Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese has become a master of spin over the past year, using his DJ skills to promote the annual Record Store Day.
But the time has now come for DJ Albo to hand over the lead ambassadorship to legendary Australian promoter Michael Chugg, as the yearly celebration of traditional music stores approaches.
"There's nothing quite like vinyl and like putting the needle on a piece of vinyl and hearing that authentic music as it was meant to be heard. So this is a fantastic initiative that is a global movement," Albanese said in Sydney's Red Eye Records on Wednesday.
It was a position Albanese truly treasured as it brought him that bit closer to his dream profession.
"If it's a choice between being a muso and being deputy prime minister, I would have taken being a muso any day, no question that's what I would have wanted to do, but lack of talent got in the way there," he said.
While the musical event is set to get a little less politi-cool, Chugg has got Australian musicians Amber Lawrence and Dan Sultan on his side as this year's other Australian ambassadors.
"Record stores have been a big part of my life all the way through... it's very exciting to me that they still exist" Chugg said.
The first Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 by a group of independent record store owners in the US as a way to celebrate and support independently owned record stores.
It's celebrated in 30 countries around the world with in-store performances and special one-off vinyl and CD releases from bands and artists.
The day attracts attention from major artists with Jack White, Lady Gaga and Foo Fighters just some of the musicians who have put out special, limited edition releases in independent record stores on the day over the past decade.
This year, Taylor Swift, U2 and Courtney Barnett are planning special releases for Record Store Day while in Australia, Sheppard and Tumbleweed are just some of the artists planning in-store appearances to support the day.
In Australia, more than 180 indie music stores will take part in the event, throwing parties, hosting live music, offering discounts, barbecues and special releases.
AMRA (the Australian Music Retailers Association) organise Record Store Day in Australia.
* Record Store Day will take place on April 21.
Australian Associated Press
