WXPN goes all vinyl for 18 hours to celebrate National Vinyl Record Day

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On August 12, WXPN shut off the digital feed and spent the day spinning nothing but vinyl. To celebrate National Vinyl Record Day, we played 18 hours of music straight from physical records.

But it was about more than just playing some records. It was about the connection people have to the albums they’ve carried with them. The ones they’ve sought out, held onto, and brought into the studio to share.

WXPN hosts dug through their own shelves, while guest DJs–including artists, record store owners, and longtime collectors– brought in their favorites.

Some records were warped. Some were dusty. All of them meant something to the people playing them.

Guest DJs included Kurt Vile, Ted Leo, Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz, and Charlie Hall of The War on Drugs. Philly vinyl staples like Lisa Schaffer (Vinyl Chickie), Pat Feeney (Main Street Music), and Shawn Cephas (Forever Changes) brought their own. Listener Grace Fanning, winner of WXPN’s guest DJ contest, also got a turn behind the decks.

For those watching online, the Vinyl Cams offered a behind-the-scenes look inside the studio. Hosts flipped through crates, lined up records, and squinted at the barely visible grooves on clear vinyl. There were handoffs between sets, quick brush-offs to clear lingering dust, and a constant shuffle to keep the music flowing.

It was hands-on radio, built on care rather than convenience. A reminder that how we listen still matters.

Check out the full schedule below.

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