TEMPE, Ariz. — If you hadn't heard, there's a new album out today.
Two, actually ... though the second one's not getting quite as much attention.
"The Swifties and the Pearl Jammers will be here," George Miller at Zia Records in Tempe said.
Taylor Swift released the long-awaited Tortured Poets Department on Friday, the same day as Pearl Jam released Dark Matter.
Regardless of your taste, that means a lot of musical attention. You'd be forgiven for thinking this would only mean the Internet would break from streaming music constantly.
Zia Records, a brick-and-mortar with multiple locations, is bracing for huge crowds.
And it's not just for Taylor Swift.
"People start lining up when we close tonight," Miller said.
Because those new releases are just the appetizer. Record Store Day is the entrée.
Record Store Day is an international event designed to bring people back to buying physical music in actual record stores. There are hundreds of artists who release music, especially for the day in different formats.
"My very first record store day, I showed up at 10 and everything I wanted was gone," Miller said.
Because, despite the rise of Spotify, Apple and Amazon Music, record stores are still doing serious business.
"I've recently gotten into it," Bayleigh Bradly said as she flipped through the record stacks. "I actually got my first one last Record Store Day."
Over the last two years, more people bought vinyl records than CDs, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. In 2023, 43 million vinyl records were sold. That's six million more than CDs, the RIAA said. Vinyl record sales have been increasing over the last 17 years.
"There's a lot of younger people who definitely come in," Miller said. "Especially for Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Khan, all the newer artists."
"I like collecting music," Miller said. "Vinyl especially is a lot of fun, I'm so glad it's coming back."
Record Store day begins at 7 a.m. for most stores. For a complete list of stores and music releases, head to the Record Store Day website.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.