Vinyl Sales Up During Record Store Day 2013

Independent record stores enjoyed another successful Record Store Day this year. The annual event, which was celebrated worldwide April 20, showed that music fans will still come out of the house to buy offerings from their favorite artists.

Vinyl records have been a big reason why local record shops have been able to survive against big box stores, and more importantly their digital counterparts. According to USA Today, album sales were 3% higher at local stores the week of Record Store Day versus the same week last year. Vinyl enjoyed the highest week of sales this RSD, selling 200,000 units compared to 147,000 in 2012.

Sales of vinyl LP discs have grown for five years straight, rising 17.7% last year. Indie stores experienced a 59% increase in sales over the week prior to Record Store Day. That's the biggest jump week-over-week since the event kicked off in 2008. The previous biggest increase was 39% in 2011.

Record Store Day promotes independent record shops with exclusive offerings, performances and promotions every third Saturday in April. This year's ambassador was former White Stripes frontman Jack White, who is no stranger to vinyl records.

Did you buy anything during Record Store Day? Tell us in the comments section below.

Follow Dave Kim on Twitter: @davekim83.