Behind the Counter Returns to UK Record Shops for a Seventh Season

Premiere of new 12-part video series celebrating the people behind the UK's thriving vinyl culture

Behind the Counter returns for a seventh season with a brand-new 12-part video series, presented by Record Store Day and Classic Album Sundays in collaboration with Bowers & Wilkins, spotlighting inspirational independent record shops and the communities that sustain them across the UK.

Following a previous season that reached over 5.6 million viewers, Behind the Counter enters its latest series as one of the largest-reaching and longest-running projects dedicated to UK record shop culture.

Each episode offers an intimate look inside a different independent store, exploring how shop owners, staff, and customers continue to shape local music scenes and keep physical formats thriving.

This year’s journey spans the length and breadth of the UK, featuring twelve distinctive record shops, each with its own identity and loyal following.

• A Slice of Vinyl, Gosport

• Applestump Records, Cheshire

• Black City Records, Bristol

• Carnival Records, Great Malvern

• Farland Records, Penzance

• Monorail Music, Glasgow

• Roan Records, London

• Saturnalia, Faversham

• Underground Solution, Edinburgh

• Vinyl Fetishes, Manchester

• Vinyl Guru, Newcastle

• Wrecking Ball, Hull

From championing underground genres to acting as social spaces and cultural anchors, the series reveals a shared belief in the enduring power of records and the people who sell, collect and cherish them.

New episodes will premiere every Tuesday at 10 AM GMT on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), and YouTube, in the lead up to Record Store Day which takes place on Saturday 18th April.

Glen Hudson, Co-owner of Vinyl Fetishes:
“Since opening Vinyl Fetishes, we’ve created more than a record shop. We’ve built a welcoming and inclusive space where people feel safe, represented, and connected through music, and we’re proud of the positive impact this has had on our community in such a short space of time.”

The return of Behind the Counter comes as vinyl continues its remarkable resurgence. In 2025, physical music sales grew 11.5% to £368.1m, driven by a huge 18.5% increase in vinyl revenues.

Physical formats now make up 15% of music revenues, their highest share since 2021, highlighting the central role independent record shops play in the wider music economy.

Colleen Murphy, founder of Classic Album Sundays:
“Having worked in four record stores myself, I truly understand the value of independent record shops as a place for musical discovery and connection. There’s truly no greater way to explore new music than at a record store with knowledgeable staff and that’s the fundamental reason why our Behind the Counter series celebrates these passionate people and institutions. Long live the record shop!”

The series continues its long-standing collaboration with British audio brand Bowers & Wilkins, highlighting how high-quality sound enhances the ritual and experience of listening to vinyl records.

Audiences can follow Behind the Counter for updates and new episodes across social platforms:
Facebook: @RSDayUK | @ClassicAlbumSundays | @BowersWilkins
X (Twitter): @RSDUK | @ClassicAlbumSun | @BowersWilkins

Instagram: @recordstoreday | @classicalbumsundays | @bowerswilkins ENDS