RECORD SHOPS TO STAGE OVER 4,000 GIGS THIS YEAR
In-store and out-store performances now account for one in 40 live gigs in the UK
2 SEPTEMBER 2025, LONDON – Artists and bands will perform more than 4,000 in-store and ‘out-store’ performances this year, as record shops emerge as one of the UK’s most vibrant live music sectors, according to digital entertainment and retail association ERA.
Once a rarity, live performances are now a daily staple for many record shops. ERA estimates that record shops already account for around one in 40 gigs in the UK, and the trend is rising.
The rapid rise in the number of in-store performances reflects the strong resurgence of record shops, with the ERA 2025 yearbook reporting independent shop numbers reaching a ten-year high of 471, while HMV contributed a further 124 across the UK.
ERA CEO Kim Bayley said, “The rise of in-stores and out-stores marks a dramatic shift in the role of record stores in the UK’s broader music ecosystem with record shops increasingly providing access to live music as well as recordings. It’s a win-win for fans, artists and local communities.”
A decade ago, in-store gigs were virtually non-existent, but over the past two years artist and labels have made in-store performances a key part of their album campaigns, with stores responding and appointing dedicated event managers.
Artists currently performing record shop in-store tours include CMAT, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Nova Twins.
Phill Halliday, Managing Director of HMV said: “Since 2022, HMV has hosted over 7,000 grassroots gigs across our stores. We believe in opening our stages to everyone - sometimes it’s as simple as speaking to the store manager and playing on a Saturday afternoon. Alongside this, we’ve also seen huge campaign moments where major artists come in for signings and intimate shows, giving fans a rare chance to meet their heroes up close. From grassroots acts to global names, these performances all play a vital role in today’s music ecosystem - making record shops cultural spaces where fans and artists can connect in ways that just don’t happen at a traditional concert venue.”
Scott Gamble of Crash Records, Leeds, said: “Last year we hosted 103 events, from listening parties, in-store acoustics, and signings to large-scale out-stores with a couple of thousand people in a night. So far this year, we’ve already hosted 54, with over 60 more planned. These events represent a little bottle of magic that only an indie shop can provide. Whether it’s a local artist busking on a Saturday or a touring act performing in a smaller venue than usual, these opportunities wouldn’t exist without shops on the high street. Our events work closely with local communities - from laundrettes and hotels to restaurants and venues.”
Labels confirm the importance of the in-store phenomenon. Tom Newman, Head of Frontline Releases at Cooking Vinyl said, “In-stores and out-stores are a crucial part of our campaigns - we wouldn’t have achieved the chart success we did on Shed Seven, The Darkness, and Deacon Blue without them. Our artists love performing in these intimate settings, and fans relish the chance to see them up close and even meet them. For the most recent Shed Seven campaign alone, in-stores and out-stores drove over 6,000 album sales - the difference between landing a #1 album or not.”
Said ERA CEO Kim Bayley, “In-store performances are no replacement for a gig in a proper live music venue, but they are an important addition to the music landscape, bringing fans closer to artists, helping up-and-coming artists in particular on the next rung of their careers and reinforcing the role of record stores as cultural hubs in their communities.”