National Album Day will return on Saturday 15th October and this year will take as its theme Debut Albums, following themes set in previous years including Women in Music and the 80s.
Now in its 5th year, National Album Day aims to shine a light on the art form of the album, celebrating the creativity and artistry that goes into making an album. The Debut Albums theme will look to showcase a broad range of first album releases across multiple genres and decades – from debut recordings that have gone on to become classics to those that are perhaps only now being fully appreciated or which, years later, merit reappraisal.
National Album Day is presented in association with official audio partner Bowers & Wilkins and official broadcast partner BBC Sounds, and will celebrate the artists behind these significant and influential bodies of work. Artist ambassadors, product and releases, events and other activities will be announced in due course alongside further updates.
Since its launch in 2018, National Album Day has been supported by a diverse range of artists and musicians including Kylie Minogue, Joy Crookes, Sharleen Spiteri, Ray BLK, Lewis Capaldi, Mark Ronson, La Roux, Elbow, Paloma Faith, Blossoms, Alice Cooper, Novelist, Tom Odell, Mahalia, Toyah Willcox and Jazzie B among others.
Typically benefitting from a week-long build up, NAD has hosted a variety of activities including events with album platform Classic Album Sundays, The Record Club, Tape Notes and Tim’s Twitter Listening Party as well as in-store artist appearances, record store promotions, and two Network Rail exhibitions in major cities across the UK.
National Album Day is organised jointly by the BPI – the association of UK independent and major labels (BRIT Awards and Mercury Prize) – and ERA, the digital entertainment and retail association (Record Store Day). The event is supported across broadcast partner the BBC with highlights available to listen to on BBC Sounds, along with the UK’s recorded music community including AIM, PPL and other trade associations, independent and specialist retailers and online and digital/streaming services.
Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI, and Kim Bayley, Chief Executive ERA, the organisations behind National Album Day, said jointly:
“Artists love telling their stories through the artform of the album and fans love to listen, but in a world where there is more streaming of individual songs, we take the appeal of the album format for granted. National Album Day is about celebrating the continuing vitality and cultural relevance of the long player, in particular with the next generation of fans, and we invite everyone who loves the format to join in and enjoy this year’s National Album Day.“
Renowned audio brand, Bowers & Wilkins, continues its support for National Album Day as official audio partner. Built on a passion for music, Bowers & Wilkins has been on an unrelenting pursuit of the highest quality listening experiences for music fans for over 60 years, always delivering sound that remains true to how the artist intended their album to be heard.
Giles Pocock, Vice-President, Brand Marketing, Bowers & Wilkins said:
"The debut album is an important milestone for any artist and remains such a pure form of storytelling. Everything from the track order and artwork, through to the arrangements and choice of recording studio can feel like a big decision. We are pleased to continue our support for National Album Day, helping to celebrate those truly great debut albums that made their own rules and brought something truly unique into the world.”
Keep track of the National Album Day website for more news and how to get involved over the coming months.
