| StoreTags: local, record stores
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I know many record stores are hurting these days or at least that's how it feels when i go in some of them and notice all the regulars who used to work there are missing and the guy who owns the shop is manning the place 24/7.
i've spoken to people who say things like "i haven't bought an actual CD in a year or so.. i just download the tracks i want from itunes". i know that's not everyone and more than likely lot's of people are still buying CD's and records but the masses aren't so much. and of course p2p file sharing is another ball of wax.
I got wrapped up thinking about all of these things because i'm pushing a few releases and will be pushing more in the coming months (right down people's throats!).  I used to be able to get local shops to carry releases pretty easily in san diego. either they would just buy a couple copies after hearing it or would do consignment. after the consignment ones sold then they would just buy them outright next time because the release (s) had been proven to sell.
these days it's more difficult. policies have changed in some record stores and of course for obvious reasons.. some stated above.. they can't just outright buy stuff all the time anymore.. even if it's gonna sell! of course there are record stores that are more supportive of indy acts still seeking distro. or perhaps they just think the music is good and they wanna have it in their store.. which is an experience i've had w/a few record stores/mail order shops in the UK/EU.
i've had varying degrees of success w/promo's and follow up and generally being a persistent pain in the ass. sometimes it's pretty frustrating and sometimes it's reassuring.
I'm just curious what the climate is in your home town? do you even have a decent record store? if so what's it called? are they supportive of local artists? are they supportive of electronic music at all? what's your experience been in dealing w/record stores and indy releases? | |
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03/13/07
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ignatius
record stores are so dead i can't even blog about them.
edited: Mar 13 2007
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logan
i work at a record store and we've actually been incredibly busy, but we are mostly web based. we don't really depend on new music either as most of the business is used vinyl, re-presses, and cd re-releases. but lots of record shops around here have closed up too. i had a friend who had a small, maybe even 'boutique' electronic music / dj store called 'weekend' that just never grew, so he closed up shop and went to work for another established record store. there is a new store called permanent records that just opened up last summer that seems to be promising. they're really nice people and have in-store performances and seem to do a good job of getting people in their store. they have a section for local music.
03/13/07
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Roshi
As my tastes get more and more esoteric, I'm forced to buy online, either CDs or digital.
For example, the shoegazer stuff I'm looking for is only at tonevendor. A lot of Southern Lord stuff is hard to find locally - I looked in three different stores for Boris, but then I gave up and just ordered online.
Still, tho, whenever we're in Seattle I have to hit up Easy Street Records - they're amazing. Like a mini Amoeba.
03/13/07
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ignatius
roshi-
i've had similar experiences. not even w/obscure stuff... things i think any decent record store would have based on the buzz alone.. only to have to go on line to find it. sometimesit's just the lag time between domestic/import releases or the time it takes a distributor to actually have the release available for order. it's always possible to order things through a record store but why should i do that when i can get it delivered directly to my house?
thanks for the info logan. nice people in record stores rule! it really makes my day.
03/13/07
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DrexonField
things have gone wayyyyy down hill here in Boston since the mid/late 90's regarding good records stores for electronic music. although there are still a few, I'd say my favorite record store that is still open and carrying AMAZING music is Twisted Village located in Harvard Sq Cambridge. I've been shopping there for a long long time. they also support many independent artists by letting them perform live in the store after hours.
It's run by very friendly people that know their stuff. I highly recommend checking them out if your ever in Boston.
03/13/07
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opticecho
I usually have had success working on consignment at local record stores in the towns I've lived in that handle electronic music. I sell more albums doing shows though than at record stores.
But, I completely try to buy local when I can. And vinyl if it's optional
03/14/07
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jdg
i'v been wondering how these ppl are doing these days
link
03/14/07
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5l4
we have a couple, but in a town our size, a couple is all you really need. I used to shop my favorite every week, buy at least one album-- vinyl or cd (usually depending on the content). They did a really great job of catering to my obscure tastes. The manager there always kept a hefty stock of experimental and noise releases to quench my thirst. They even had a single copy of pita's 'get out' on vinyl which, for a midwestern US town, is pretty amazing. Unfortunately, i left my job, and no longer have the funds to support such a habit (amidst my other, more harmful habits), so i quit going. makes me sad. They're called the love garden, and have a bunch of kitties always running around and sitting on albums. It's adorable.
03/14/07
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yghartsyrt
the record store in the town i lived, before i moved, was pretty well oing. but it was mainly a indierock record store with additional electronic stuff. besides that is was nearly the only one in town, besides second hand stuff and hiphop stores.
the electronic ones only had minimal techno and stupid trance, dunno if they were well atended.
can't say aynthing about munich, i hadn't have time shopping for records. 
03/14/07
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frnortnr
somehow things seem pretty much the same here, but the 2 big indy stores (zulu and scratch) also run their own labels so i suspect that's how they stay afloat. one of them (zulu) actually just doubled in size. they both have decent electronic sections too, not sure how they are for consignment but i guess i'll find out soon.
03/14/07
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ignatius
thanks for contributing to this thread. it's really helpful to hear how things are going in other places.
jdg- bluehouse is awesome. great people and lot's of great stuff there. i try and pass that one along everywhere i can.
frn- scratch is a cool shop. lot's of good stuff in there. they do distro for canadia but it's hard to get their attention even after you already have it. i keep trying though.
03/14/07
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jdg
but is it that there is online shops now for ppl?
or that ppl buy less music?
03/14/07
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ignatius
jdg said: "but is it that there is online shops now for ppl?
or that ppl buy less music?"
i think it's a little of both.. but i think some people buy more music via downloads. people who never had time to make the weekly/monthly journey to the record store can just download stuff more or less instantly or get it delivered to their doors.
i think a record store these days has to have a good online component to sales or they are just missing out. i buy from forced exposure and boomkat and sometimes other places when i can't find it anywhere else.
03/14/07
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dach
I just buy twisted 70s childrens songs on vinyl from the local fleamarket. Many of them in swedish.
03/14/07
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lukep
As far as I can tell, local cd sales for local bands are pretty good, in Fargo. There's lots of good local music and good outlets to sell in town. As far as vinyl goes, the best local vinyl shop closed up, that place was classic, but it's gone now unfortunately.
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