British music stores report spiking sales during the pandemic

One of the UK’s leading music retailers has revealed that – despite physical shops being closed – sales of instruments have doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rimmers Music, has seen a sharp increase in the number of instruments bought in lockdown compared to last year. Co-own er Cathy Tate commented: “It’s clear to see that the pandemic has inspired a flurry of budding musicians to learn an instrument for the first time, with instrument sets designed for beginners being our most popular products during this period.”

She continued, noting that: “Learning and playing an instrument has endless benefits; relieving stress, building confidence, and improving creativity to name a few. Hopefully learning to play an instrument has been a useful coping mechanism for many customers, helping them to stay focused during this strange time.”

The revelation comes after Andy Mooney, CEO of Fender, said 2020 will be the brand’s “biggest year” for sales. In July, Gear4Music also reported an 80% increase in sales from last year, while Guitar Center’s flagship branch in Hollywood said that its sales figures experienced a triple-digit increase.

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