Owner of Burbank’s Atomic Records says major labels have turned the tables on Record Store Day

Since 2008, the mission of Record Store Day has been to promote independently owned record businesses and to revitalize the sale of music on vinyl. However, the owner of one prominent establishment in Burbank believes the spirit of the audiophile holiday has been compromised.

Hundreds of people will wait in line at their local record stores, like Amoeba Music in Hollywood, on Saturday with hopes of getting some of the limited-edition records being sold that day, some reissued classics and some new releases.

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Some of the rarities being sold will be a 7-inch picture disc of Muse’s track “Reapers,” remixes of Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force’s hit song “Planet Rock,” hip-hop producer J Dilla’s lost vocal LP “The Diary” and a colored vinyl reissue of Etta James’ album “At Last.”

However, none of these records will ever grace — or have ever been in — the record bins of Atomic Records, which prides itself for being a “100% used-record store,” co-owner Steve Alper said.

Despite not offering any of the highly sought-after EPs and LPs, about 100 record enthusiasts are expected to flock to the store to get their hands on rarities and original pressings that the business has been holding onto to be sold and to take advantage of special discounts on Saturday.

For Alper, that is his way of celebrating Record Store Day.

Atomic Records co-owner Steve Alper said the store has never been busier over its 20 years of operation, and he recognizes that major businesses are looking to profit from the vinyl revival.

(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

“People want to buy original Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Miles Davis records,” he said. “That, to me, is celebrating record stores. It’s about vintage vinyl.”

Alper, who has operated Atomic for 20 years, said he admires the concept behind Record Store Day.

“Unfortunately [it has] been totally co-opted by major labels who want to get their product of new vinyl into stores,” he said.

“It’s been a mix of emotions for record store owners,” he added. “Some people are really happy about it and some people can’t stand it.”

The vinyl resurgence is in full effect, with record sales continuing to grow over the last 10 years. In 2015, new vinyl LP sales increased 30% over the previous year, according to the Recording Industry Assn. of America.

Major retailers, such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Urban Outfitters and even the supermarket chain Whole Foods have been selling records to try and capitalize on the increasing interest.

Alper said Atomic has never been busier over its 20 years of operation, and he recognizes that major businesses are looking to profit from the vinyl revival.

However, he believes it is not in his store’s best interest to compete against them.

“We’re just all about having bins filled with vintage product,” he said.

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Anthony Clark Carpio, anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com

Twitter: @acocarpio

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