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| From | "Craig Leve" <CraigL@ori.org> |
| Subject | Re: Rhino store in LA closes |
| Date | Fri, 6 Jan 2006 17:15:50 -0800 |
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No, you're not. But I'll say this - the closest indie retailer to my office (Face the Music) which was spitting distance from the University of Oregon closed earlier this year. I used to go into this store 2-3 times a week and probably bought something there almost every week. Part of what I liked was that some of these purchases were based on seeing something on the shelf, a casual conversation or a staff recommendation. It was all kinda casual and just sorta emerged. I didn't necessarily ask for or come to expect a recommendation on any given visit, but if something particular to my tastes had come in, I was sure I'd hear about it. Now that they've closed, there's one indie retailer here in town, but they aren't the sort who have stuff out on display much. If I know what I'm looking for, they might have it, and they'll definitely order whatever I want. Some things are impossible for them to get - and so yes, I'm dependent on Not Lame, mostly and a few things from Amazon or some retailer for specialty imports.
Critically, if I COULD find them here, I'd buy more cuz I have limited impulse control about CDs. I do download from eMusic, as you mentioned, but if I really like something I still like to buy the CD. I'm old school in that way.
It's been said many times over that the industry that feeds even indie stores is morphing, and parts are dying off. Most folks don't much care that brick and mortar stores are gone, but I'm on record and remain so, that my sense of loss has less to do with nostalgia than with actual human exchanges that were facilitated by those places.
Relatedly, but yet different: I was bemoaning how folks don't go out to live shows (at least not here in Eugene) very much anymore. Its probably overly simplistic, but I think people like me, who are SUPER busy, with kids, transportation, homework, soccer, dinner on the table, and jobs that don't know 9 or 5 as any meaningful boundary are seduced by the 'on-demand' nature of a lot of entertainment options. I go out to live shows, indeed I make it a point to when folks I like come to Eugene. But my point..if there is one, I don't think any of these developments is helping those who would make making music their livelihood. Or is it?
-craig
P.s. I promise the next posting won't be whiny and WILL talk about a new album that I'm loving and haven't heard mentioned here. But it deserves more than a P.S.!
-----Original Message-----
From: audities-owner@smoe.org [mailto:audities-owner@smoe.org] On Behalf Of Josh Chasin
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 4:53 PM
To: audities@smoe.org
Subject: Re: Rhino store in LA closes
I keep reading about these record store closings, and while its sad and
nostalgic, I'm pretty sure that the era of the record specialty physical
retailer is passé.
Let's try something. This list is comprised of what would by anyone's
estimation be a bunch of heavy record buyers. How much do we patronize
physical retailers?
In looking at all the titles I bought for the first time in 2005, I come out
like this:
Physical retailers: 7%
At shows: 2%
Internet (downloads and online stores such as Amazon and Not Lame): 91%
I'm excluding the ones I got as gifts or for free.
Am I atypical?
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