Indie stores get an early seasonal boost from Universal Music’s second ‘12 Days Of Christmas’ promotion

20 November 2015 - Press release

Following last year’s successful launch, Universal Music UK have announced their second 12 Days of Christmas campaign to help amongst music fans.
 
12 Days begins with a bang with the Guinness Book of Records number one song of all time – Bohemian Rhapsody. The limited edition 40th anniversary pressing comes with I’m In Love With My Car on the flip side, packaged inside a replica of the original artwork.
 
A new remix of Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson’s Say, Say, Say makes its way on to exclusive and limited transparent vinyl for day two. Other offerings include Status Quo’s Rollin’ Home on a Q-shaped picture disc and 10” Abyssinians EP, featuring four of their most sought-after recordings.
 
Bringing the campaign up to date are two signed versions of The Maccabees’ fourth album Marks To Prove It, one of which is on coloured vinyl, alongside a signed CD version of Gaz Coombes’ Matador, Beck’s Dreams on a blue 12” vinyl and two new tracks on a 12” single from Megadeth’s upcoming album Dystopia, due for release in January.
 
All of the releases are set to become collectors’ pieces as soon as they hit indie shelves. See below for the full list of releases and what makes them special.
 
More than 150 independent High Street music shops across the country are expected to participate in the promotion, which comes at a time of strong sales for vinyl in the UK. The BPI reports the vinyl market is expected to grow another 50% for the year, with LP sales approaching the two million mark for 2015. This figure would be the highest volume total since records began in 1994.
 
Universal Music UK’s dedicated independent stores sales manager Marc Fayd’Herbe works hands on with over 150 stores up and down the UK and leads the 12 Days Of Christmas campaign. He describes all of the releases as genuine one off exclusive editions: “These are limited gems from artists of the calibre of Paul McCartney, Queen, Nine Inch Nails and Status Quo. Fans and collectors alike will be keen to add these releases to their collections.”
 
Fayd’Herbe adds that the impetus for this year’s campaign came on the back of last year’s inaugural offer and also a willingness to help indie stores stand out from the crowd.  “Last year went very well, it created a hell of a lot of buzz and excitement with a great profile on social media.”
 
“The only place to get your hands on these releases will be independent record stores around the UK. With 12 days to do the shopping there’s longevity rather than just one mad, crazy day like with Record Store Day and Black Friday in the US.”
 
“The High Street indie is very important to us and this campaign is a way to support them all year round.”
 
Kim Bayley is CEO of the Entertainment Retailers Association which organises Record Store Day, the annual celebration of indie record shops, which has done so much to drive vinyl sales.
“With the 12 Days… promotion Christmas has come early this year for indie record shops and music fans,” she says. “Physical music formats and vinyl in particular still have the edge when it comes to gifting and Universal should be congratulated for putting together such a great line-up of releases."
 
12 Days Of Christmas runs from November 27 until Saturday December 12
 
 
 
12 Days Of Christmas releases:
 
Friday November 27
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody / I'm In Love With My Car, 12" Single
2500 copies of this black vinyl release celebrating the 40th anniversary of the song, which includes original artwork.
 
Saturday, November 28               
Paul McCartney (with Michael Jackson) - Say, Say, Say (2015 Remix), 12" Single
1000 copies of this 2015 remix of the 1983 hit originally recorded with Michael Jackson for the album Pipes of Peace.  Artwork features silver and black ink with a graphite finish and the vinyl is transparent.  B-side is an instrumental version of the song.
 
Monday November 30
The Maccabees - Marks To Prove It, signed 12” LP / Marks To Prove It, coloured 12” LP
400 signed copies of the band’s current album, available on black and also a limited amount of coloured vinyl pressings.
 
Tuesday December 1
The Abyssinians  - Sata, 10” EP
Four of The Abyssinians’ most sought-after recordings in the popular and influential ‘Satta Massa Gana’ rhythm, including their original classic vocal cut from 1969.               
 
Wednesday December 2
The Kooks - Inside In / Inside Out (Acoustic - Live At Abbey Road), vinyl LP
Recorded almost 10 years ago, this is the first time the live performance disc of the band’s debut has been made available as a standalone product.
 
Friday December 4
Status Quo - Rollin' Home (shaped picture disc)
600 limited edition Q shaped picture disc reissue of the band’s 1986 anthem Rollin Home, from the album In The Army Now.
 
Saturday December  5
Beck - Dreams  (blue 12"single)
450 copies of Dreams released on transparent blue vinyl with the b-side featuring an instrumental and acapella versions.
 
Monday December 7
Gaz Coombes – Matador (signed CD)
100 copies of the CD album will be signed by the former frontman of Supergrass.
 
Tuesday December 8
Various Artists, Reservoir Dogs OST - vinyl LP
1500 copies of this exclusive release for 12 Days of Christmas
 
Friday December 11
Megadeth - The Threat Is Real / Foreign Policy, 12" single
1000 copies of this 12”, which feature two tracks - The Threat is Real and Foreign Policy - from the forthcoming Dystopia album released in January 2016.
 
Saturday December 12
Sonic Youth, The Diamond Sea, 12” single
750 copies of this 20 minute track taken from the band’s 1995 album Washing Machine.
 
Friday December 18
Nine Inch Nails - Halo I-IV, 12” vinyl box set – 3x 12" single + vinyl LP
The 500 limited edition Halo I-IV vinyl box set contains the original 12” singles for Down In It, Head Like A Hole and Sin on 120-gram black vinyl and the 1989 version of Pretty Hate Machine on 180-gram black vinyl.