COVID-19: Global music community launches campaign to support record stores

The initiative will run under the hashtag #LoveRecordStores and seeks to support independent record stores around the world that are experiencing a drop in sales due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign is aimed at mitigating losses by garnering support and promoting online purchases from the stores.

As part of the campaign, record labels are mobilising artists whom they represent to record messages of support for record stores on social media. Other celebrities, such as actors, are being asked to film short video clips of themselves talking about the significance of record stores in their lives, and to encourage their fans to continue to shop online.

“Independent record stores have played a key role in supporting and developing artists and their music for decades, so now it is time for music companies and the artists they represent to step up and give something back,” Play It Again Sam managing director Jason Rackham, who is leading the campaign, said.

“By speaking directly to their audiences about the importance of record stores and encouraging music fans to continue shopping with them online, artists can play a big part in helping secure the survival of this vital part of our industry.”

Beggars Group founder and chairperson Martin Mills also commented said: “I started life in a record store. Record stores are incubators for great music and for musicians. In these incredible times, they can still serve up what you need so please visit them online, patronise them and help them survive. We’ll need them on the other side.”

The #LoveRecordStores campaign will officially launch at 9am GMT on 26 March.

Meanwhile, in other efforts to support the global music community, several music streaming services are announcing contributions to the MusiCares coronavirus relief fund, according to Digital Music News. The music streaming platforms include Spotify, YouTube Music, TIDAL, Amazon Music, Facebook, SiriusXM and Pandora. Apple Music is the only major music streaming service that is not on the list.