Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Phish, Lana Del Rey and Foster the People are just a small sample of artists preparing to drop rare vinyl come Record Store Day on Saturday. The annual event was conceived five years ago by a group of record store employees and pop music fans to put a spotlight on the 700 or so independent record store dealers in the U.S. It’s since grown into a major cultural happening, with hundreds of recording artists releasing collectible CDs and very limited edition vinyl (the latter of which has seen a major sales resurgence recently).

“It’s definitely put a spotlight on the music industry as a whole -- not just record stores but the entire music industry,” said Gary Gebler, owner of the Baltimore-based Trax on Wax. “It’s like Christmas in April for record stores."

-- By Tony Sclafani, msnbc.com contributor

Alex Brandon / AP

Owen Cooksley, age 8 from Philadelphia, looks at the album in his father's hand on the fifth annual Record Store Day at Main Street Music, April 21, in Philadelphia. On Record Store Day, new and limited edition vinyl records become available for the first time drawing buyers to their local record stores.

Alex Brandon / AP

Becky Blumenthal, from Philadelphia, right, waits to be one of the first people in the store on the fifth annual Record Store Day at Main Street Music, April 21, in Philadelphia.

Alex Brandon / AP

Mike Hughes, from Philadelphia, looks through the window as he waits in line on the fifth annual Record Store Day at Main Street Music in Philadelphia.

Alex Brandon / AP

Buyers browse the selections on the fifth annual Record Store Day at Main Street Music, April 21, in Philadelphia.

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