Bruno Mars Named Record Store Day Ambassador for 2026; Sets Exclusive RSD Compilation LP, Plus Advance Listening Parties for New Album
Bruno Mars was announced as this year’s Record Store Day Ambassador Friday, releasing a video extolling the virtue of record shops and vinyl, along with announcing plans for an exclusive compilation LP to come out as part of RSD on April 18.
In addition, independent record shops are set to host listening parties for Mars’ upcoming solo album, “The Romantic,” on Feb. 25, two days before the long-awaited release officially comes out.
The release that is coming out exclusively for Record Store Day in April is “The Collaborations,” a compilation album bringing together Mars’ most celebrated partnerships on record, including “Uptown Funk” with Mark Ronson, “Die With A Smile” with Lady Gaga and the currently Grammy-nominated “APT.” with ROSÉ.
(The other 300-plus exclusive LPs that are coming out for RSD have not yet been announced, although the lineup is expected to roll out soon.)
In the promotional video, Mars says, “Why record stores are so important is because you get the chance to immerse yourself and surround yourself with music. I love being able to physically be surrounded by music, not just staring at your phone and and downloading something, or listening to something on your phone, but to actually see all of this beautiful art around you. You know, it inspires me.
“I like collecting vinyl because nothing’s better than sitting down on your couch, putting a record on and just listening to music like that. I feel like it’s a almost a lost art. Everybody’s scrolling and everybody’s skipping, but to actually sit down, put a record on and consume it, that’s a very romantic idea.
“My father was a big record collector, and it just brings me back to that. And one of the first records he bought me was a Jackson Five record… Support your local record store. And if you don’t have a record player, I would advise you to buy yourself a record player, buy your favorite record, sit down and listen to it and see what happens and see the feeling that you get.”
Mars then picks up an album by 1970s soul star Leroy Hutson, called “The Man! —Writer/Producer/Artist/Superstar!!” “That’s how you title your album right there,” Mars says, possibly wishing he had thought of something like that instead of “The Romantic.”
Previous Record Store Day Ambassadors have included Taylor Swift, Metallica, St. Vincent, Brandi Carlile, Jack White, Paramore, Joshua Homme, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, Chuck D, Dave Grohl, Run the Jewels, Pearl Jam, Fred Armisen, Amanda Shires & Jason Isbell and Post Malone.
“We’re thrilled to have Bruno Mars as our 2026 Ambassador,” said Record Store Day co-founder Michael Kurtz in a statement. “The world of record stores brings together so many different musical styles, so many people with different musical tastes. Bruno has done a similar thing throughout his life and career, working across different genres, with his wide range of projects and collaborators, all for the love of music and the emotions it brings up. If he ever needed a break from the studio, he’d probably make a good record store employee, with great Staff Picks and customer recommendations.”
In other Mars news, it was also announced Friday morning that the pop superstar will be performing on Sunday night’s Grammy Awards.
The list of stores offering advance in-shop listening parties for Mars’ “The Romantic” on Feb. 25 is:10,000 Hz Records Opelika AL1234 Go Records Oakland CA22 Sound Records Mandeville LA3hive Record Lounge Provo UTAFK Books & Records Virginia Beach VAAmoeba Berkeley *Event 2/27 Berkeley CAAmoeba Hollywood *Event 2/27 Los Angeles CAAmoeba San Francisco *Event 2/27 San Francisco CAAndVinyl Records Clarksville TNAnimal Records Evanston ILArmadillo Music Davis CAAudiogazing Saginaw MIBack To The Vinyl Waupaca WIBeat Goes On Records and More West Bend WIBigfoot Records Spokane WABlack Hills Vinyl Rapid City SDBlock Street Records Fayetteville ARBoo Boo Records San Luis Obispo CABuddha Belly Records Sayville NYBudget Music & Video Minot NDBUMRUSH Vinyl Shop Fredericksburg VAByrdland Records Washington DCC-Side Records Port Orchard WACactus Music Houston TXCameron Records Billings MTCD Warehouse Records & Tapes Arlington TXChris’s Nostalgia Shop Whitefield NHClarizio Music Point Pleasant NJCompact Disc Center Bethlehem PACounty Line Records Keller TXCriminal Records Atlanta GACrying Cat Books & Records Murfreesboro TNCurious Collections College Station/Bryan TXD & J Records Dunedin FLDaily Records Milwaukie ORDale’s Records and Skateshop Palm Desert CADBS Sounds Riverdale GADBZ Books N Records Corona CADead Wax Records Garland TXDeadwax Records Goodyear AZDearborn Music Dearborn MIDel Bravo Record Shop San Antonio TXDisc-Cover Records Nampa IDDown In The Valley Golden Valley MNDown In The Valley Maple Grove MNDowntown Sound Records & Tapes Greeley CODreamin’ Human Lancaster PADrinks Records Austin TXDudley’s Records Torrance CADumber Records Springfield ILEasy Street Records Seattle WAElectric Fetus Minneapolis MNElmhurst Records Elmhurst ILEroding Winds Oshkosh WIEroding Winds Appleton WIEuclid Records St. Louis MOEverlong Records Hamburg PAExiled Records Portland ORFactory Records Dover NJFingerprints Long Beach CAFirst City Records Marietta OHFirst Day Vinyl Lincoln NEFolklore Napa CAFor The Record Brooklyn NYFor The Record Union City TNForever Changes Vinyl Lounge Phoenixville PAFreshtopia Norfolk VAGallery of Sound Wilkes-Barre PAGood Records Dallas TXGood Taste Records Boston MAGrace Records Gilbert AZGraywhale Taylorsville UTGreen Light Music Kalamazoo MIGrimey’s Nashviile TNGuestroom Records Edmond OKGuestroom Records Highlands Louisville KYGuestroom Records Norman OKGuestroom Records Oklahoma City OKHard Copies Bowling Green KYHi-Fi Hits Williamsville NYHifi Provisions Brooklyn NYHigh Fidelity Records Amarillo TXHomers Music Omaha NEHungry Ear Records Honolulu HIIndie Earth Buffalo MNIndy CD & Vinyl Indianapolis INJammin Nuggets Music Sedalia MOJBs Record Lounge Atlanta GAJosey Records Tulsa OKJosey Records Farmers Branch TXJosey Records Garland TXJosey Records Plano TXKraken Records New Martinsville WVLatchkey Philadelphia PALeft Round Records Plainfield ILLicorice Pizza Records Studio City CALilliput Records Milwaukee WILooney Tunes West Babylon NYLoud Pizza Records Chicago ILLove People Records Kensington MDLucky Records Miami Miami FLLuna Record Shop Franklin TNLunchbox Records Charlotte NCMaTones Music Collegeville PAMax J Records Fairhaven MAMidnite Moon Idyllwild CAMills Record Company Kansas City MOMoe’s Record Shop Gainesville GAMountain Music Rutland VTMusic Millennium Portland ORMusic Town Klein TXMusicology Co Edmonds WANail City Record Wheeling WVNewbury Comics Manchester CTNewbury Comics Norwood MANewbury Comics Peabody MANewbury Comics Nashua NHNewbury Comics Staten Island NYNewbury Comics Albany NYNivessa Los Angeles CAObsession Records Anchorage AKOffBeat Jackson MSOmega Music Dayton OHOrbit’s Record Shop Barboursville WVOut Of The Past Records Chicago ILParadise Found Records & Music Petaluma CAParadise Records and Trading Post Santa Maria CAPark Ave CDs Orlando FLPlaid Room Records Loveland OHPlan 9 Music Richmond VAPositively 4th Street Records Charleston ILQueen B Vinyl Cafe Cottonwood AZRainy Day Records Olympia WARattleback Records Chicago ILRe-Spun Records & Resale Freeport ILREB Records Bel Air MDReckless Records Chicago ILRecord Guys Abilene TXRecord Swap Urbana ILRecord Town Fort Worth TXRepo records Philadelphia PAResident Vinyl Orange CAResignation Records Troy OHRetrofit Records Tallahassee FLRevilla Grooves Milltown NJRevolution Records Torrington CTRight On!!! Napa Napa CARipe Records Grosse Pointe Park MIRock City Music Company Livonia MIRock n Roll Land Green Bay WIRockin’ Ruby’s Records Poulsbo WARockin’ Ruby’s Records Bainbridge Island WARollin’ Records Boise IDRonald Records Vancouver WARosie’s Records Pittsburgh PARough Trade NYC New York NYRun Out Groove Records Burbank CARust & Wax Record Shop West Palm Beach FLSalty Dog Records Sarasota FLSalzer’s Records Ventura CASchoolkids Records Raleigh NCSchoolkids Records Wilmington NCScreaming Earth Records Owasso OKSell Your Soul Records Mooresville NCShuga Records Chicago ILSilver Platters Bellevue WASilver Platters Lynnwood WASilver Platters Seattle WASiren Records Doyleston PASlick Disc Trenton MISold Out Vinyl Records Englewood COSonic Rainbow Casper WYSound Revolution Spring TXSoundtrax Morristown TNSpin Me Round Easton PASpinning Plate Records Covina CASquare Cat Vinyl Indianapolis INSquatch Den Records Horseheads NYStatic Era Records Milford CTStreetlight Records Santa Cruz CAStreetlight Records San Jose CASweat Records Miami FLT-Bones Records & Cafe Hattiesburg MSTelegraph Autonomous Zone New London CTThe ‘In’ Groove Phoenix AZThe Detroit Record Club Royal Oak MIThe Midnight Hour Records San Fernando CAThe Record Exchange Boise IDThe Record Shop Phoenixville PAThe Record Shop on 95th Evergreen Park ILThe Records Department Woodstock ILThe Sound Garden Baltimore MDThe Sound Garden Syracuse NYThe Vinyl Frontier Carrollton GAThe Vinyl Groove Records Cleveland OHThird Eye Music & Video Annapolis MDTimeless Vinyl Record Store Paducah KYToad Hall Books and Records Rockford IlTonevendor St. Augustine FLTrack City Records Escondido CATune Town Mankato MNTunes Hoboken Hoboken NJUncle Joes Records Cromwell CTUsed Kids Records Columbus OHVal’s halla Records Oak Park ILVerbena Vinyl Northfield MNVinal Edge Records Houston TXVintage Vibes Records Stuart FLVintage VinylA210 St. Louis MOVinyl Heaven Overland Park KSVinyl Resting Place Portland ORVinyl Revival Lansdowne PAVinyl Revival Records Somerset KYVinyl Street Co. Fairfield CTVinyl Valhalla Littleton COVinyl Veritas Brooklyn NYVirginia’s Memory Lane Records Henrico VAVolta Records Greenfield WIVolume Music The Woodlands TXVolume Music Huntsville TXWaterloo Records Austin TXWatts Music Novato CAWe Got The Beats Oakland Park FlWe Got The Beats Dania Beach FLWe Got The Beats Too Lauderhill FLWhite Rabbit Records Fullerton CAYearbook Records Lanoka Harbor NJYellow Dog Discs Wilmington NCYellow Racket Records Chattanooga TNYoung Ones Records Kutztown PAZia Records Las Vegas NVZia Records Chandler AZZia Records Mesa AZZia Records Tempe AZZia Records Tucson AZZia Records Phoenix AZZT Records Frisco TXZT Records – Sugar Land TXZT Records Arlington TXZT Records – The Woodlands Mall The Woodlands TX
In addition, independent record shops are set to host listening parties for Mars’ upcoming solo album, “The Romantic,” on Feb. 25, two days before the long-awaited release officially comes out.
The release that is coming out exclusively for Record Store Day in April is “The Collaborations,” a compilation album bringing together Mars’ most celebrated partnerships on record, including “Uptown Funk” with Mark Ronson, “Die With A Smile” with Lady Gaga and the currently Grammy-nominated “APT.” with ROSÉ.
(The other 300-plus exclusive LPs that are coming out for RSD have not yet been announced, although the lineup is expected to roll out soon.)
In the promotional video, Mars says, “Why record stores are so important is because you get the chance to immerse yourself and surround yourself with music. I love being able to physically be surrounded by music, not just staring at your phone and and downloading something, or listening to something on your phone, but to actually see all of this beautiful art around you. You know, it inspires me.
“I like collecting vinyl because nothing’s better than sitting down on your couch, putting a record on and just listening to music like that. I feel like it’s a almost a lost art. Everybody’s scrolling and everybody’s skipping, but to actually sit down, put a record on and consume it, that’s a very romantic idea.
“My father was a big record collector, and it just brings me back to that. And one of the first records he bought me was a Jackson Five record… Support your local record store. And if you don’t have a record player, I would advise you to buy yourself a record player, buy your favorite record, sit down and listen to it and see what happens and see the feeling that you get.”
Mars then picks up an album by 1970s soul star Leroy Hutson, called “The Man! —Writer/Producer/Artist/Superstar!!” “That’s how you title your album right there,” Mars says, possibly wishing he had thought of something like that instead of “The Romantic.”
Previous Record Store Day Ambassadors have included Taylor Swift, Metallica, St. Vincent, Brandi Carlile, Jack White, Paramore, Joshua Homme, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, Chuck D, Dave Grohl, Run the Jewels, Pearl Jam, Fred Armisen, Amanda Shires & Jason Isbell and Post Malone.
“We’re thrilled to have Bruno Mars as our 2026 Ambassador,” said Record Store Day co-founder Michael Kurtz in a statement. “The world of record stores brings together so many different musical styles, so many people with different musical tastes. Bruno has done a similar thing throughout his life and career, working across different genres, with his wide range of projects and collaborators, all for the love of music and the emotions it brings up. If he ever needed a break from the studio, he’d probably make a good record store employee, with great Staff Picks and customer recommendations.”
In other Mars news, it was also announced Friday morning that the pop superstar will be performing on Sunday night’s Grammy Awards.
The list of stores offering advance in-shop listening parties for Mars’ “The Romantic” on Feb. 25 is:10,000 Hz Records Opelika AL1234 Go Records Oakland CA22 Sound Records Mandeville LA3hive Record Lounge Provo UTAFK Books & Records Virginia Beach VAAmoeba Berkeley *Event 2/27 Berkeley CAAmoeba Hollywood *Event 2/27 Los Angeles CAAmoeba San Francisco *Event 2/27 San Francisco CAAndVinyl Records Clarksville TNAnimal Records Evanston ILArmadillo Music Davis CAAudiogazing Saginaw MIBack To The Vinyl Waupaca WIBeat Goes On Records and More West Bend WIBigfoot Records Spokane WABlack Hills Vinyl Rapid City SDBlock Street Records Fayetteville ARBoo Boo Records San Luis Obispo CABuddha Belly Records Sayville NYBudget Music & Video Minot NDBUMRUSH Vinyl Shop Fredericksburg VAByrdland Records Washington DCC-Side Records Port Orchard WACactus Music Houston TXCameron Records Billings MTCD Warehouse Records & Tapes Arlington TXChris’s Nostalgia Shop Whitefield NHClarizio Music Point Pleasant NJCompact Disc Center Bethlehem PACounty Line Records Keller TXCriminal Records Atlanta GACrying Cat Books & Records Murfreesboro TNCurious Collections College Station/Bryan TXD & J Records Dunedin FLDaily Records Milwaukie ORDale’s Records and Skateshop Palm Desert CADBS Sounds Riverdale GADBZ Books N Records Corona CADead Wax Records Garland TXDeadwax Records Goodyear AZDearborn Music Dearborn MIDel Bravo Record Shop San Antonio TXDisc-Cover Records Nampa IDDown In The Valley Golden Valley MNDown In The Valley Maple Grove MNDowntown Sound Records & Tapes Greeley CODreamin’ Human Lancaster PADrinks Records Austin TXDudley’s Records Torrance CADumber Records Springfield ILEasy Street Records Seattle WAElectric Fetus Minneapolis MNElmhurst Records Elmhurst ILEroding Winds Oshkosh WIEroding Winds Appleton WIEuclid Records St. Louis MOEverlong Records Hamburg PAExiled Records Portland ORFactory Records Dover NJFingerprints Long Beach CAFirst City Records Marietta OHFirst Day Vinyl Lincoln NEFolklore Napa CAFor The Record Brooklyn NYFor The Record Union City TNForever Changes Vinyl Lounge Phoenixville PAFreshtopia Norfolk VAGallery of Sound Wilkes-Barre PAGood Records Dallas TXGood Taste Records Boston MAGrace Records Gilbert AZGraywhale Taylorsville UTGreen Light Music Kalamazoo MIGrimey’s Nashviile TNGuestroom Records Edmond OKGuestroom Records Highlands Louisville KYGuestroom Records Norman OKGuestroom Records Oklahoma City OKHard Copies Bowling Green KYHi-Fi Hits Williamsville NYHifi Provisions Brooklyn NYHigh Fidelity Records Amarillo TXHomers Music Omaha NEHungry Ear Records Honolulu HIIndie Earth Buffalo MNIndy CD & Vinyl Indianapolis INJammin Nuggets Music Sedalia MOJBs Record Lounge Atlanta GAJosey Records Tulsa OKJosey Records Farmers Branch TXJosey Records Garland TXJosey Records Plano TXKraken Records New Martinsville WVLatchkey Philadelphia PALeft Round Records Plainfield ILLicorice Pizza Records Studio City CALilliput Records Milwaukee WILooney Tunes West Babylon NYLoud Pizza Records Chicago ILLove People Records Kensington MDLucky Records Miami Miami FLLuna Record Shop Franklin TNLunchbox Records Charlotte NCMaTones Music Collegeville PAMax J Records Fairhaven MAMidnite Moon Idyllwild CAMills Record Company Kansas City MOMoe’s Record Shop Gainesville GAMountain Music Rutland VTMusic Millennium Portland ORMusic Town Klein TXMusicology Co Edmonds WANail City Record Wheeling WVNewbury Comics Manchester CTNewbury Comics Norwood MANewbury Comics Peabody MANewbury Comics Nashua NHNewbury Comics Staten Island NYNewbury Comics Albany NYNivessa Los Angeles CAObsession Records Anchorage AKOffBeat Jackson MSOmega Music Dayton OHOrbit’s Record Shop Barboursville WVOut Of The Past Records Chicago ILParadise Found Records & Music Petaluma CAParadise Records and Trading Post Santa Maria CAPark Ave CDs Orlando FLPlaid Room Records Loveland OHPlan 9 Music Richmond VAPositively 4th Street Records Charleston ILQueen B Vinyl Cafe Cottonwood AZRainy Day Records Olympia WARattleback Records Chicago ILRe-Spun Records & Resale Freeport ILREB Records Bel Air MDReckless Records Chicago ILRecord Guys Abilene TXRecord Swap Urbana ILRecord Town Fort Worth TXRepo records Philadelphia PAResident Vinyl Orange CAResignation Records Troy OHRetrofit Records Tallahassee FLRevilla Grooves Milltown NJRevolution Records Torrington CTRight On!!! Napa Napa CARipe Records Grosse Pointe Park MIRock City Music Company Livonia MIRock n Roll Land Green Bay WIRockin’ Ruby’s Records Poulsbo WARockin’ Ruby’s Records Bainbridge Island WARollin’ Records Boise IDRonald Records Vancouver WARosie’s Records Pittsburgh PARough Trade NYC New York NYRun Out Groove Records Burbank CARust & Wax Record Shop West Palm Beach FLSalty Dog Records Sarasota FLSalzer’s Records Ventura CASchoolkids Records Raleigh NCSchoolkids Records Wilmington NCScreaming Earth Records Owasso OKSell Your Soul Records Mooresville NCShuga Records Chicago ILSilver Platters Bellevue WASilver Platters Lynnwood WASilver Platters Seattle WASiren Records Doyleston PASlick Disc Trenton MISold Out Vinyl Records Englewood COSonic Rainbow Casper WYSound Revolution Spring TXSoundtrax Morristown TNSpin Me Round Easton PASpinning Plate Records Covina CASquare Cat Vinyl Indianapolis INSquatch Den Records Horseheads NYStatic Era Records Milford CTStreetlight Records Santa Cruz CAStreetlight Records San Jose CASweat Records Miami FLT-Bones Records & Cafe Hattiesburg MSTelegraph Autonomous Zone New London CTThe ‘In’ Groove Phoenix AZThe Detroit Record Club Royal Oak MIThe Midnight Hour Records San Fernando CAThe Record Exchange Boise IDThe Record Shop Phoenixville PAThe Record Shop on 95th Evergreen Park ILThe Records Department Woodstock ILThe Sound Garden Baltimore MDThe Sound Garden Syracuse NYThe Vinyl Frontier Carrollton GAThe Vinyl Groove Records Cleveland OHThird Eye Music & Video Annapolis MDTimeless Vinyl Record Store Paducah KYToad Hall Books and Records Rockford IlTonevendor St. Augustine FLTrack City Records Escondido CATune Town Mankato MNTunes Hoboken Hoboken NJUncle Joes Records Cromwell CTUsed Kids Records Columbus OHVal’s halla Records Oak Park ILVerbena Vinyl Northfield MNVinal Edge Records Houston TXVintage Vibes Records Stuart FLVintage VinylA210 St. Louis MOVinyl Heaven Overland Park KSVinyl Resting Place Portland ORVinyl Revival Lansdowne PAVinyl Revival Records Somerset KYVinyl Street Co. Fairfield CTVinyl Valhalla Littleton COVinyl Veritas Brooklyn NYVirginia’s Memory Lane Records Henrico VAVolta Records Greenfield WIVolume Music The Woodlands TXVolume Music Huntsville TXWaterloo Records Austin TXWatts Music Novato CAWe Got The Beats Oakland Park FlWe Got The Beats Dania Beach FLWe Got The Beats Too Lauderhill FLWhite Rabbit Records Fullerton CAYearbook Records Lanoka Harbor NJYellow Dog Discs Wilmington NCYellow Racket Records Chattanooga TNYoung Ones Records Kutztown PAZia Records Las Vegas NVZia Records Chandler AZZia Records Mesa AZZia Records Tempe AZZia Records Tucson AZZia Records Phoenix AZZT Records Frisco TXZT Records – Sugar Land TXZT Records Arlington TXZT Records – The Woodlands Mall The Woodlands TX