The next instalment of the retro-style Cassette Store Day is coming up on Friday (October 17), bigger and stronger than ever. While the annual event has taken on a DIY approach, major retailer Urban Outfitters has fully embraced the analogue wave the same way it had the vinyl boom a few years ago, and has announced it's launching a cassette program.
As Stereogum points out, the Urban Outfitters chain has started a tape initiative at its various North American retail locations. Now that the audio-buying masses have shown interest in contemporarily released tape releases, j-card and all, the store has begun stocking a series of albums on cassette, as well as analogue media players. This includes Walkman-style portable players, boomboxes, car adapters and more.
As for its catalogue, Urban Outfitters is to carry cassette releases of albums from Death Cab for Cutie, Action Bronson, Japandroids, Beach House, Alvvays, Method Man and more, while also stocking exclusive tape pressings of Marina and the Diamonds' Froot and Halsey's Badlands. Though it isn't on the site yet, an UO exclusive Run the Jewels tape is apparently also on the way.
According to the company, it is plugging the rediscovered medium because, among other things, "they offer a warm and full sound, often accompanied by that soothing 'hiss' they are known for." Urban Outfitters is also trying to re-stoke interest in the idea of mixtape culture.
The cassette rollout has already begun, with Canadian stores hocking product including Calgary, Winnipeg and Edmonton. You can see the current online catalogue over here and a list of the currently participating stores below.
As for Cassette Store Day, the event is set to offer up tape releases from the likes of Foals, Down, Kylesa, Beach Slang, Quasimoto, the Gaslight Anthem, Sebadoh and many more. You'll find a full list of release here, and a list of participating stores over here. For its part, Urban Outfitters will be handing out free copies of its UO Mixtape at select stores.
King Of Prussia, PA
Georgetown, Washington DC
Herald Square, NYC
Park Meadow, CO
Rancho, CA
Troy, MI
State Street, CH
Jacksonville, FL
Albuquerque, NM
Miami-Dade, FL
Los Angeles, CA
Roseville, CA
Roosevelt, NY
Gallery Place, Washington DC
Torrance, CA
Omaha, NE
Brooklyn, NY
San Francisco, CA
Calgary, AB
Winnipeg, MB
Edmonton, AB
As Stereogum points out, the Urban Outfitters chain has started a tape initiative at its various North American retail locations. Now that the audio-buying masses have shown interest in contemporarily released tape releases, j-card and all, the store has begun stocking a series of albums on cassette, as well as analogue media players. This includes Walkman-style portable players, boomboxes, car adapters and more.
As for its catalogue, Urban Outfitters is to carry cassette releases of albums from Death Cab for Cutie, Action Bronson, Japandroids, Beach House, Alvvays, Method Man and more, while also stocking exclusive tape pressings of Marina and the Diamonds' Froot and Halsey's Badlands. Though it isn't on the site yet, an UO exclusive Run the Jewels tape is apparently also on the way.
According to the company, it is plugging the rediscovered medium because, among other things, "they offer a warm and full sound, often accompanied by that soothing 'hiss' they are known for." Urban Outfitters is also trying to re-stoke interest in the idea of mixtape culture.
The cassette rollout has already begun, with Canadian stores hocking product including Calgary, Winnipeg and Edmonton. You can see the current online catalogue over here and a list of the currently participating stores below.
As for Cassette Store Day, the event is set to offer up tape releases from the likes of Foals, Down, Kylesa, Beach Slang, Quasimoto, the Gaslight Anthem, Sebadoh and many more. You'll find a full list of release here, and a list of participating stores over here. For its part, Urban Outfitters will be handing out free copies of its UO Mixtape at select stores.
King Of Prussia, PA
Georgetown, Washington DC
Herald Square, NYC
Park Meadow, CO
Rancho, CA
Troy, MI
State Street, CH
Jacksonville, FL
Albuquerque, NM
Miami-Dade, FL
Los Angeles, CA
Roseville, CA
Roosevelt, NY
Gallery Place, Washington DC
Torrance, CA
Omaha, NE
Brooklyn, NY
San Francisco, CA
Calgary, AB
Winnipeg, MB
Edmonton, AB
