I don’t want to contemplate a world without record stores, but it's here.
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Say Goodbye to Record Stores and Physical Albums [INFOGRAPHIC]
Physical record sales are declining. Record stores may soon cease to exist thanks to digital music and unlimited live-streaming services.
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I foresee a world without Sam Goody's…oops. Too soon?
Any-hoo. I see a world without chain retail manufactured entertainment glop. iTunes and Amazon have already replaced most of them.
But we have a local business here in Colo. with half a dozen or more shops: Independent Records. It is the go to place for obscure, off the beaten track (puntastic!) music of all flavors and sorts. They are also the definitive head shop for the region. With the legalization of medicinal marijuana, they have diversified further and opened The Indispensary…
Those places will always hold a special spot in my heart, and I'm glad Independent seems to be surviving. When I buy physical discs of music, I try to buy from them. But they provide a "destination and experience" as much as an retail transaction. And for the dying hardcore audiophiles that must have vinyl, I doubt an eTailer will ever replace the corner record shop.
Good riddance to Sam Goody's and their ilk.
Right on Jeff. Here in Berkeley we have the (hopefully) immortal Amoeba and Rasputin's – amazingly both still alive on the same block (Telegraph Ave.) Neither have diversified into the head shop business – there are enough of those on Telegraph Ave.) but they have started doing brisk business in turntables and vinyl – as you say, the last bit that can't be bought as bits.Â
I love them both, but to be fair and honest, I also admit that my music purchasing habits have become almost 100% digital in recent years. I grew up in record stores and love them and don't want them gone, but I'm also at a point in my life where I want to stop accumulating stuff. It's a dilemma.