The number of independent record shops in the UK is at a 10-year high, according to an industry group.
The digital entertainment and retail association (ERA) said there are now 461 indie record shops in the UK – 122 more than 10 years ago.
By contrast, the number of shops physically selling music – such as supermarkets and specialist chains – fell by 8,000 compared to 2014.
It means just 8% of all music sales are now in a physical form.
The ERA’s 2024 Yearbook, containing statistics on the music, video and gaming sectors, found the UK music market was worth £2.2bn last year.
It attributed a massive proportion of this – 84% – to streaming subscriptions.
But it also found the demand for vinyl records increased for the 16th year in a row, with 6.5 million sold, taking overall sales above £170m.
