Record Store Day Names Kate Bush 2024 Ambassador

Legendary British pop star Kate Bush has been named as an ambassador for Record Store Day on April 20 this year.

Bush was quoted by the BBC saying that it was "a great privilege" to support the initiative, which champions independent record shops and vinyl collectors across the UK. She also said that a significant number of artists were also excited about the increasing number of people rediscovering vinyl recordings.

"Isn't it great to see how the resurgence in vinyl has taken the music industry by surprise?" she said in a statement. "It had decided to leave vinyl far behind, but it would seem that not everyone agrees! I love that!"

Bush also reflected on the appeal of vinyl records and the listening experience they fostered.

"In the same way that some people like to read a book on Kindle but also want to have a book as a physical object, a lot of people like vinyl and streaming," she added.

"An album on vinyl is a beautiful thing, given a strong identity by its large-scale artwork. There's a much more personal connection with the artist and their work."

Paramore was also named ambassador for Record Store Day earlier this month.

(Photo: Chas Sime/Central Press/Getty Images)

Bush to Release Limited Edition of 'Eat The Music'

This year's Record Store Day would see hundreds of limited edition, one-off albums and singles released, with titles by David Bowie, The 1975, Olivia Rodrigo, Notorious BIG, The Beatles, De La Soul, and Gorillaz amongst the most sought-after items.

As ambassador, Bush would help promote the event, which meant long lines of record collectors, as well as in-store performances and other special events.

She would also be releasing a special 10-inch vinyl of her song "Eat the Music" from her 1993 album "Red Shoes." Initially intended as the album's lead single, it was scrapped in favor of the more radio-centric "Rubberband Girl."

The Record Store Day release features the original artwork printed directly onto the disc instead of on the record sleeve itself.

"The title, Eat the Music, is meant to be a playful nod to 'If music be the food of love, play on,' from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night," she said.

Bush was pushed to recent prominence after her song "Running Up That Hill" was used in the fourth season of the Netflix series "Stranger Things."

This year's edition of Record Store Day arrives as sales of vinyl hit a 33-year high in the UK. Sales rose by 11.7% to 5.9 million units in 2023, increasing for the 16th year in a row, according to data from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

To date, Taylor Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version) was the best-selling LP, followed by Rolling Stones' Hackney Diamonds.

Record Store Day is supported by the BBC radio station BBC 6 Music.