Some Indie Music Stores Are Still Smiling, Despite Downloads

by , 11:00 AM EST, March 22nd, 2004

To hear the record companies tell it, brick and mortar music stores are dying off faster than dinosaurs after a meteor strike; nobody's making any money, least of all the artists who create the music, and it's all because of illegal music downloading. While there are some statistics which bear up the music industry's claims, there is evidence to the contrary; according to a story in Wired News, many independent music stores are doing just peachy, thank you very much. These stores cater to customers in their own unique ways, and actually look at downloads as a way to generate interest in new artists. From Wired News:

Take Hoodlums Music, located on the Arizona State University campus, which opened during the heyday of Napster. One might think Net-savvy students would ignore the shop in favor of free downloads.

"It's a myth," said Steve Wiley, co-owner of the store. "We see them wanting to buy music." High prices, rather than file sharing, are what usually stop a kid from buying a CD, Wiley said.

Typically, the music industry wants stores to sell CDs for $18 when they should be going for $15, he said. That $3 can make the difference in terms of whether or not a CD is going to sell. "The file sharing, the Internet -- just makes them music junkies," Wiley said.

Paul Epstein, owner of Twist & Shout, a store in Denver, agreed that piracy has helped his bottom line. He said it's like radio, another form of promotion that spurs sales. "File sharing is a danger, but it really turns a lot of kids on to music," he said.

The independent music shops that are thriving have built a close connection to their communities and deliver personal service that so-called big box stores like Wal-Mart and Best Buy can't match, the panelists said.

There's much more in the full article at Wired News.

The Mac Observer Spin:

Is there anyone who is surprised by this bit of news? We aren't. The music industry may well be losing its audience to competition, but it's not just because the competition is cheaper (a LOT cheaper); it's also because the industry has yet to change with the times.

Independent music stores must pay close attention to its customers and adapt to changing needs, as illustrated by stores in the article where one stays open late and the other hosts a DJ 'open mic'. These innovative ideas attract clientele, and once you got them in the store, they will likely buy something. Seems simple enough, but many chain music stores can't seem to grasp the concept, they cannot adapt. Darwin said it, and it's been proven time and again; evolve or perish.

The RIAA would have us believe that music downloading is akin to the meteor that killed the dinosaurs. While that is true, as we have long said, this is one meteor the dinosaur could easily dodge, if it but wanted to. Change is inevitable; if the labels somehow mange to squash music downloads, another manner of distribution over which they have no control will appear.

Record Stores: We're Fine, Thanks