Official Record Store Chart

{{Short description|UK music chart}}

File:Rough trade4.jpg are one of almost 100 records stores that submit sales details for the Official Record Store Chart.|alt=Colour photograph of the outside of a Rough Trade Records store in London.]]

The Official Record Store Chart is a weekly music chart based on physical sales of albums in almost 100 independent record stores in the United Kingdom, such as Rough Trade, Rounder Records, Jumbo and Sound It Out.{{Cite news|title=New chart for record shop sales|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/new-chart-for-record-shop-sales-7654781.html|newspaper=The Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|issn=0951-9467|oclc=185201487|date=18 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224055027/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/new-chart-for-record-shop-sales-7654781.html|archive-date=24 December 2012|url-status=live|access-date=20 April 2012|df=dmy-all}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17742623|title=Independent record store chart launched in the UK|date=17 April 2012|publisher=BBC News|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425032900/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17742623|archive-date=25 April 2012|url-status=live|access-date=20 April 2012|df=dmy-all}} It is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), and each week's number one is first announced on Friday evenings on the OCC's official website.

The chart's launch was first announced by the OCC on 17 April 2012{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-new-official-record-store-chart-is-go-1345/|title=The new Official Record Store Chart is go!|first=Laura|last=Kreisler|date=17 April 2012|publisher=Official Charts Company|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022163948/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/god-save-the-queen-is-uks-first-official-classical-singles-chart-number-1-1415/|archive-date=22 October 2012|url-status=live|access-date=20 April 2012|df=dmy-all}} – at the time, British record stores were selling 4.5 million albums per year, and were contributing towards 95 per cent of the country's total vinyl sales. However, music downloads held a considerable share of the albums market, leading to a decline in the number of outlets.{{Cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/home/article/16210718|title=New chart for record stores|date=17 April 2012|publisher=Sky News|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711145530/http://news.sky.com/home/article/16210718|archive-date=11 July 2012|url-status=live|access-date=20 April 2012|df=dmy-all}} In promoting the chart, Martin Talbot, managing director of the OCC, remarked that he could see the benefits to both digital and physical album sales, but that there was "nothing nicer than the smell and feel of a nice chunky vinyl".{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/articles/news/official-charts-company-to-begin-official-record-store-chart/|title=Official Charts Company to Begin Official Record Store Chart|first=Sarah|last=Jamieson|date=17 April 2012|publisher=This Is Fake DIY|location=UK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418122608/http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/articles/news/official-charts-company-to-begin-official-record-store-chart/|archive-date=18 April 2012|url-status=live|access-date=20 April 2012|df=dmy-all}}

The Official Record Store Chart was first broadcast by British DJ Steve Lamacq on his eponymous radio programme on BBC 6 Music; the first number one was Boys & Girls, the debut studio album by American band Alabama Shakes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-record-store-chart-top-40-unveiled-1354/|title=Official Record Store Chart Top 40 unveiled!|first=Laura|last=Kreisler|date=20 April 2012|publisher=Official Charts Company|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423041439/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-record-store-chart-top-40-unveiled-1354/|archive-date=23 April 2012|url-status=live|access-date=20 April 2012|df=dmy-all}} Geoff Travis, founder of Rough Trade, the label that distributed Boys & Girls, stated that he was "very proud" that his label had achieved this feat.{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/features/60-seconds-with-geoff-travis-founder-of-rough-trade-records-1353/|title=60 seconds with Geoff Travis – founder of Rough Trade Records|first=Dan|last=Lane|date=20 April 2012|publisher=Official Charts Company|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629044608/http://www.officialcharts.com/features/60-seconds-with-geoff-travis-founder-of-rough-trade-records-1353/|archive-date=29 June 2012|url-status=live|access-date=20 April 2012|df=dmy-all}}

The first Official Record Store Chart was announced on Friday 20 April 2012, five days later than normal, to coincide with the eve of the UK's fourth annual Record Store Day, an international initiative founded to encourage purchases at record shops.{{Cite web|url=http://music.uk.msn.com/news/chart-for-independent-record-sales-1|title=Chart for independent record sales|date=18 April 2012|publisher=MSN Music|location=UK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419044645/http://music.uk.msn.com/news/chart-for-independent-record-sales-1|archive-date=19 April 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=20 April 2012|df=dmy-all}} Talbot explained that the purpose of the chart was to "help spread the Record Store Day word throughout the year".