Olivia Dean Officially Appointed as Global Record Store Day 2026 Ambassador

JAKARTA - English soul-pop singer Olivia Dean has officially been appointed as a global ambassador for Record Store Day (RSD) 2026.

The appointment of the 26-year-old singer-songwriter is a new chapter in efforts to preserve the physical release ecosystem amid the dominance of increasingly massive digital platforms.

Dean followed in the footsteps of big names such as Taylor Swift, Kate Bush, and Elton John who previously took on similar roles.

As an ambassador, Dean has a big mission to campaign for the crucial role of independent music stores as the heart of culture in the local community.

The RSD, which enters its 19th edition this year, is scheduled to take place simultaneously on April 18. More than 300 music stores in the UK and Ireland, as well as thousands of independent communities around the world, are sure to participate in this annual party for vinyl collectors.

Olivia Dean also revealed her pride when she was able to represent the campaign. For him, independent music stores are not just places for buying and selling transactions, but sacred spaces to establish emotional connections with art.

"It's a huge honor to be the ambassador for Record Store Day 2026. Independent record stores are a very special space to find and share music, where we can really touch and feel it," Dean said in a statement, quoted by NME, Friday, February 27.

Dean also emphasized how the collection of vinyl records he found over the years has been a major source of inspiration in his musical career.

"I want to thank record stores around the world for all the support you've given me over the years. It's important for us to continue to support them and keep them alive," he added.

The appointment of Dean is not without strong reasons. Throughout 2025, his best-selling album, "The Art of Loving", ranked sixth as the album with the most vinyl sales.

Entering 2026, its popularity has skyrocketed with sales of more than 11,000 vinyl records since the beginning of January - making it the best-selling physical release in the UK today.

Jane Unwin from Banquet Records considers Dean's figure to be the perfect representation of the modern music industry that still appreciates physical formats. According to him, Dean's involvement is a form of recognition of the quality of the essence of RSD itself.

"Olivia is an authentic modern pop star. She is not only a huge magnet on the live performance stage, but is also consistently able to sell music in physical format in large quantities every week," said Unwin.

To celebrate his new role, Dean will release an exclusive album titled "Live at the BBC". This album contains live recordings while he performs songs by Carole King and boygenius, which will be printed in a limited edition 7-inch vinyl format.

In addition to Olivia Dean, Record Store Day 2026 will also be enlivened with exclusive releases from a row of legendary musicians to new talents, ranging from David Bowie, The Cure, Fleetwood Mac, to RAYE and Sleep Token.