Official Record Store Chart

The chart's launch was first announced by the OCC on 17 April 2012[3] – at the time, British record stores were selling 4.5 million albums per year, and were contributing towards 95 per cent of the country's total vinyl sales.

[4] However, music downloads held a considerable share of the albums market, leading to a decline in the number of outlets.

[5] In promoting the chart, Martin Talbot, managing director of the OCC, remarked that he could see the benefits to both digital and physical album sales, but that there was "nothing nicer than the smell and feel of a nice chunky vinyl".

[4] The Official Record Store Chart was first broadcast by British DJ Steve Lamacq on his eponymous radio programme on BBC 6 Music; the first number one was Boys & Girls, the debut studio album by American band Alabama Shakes.

[8] Talbot explained that the purpose of the chart was to "help spread the Record Store Day word throughout the year".