previous week. Biggest week for indie shop vinyl album sales because week ending April 18, 2019 (673,000), showing Recording Store Day 2019 impact.