There's no denying that a growing percentage of music sales are going to downloads from Apple's iTunes, Amazon and others.
There's also no arguing that large chains such as Wal-Mart Stores, Target and Best Buy are capturing a bigger chunk of the physical CD sales market than ever before. All you have to do is look at exclusive deals made with top acts from Garth Brooks to Prince.
While the big
have gotten bigger, however, there still remain independent record stores
around the country that are in many cases not only holding their own but
prospering by delivering a selection, product knowledge and level of service
not matched in larger stores or on websites.
This Saturday, independents along with a whole host of recording artists will be celebrating the special nature of these businesses with the second annual Record Store Day.
In Portland, Oregon, Mayor Sam Adams has proclaimed Saturday as Record Store Day in the city, according to The Oregonian. Queensryche, of Silent Lucidity fame, will make an appearance at Music Millennium. Jackpot Records, another independent in the city, will present in-store performances by local favorites like Shaky Hands and Loch Lomond.
In Red Bank, NJ, Jack's Music Shoppe will give away a limited edition lithograph with pre-order purchases of Bob Dylan's new CD, Together Through Life. The store will also provide free food and beverages and include performances by Calry McIlvanine, Pat Guadagno, Tom Gavornik and the Sonny Kenn Band.
Bruce Springsteen once said of the local institution that draws shoppers from well beyond the Garden State, "In the wasteland of the music business, Jack's is an oasis."
A wide range of recording artists have contributed new releases, including recordings on vinyl and apparel to support Record Store Day events around the country. Among those are Elvis Costello, The Decemberists, Depeche Mode, Flaming Lips, GreenDay, Grateful Dead, Ben Harper, Tift Merrit, Jason Mraz, Sonic Youth, Hank Williams Jr., Whiskeytown, Wilco, Tom Waits, The Yeah, Yeah Yeahs, Stooges, Sublime, Talking Heads, Radiohead, Regina Spektor, Queen, Oasis, Modest Mouse, My Morning Jacket, Lykke Li, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Booker T, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.
As to what makes independent stores successful, John Mellencamp said, "Immersing yourself in the environment of a real record store where music is celebrated and cherished adds real value to the experience of buying music. In some ways, that retail experience is as important as the music."
Discussion Questions: Is there still room for independent "record" stores in today's music retailing environment? What attributes do these stores need to hold onto to be successful? What new tricks/technologies will they need to incorporate to deal with the realities of the modern marketplace?