[kj] More bitching

[sade1]

Like both local television stations and newspapers, record stores need to 
rethink themselves and once again appeal to[today's] people's local and 
immediate needs and tastes. 
How about a shop that sells anything out there but specializes in the local 
music/video/arts scene or some underserved niche, maybe even helping to promote 
local gigs, clubs, festivals, etc.  If they can become locally relevant, 
knowledgable (become 'authority figures' or 'experts') and trustable to know, 
provide, and be able to 'hook up' people's gig, tkt, pre-order, band-updates, 
release dates and similar needs, they'd become an unsubstitutable local focal 
point and prized local resource. If they can get industry-'insider' access, and 
even priviledges, they'd have a place in people's lives again. 

It's sort of what dj music stores provide now, and why some are valued (and some 
more than others). Radio stations (Pirate radio, Indie 100.3 in Los Angeles, for 
example) are trying this to some extent.  

 
That all said, I am not saying record stores/mgm't. did it all wrong or got 
lazy; they didn't.  I loved them stores and miss them lots. The only thing they 
got wrong was how fast changes would come and how to stay abreast of it all 
(that said, i'm sure the Much More Powerful Forces still would've crippled the 
local music shops, methinks). I think they still have a niche to fill, and I 
think with the right mind and gameplan, they will come back. 

 
How to make it all profitable, fuck if I know, but I hope someone figures it 
out. 

 
Question to Gatherers:
how much of your music-knowledge/product needs that you used to satisfy at your 
local record shop do you now turn here to the Gathering (and Gatherers' 
associated websites) for?



________________________________
From: Alexander Smith <vassifer at earthlink.net>
To: A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!) <gathering at misera.net>
Sent: Wed, September 29, 2010 4:23:23 AM
Subject: [kj] More bitching


I think the sticking point that really burns my toast this time around is that 
time was when US release dates and UK release dates didn't matter. Invariably 
the Brit edition would come out first, and I could stroll down to any one of 
several independent mom' n pop record/disc shops here in the great C of NY to 
buy the imported version only days after its UK release.

Nowadays, with very little exception, ALL THOSE INDEPENDENT DISC SHOPS ARE GONE. 
Sure, there is a tiny clutch of them left, but they're struggling.

Both the culture and the very way we "consume" music has changed so much that 
the old methods of obtaining albums is completely outdated. Hell, albums 
THEMSELVES are completely outdated in many people's perceptions.

LAZY, SPOILED YOUNG PEOPLE & TECHNOLOGY RUIN EVERYTHING.

Alex in NYC


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