Record Store Day and the Vinyl Fever: A Tour of Some of the Most Iconic Record Stores in Madrid
Vinyl records are back in the mainstream of music consumption. Vinyl records have a unique sound that is difficult to replicate, they allow for a more immersive experience as listeners can feel the vibrations of the needle and speakers with their fingertips. What is the History of Record Store Day?
This is how it was born
Record Store Day was born in 2007 in the USA with the intention of spreading this musical culture that brings together great vinyl collectors. Independent record stores, fans and enthusiasts decided to turn any day into a day to celebrate the culture and art of vinyl. The first celebration of Record Store Day was held in 2008 on April 19, from then on the favorite and chosen day for the celebration of Record Store Day is April 23. Record Store Day brings together several artists and record labels that point their releases to this day, so that you have the exclusive in your favorite vinyl record store. In addition, to celebrate the unique culture of independent record stores and their important role in their communities as meeting places and sources of music.
Record Store Day in Spain: Madrid and Barcelona
Record Store Day is a special day for all music lovers. It is celebrated on the third Saturday of April every year. In Spain, this event has been celebrated since 2012. There are many celebrations planned for this year, but let's focus on two: Madrid and Barcelona. In Madrid we are going to celebrate Spanish Record Store Day at La Boite on April 22nd. On this special day, you will be able to find a wide selection of rare and sought-after vinyl and CDs from independent labels from all over Spain. There will also be the chance to win prizes such as magazine subscriptions and the opportunity to meet some of the artists. In Barcelona you can enjoy Record Store Day at El Txacoli on April 23rd.
This year El Txacoli will offer many special offers and discounts on records, CDs and other products. You can find the full list of events in Spain at this link: https://recordstoreday.com/
Record Store Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, including Argentina (2011), France (2010), Mexico and Canada (2008), Brazil (2010), Poland (2008) and Hungary (2014).
Vinyl record sales have grown exponentially. According to research data published by the Statista platform, from 2013 to 2021, vinyl record lovers and collectors have not given up on expanding their personal collection of LP records. The study confirms that, despite the pandemic, the music industry continues to bet on vinyl records and that this growing trend has been experienced, with around 1.6 million units sold in 2021.
Pandemic and Music
For 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, Discogs - a famous marketplace that connects sellers and buyers of vinyl records around the world - updated its much-acclaimed collection of new releases for that year, mentioning that toilet paper was not the only thing that was treasured then, offering us impressive data on the growth in terms of vinyl record sales. Discogs data confirms that the LP - Long Play - format has become a treasure, being the best-selling physical music format. Some of the best releases in 2020, according to said platform, have been those of Tom Petty, The White Stripes and Joy Division, these being the records that make up the three most collected LPs of 2020. The increase in vinyl record sales for 2020 was 40% compared to 2019 and has every intention of continuing to grow. 
The coronavirus has been one of the factors that has affected Record Store Day since 2019. Many record stores have told us that the health emergency situation has led to the day being planned differently, to the cancellation of events, exhibitions, live music, and to limited capacity. Therefore, this year is the year of Record Store Day, as it is being held again in spring and stores can afford to serve all their customers without the inconveniences related to the coronavirus. Remember, in any case, to maintain the security measures required by each store and enjoy the event to the fullest.
Record Store Day 2022 News
Finding the releases that are only available on Record Store Day will be easier if you use this guide to get an idea of the stores you'll be visiting and the special features each one offers. We recommend that in addition to following this list of the 15 best vinyl record stores in Madrid, you go through your record collection, look for and write down the ones you want to buy and even try to reserve one directly from your favorite vinyl record store. Many record labels join forces with independent vinyl record stores to release their new treasures. Record Store Day is a great time to take advantage and acquire that piece you've been looking for and thus increase your collection, get that vinyl record you've wanted so much and discover corners you hadn't thought of. It doesn't matter if they are second-hand vinyl records or if you're looking for a new one. These 15 vinyl record stores in Madrid offer you this and more.
15 Years of Musical Culture, 15 Vinyl Record Stores in Madrid
With the intention of celebrating music culture and growing the love for vinyl records, we take advantage of the fact that you have come this far and invite you to visit the most emblematic vinyl record stores in the city. There you will be able to find exclusive editions and unique spaces that make Record Store Day a day that should be celebrated every day, because these emblematic stores have everything, all year round and exclusively for you.
These are some of the best record stores in Madrid
#1 WRITING DISCS
Since 1977, they have been at the forefront of large vinyl record collections. Classics and new releases, both national and international, become the charm of this independent store located at Calle de las Navas de Tolosa, 4, Madrid. As true vinyl record enthusiasts, they confirm that they have made a large order with outstanding editions, among which you can find greats such as The Cure, of which about 15 copies will arrive, Stiff Little Fingers, The Meters, among others. Special and collector's editions that also include legendary independent labels that we invite you to discover directly in the store. We look forward to your feedback! > Follow them on Instagram!
#2 NAKASHA DISCS
Iconic store, iconic records. Located at C. Andres Mellano, 24. It is the reference store and many collectors consider it the “LP Paradise”. Nakasha Discos has hundreds of units from each record label and it is said that it is where the most acclaimed musical references are found. Its strong point?: the fan phenomenon. Records by Madonna and other legends that you may have searched for without success, you will surely find here. Of course, it is important to get up early because on Record Store Day 2021, collectors got up early and waited outside from 6 am until the store opened. This year they have strategic plans for you to take home many vinyl records and the best service: every 20 minutes the availability of the records in the store is updated and they take it outside so that you know at all times if your next treasure is still waiting for you. > Follow them on Instagram!
#3 MARILIANS RECORDS
Here you have everything you need if you are going to choose that pair of records that will help you fill the drawer for vinyl records in which you keep your treasures; and if the store also invites you to a coffee, you will have everything! The music and coffee experience will make your visit to the store a mandatory stop on this Saturday of musical celebration. Located on Noviciado Street, 9, Local 7, it is the ideal place to find all the references of Record Store Day. The store opens at 10 in the morning and throughout the week they have been filled with new releases, record signings and exclusive orders with the intention of meeting your expectations. The store will be open non-stop until 9 pm. > Follow them on Instagram!
#4 THE JUKEBOX
A must-visit shop if you're a vinyl record lover or if you're thinking of starting your collection. For lifelong lovers or newcomers to the LP culture, in this shop located at Calle del Postigo de San Martín, 4, in Madrid, you can find not only vinyl records, but also posters, cassettes and new musical trends. For this Record Store Day they have catalogued a series of exclusive records that promise to make you fall in love from the first moment. Get ready to want to take the entire store home. > Follow them on Facebook!
#5 UNDER THE VOLCANO
This store and bookstore specializing in music has that special energy that celebrates Record Store Day, the classic energy of independent record stores, the ones that have been around forever, those that reinvent themselves and bring new releases that match the color of an era marked by good classics. BajoelVolcán has narrative books, comics, poetry and essays, all specialized in music. And what you want most when you enter the store is to have your house full of shelves and wall mounts for vinyl records like the ones they have there. The important thing, in addition to visiting this store and wanting to have your vinyl records on display, is that you will take home an item that has been carefully and exhaustively selected by its owner. They choose the best so that you have the best. Whether it is new or second-hand vinyl records, anything goes if it makes your record collection grow and makes your heart beat. BajoelVolcán is located in Lavapiés, right on Calle del Ave María, 42, Madrid. > Follow them on Instagram!
#6 KILLER'S DISCS
You fall in love with a record, they get it for you. At Killer´s Discos they are at your complete disposal and they treat you as if you were part of the family. What stands out most in the store is the attention of the staff and their “competitive prices”, according to many customers and we did the homework, we confirm it. Located at C. de la Montera, 28. Killer´s Discos defines itself as one of the first collectible stores in Madrid. They started their journey as a vinyl record store 35 years ago, and what better than a Record Store Day to visit them. They have thousands of references and have a wide range of styles and formats. Don't miss them! > Follow them on Facebook!
#7 ROCK & ROLL CIRCUS
Or the vinyl museum, as its customers commonly call it; it has been open since the 50s and started as a record store specializing in rock, although it has ventured into the LP world with other styles such as Jazz and Ska, but the love for Rock&Roll leads them to have rare records, selected especially for collectors of this genre and items that are not focused solely on official discographies. In this store, located at Calle de las Conchas, 4, you can find new and second-hand records, and for this Record Store Day they have asked for exclusives that promise to make it difficult for you to choose just one record. > Follow them on Facebook!
#8 BERWICK STREET SHOP
Variety is the spice of life, as the saying goes. Berwick Street Shop offers more than just an exclusive selection of vinyl records, it offers colorful sensations, EP's, singles and "everything that is hard to find." They bring you an endless number of collections and for Record Store Day they have made a wide selection of records that you will want to get your hands on. We recommend you stop by and discover the new releases. This store usually holds presentations, recitals and exhibitions throughout the year. They are very active in promoting events and concerts that are worth scheduling. You just have to visit them and discover a whole world. They are located at C. De la Puebla, 5, Madrid. > Follow them on Instagram!
#9 BABEL DISCS
If it's first editions you're talking about, in this store located at Costanilla De los Ángeles, 5, Madrid, you can find new and second-hand vinyl records carefully selected for you. It's one of the stores selected by the public to lose yourself in its musical offering. From hard rock to progressive and from jazz to the fan genre, the range of exclusives that you'll find in this store for Record Store Day is huge. Discos Babel takes care of the product and offers an infinite number of classics that exceed expectations. Don't worry, you have all day to enjoy this store and discover what they have requested exclusively to celebrate this day. > Follow them on Facebook!
#10 MOLAR
Independent, friendly and a “place of discovery”, as its owners say. A record store and bookstore opened in 2012, it offers a cultural alternative so wide and at the same time so precise that it will make you feel at home. In addition to offering a great selection of vinyl records, you can discover books, mugs, t-shirts that easily become a great alternative to give as a gift or to treat yourself. Molar is located in the La Latina neighborhood, at C. de la Ruda, 19, in Madrid. > Follow them on Instagram!
#11 THE MACHINE GUN
With 50 years of physical store, Record Store Day has to be celebrated with them. La Metralleta is located on Calle Postigo de San Martín, 1 in the Galería Comercial Parking de Las Descalzas, and is one of the first second-hand record stores in Madrid. They started from scratch with a stand in El Rastro at the end of the 60s until they opened this store in Las Descalzas in 1985. They know their product so well that in the end you will leave the store with new things that you didn't even know about, they serve you with wisdom. Stop by and find out how much they can recommend you. > Follow them on Facebook!
#12 DELIA RECORDS
Recording studio, record store, merchandising and everything related to music. It is an all-in-one paradise that offers you the best musical experience. Focused mainly on vinyl, Delia Records is a store with national power. On their website they host information about future events in Madrid and in their store the exclusivity of their label comes to the fore. For this Record Store Day they will have their “Delia Record Store Night”. Starting at 10 pm in the Rock Palace concert hall you can enjoy a lot of live rock and punk with them. For more information , visit the store at Calle de las Delicias, 25 or directly on their website. Join the club! > Follow them on Facebook!
#13 THE INTEGRAL
It's such a striking record store that you'll want to have it all at home. You can find the number of original and unimaginable items there. They are located on Calle León 35, Madrid. And as for new releases, they don't wait for Record Store Day to get the best. It's also a phenomenal gift shop, because of its originality and its charming space, even the filmmaker Isabel Coixet stopped by. Hurry up and walk straight to this charming musical corner. > Follow them on Instagram!
#14 LIQUIDATOR MUSIC
This store is located on Calle de las Dos Hermanas 22 and since they started in the vinyl record business they have sought to reach a community of music lovers and their physical LP format. Record Store Day is coming to this vinyl record store in Madrid with a different proposal. For the date they will have a large number of highly exclusive copies, but they also have books, fanzines and magazines that will make you start collecting more. And the prices… you'll see. > Follow them on Facebook!
#15 THE BLACK ONE
Specializing in Punk Hardcore and other “noisy genres” which makes them a cult store, but which also leads them to understand your needs, that’s why they keep genres such as reggae, blues, soul, among others, on their shelves. They are also a record label, so you will surely find their own productions and curiosities that you can only discover by visiting the store. La Negra is located on Eugenio Salazar Street, 9. Don’t miss them. > Follow them on Instagram!
Passion or Posturing for Vinyl Records
Currently, Spain has a 40% share of vinyl record sales. The vinyl format had its heyday in the 70s and early 80s. Back then, it was about collectors who were passionate about music. Nowadays, there is more talk of “posturing” and the purchase of vinyl records in the current technological world in which we live, more for fashion and decoration than for passion. Despite the boom in vinyl records, online music continues to grow and it is believed that, rather than listening to them, new LP format customers tend to buy more for the cover, for display, than for collecting and enjoying the album; losing the essence of the record itself. It is possible to find different opinions on this matter, but the important thing is to celebrate Record Store Day and its intention in good spirits and with the intention of promoting musical culture wherever it goes.
There are many stores that take part in Record Store Day, if not all, and many fans come to get their much-loved records. Therefore, finding your flagship store can become a joy for life. Record Store Day is the day when all music lovers come together in one place to buy new music, share tastes and experiences and go home with a new set of favorites.