Posted 02 December 2004 - 6:42 PM
Out where I live, there are few music stores. Chains like the one I work in, and my store being so massive have pushed the smaller chains and other indie stores out of business. The surviving indie stores are pretty much niche markets and you have a drive out of your way to get to them. And even still the selection is always hit and miss. As karma would have it, even the largest of record stores like mine are having trouble staying in business because there are megamarts like Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart that can afford to sell their music at below cost.
With my store (Tower) we have a decent sized electronic music section and the person that runs it, this kid Darin, really cares about what's in his section and tries to keep a wide variety of stuff in stock - to the best of his ability and as much as allowed under the radar. The original goal of the store, from back to the beginning, was to have enough people working there that were "specialists" in certain types of music. These people knew the demographic, knew their music, and knew what to stock. But things have changed. The problem with chain stores is that for the most part, the buying/selection is not in the hands of the individual store anymore. Chains don't have room for that much autonomy, and all the buying is centralized. Meaning: replenished automatically with a system which we call Phoenix.
Stores like mine are ready to grab a quick buck just to stay afloat in the competition with the Best Buys and Wal-Marts, so the focus is primarily on new releases - the BIG new releases new are a sure-thing money maker, so corporate chains will play up on it. That's part of the reason why my store received, no joke - 800 copies of the new Eminem, over 650 copies of the new U2, over 600 copies of the new Gwen Stefani. Not to mention all the advertising materials for those bands I was forced to hang all over the store. As if the above bands wouldn't sell themselves on their names only, it has to be shoved down your throat when you walk into a music store! It's sad and disgusting, because this practice edges out any chance for a smaller, lesser known band from ever getting a chance to make it. Record companies pay stores like mine a crapload of money just for advertising and for a spot on an endrack - and labels won't take that chance on less popular artists because it's not a sure thing. I'm sure it's this way with most major chains and why the selection is weak is certain genres like dance. If you think that's bad, try checking out the classical music section in your nearest record store chain. It's fuckin preposterous.
Record store chains are told what to do, cuz the money talks. There's also the issue with accessibility. Out of sight, out of mind. Corporate chains like mine feel if you don't see it, you won't ever hear it, and that's just as well cuz you don't need to anyway because they aren't u2 and aren't making them a shitload of money anyway. And they like it that way. If one store can generate can thousands of dollars on a sure thing, why should they care about less popular bands.
OK, my rant of the day is over for now. I'm just getting more and more frustrated with my job and my store, it hasn't always been the way it is...
Oh, and one more thing - regarding Kasabian. All us in the US can snag an import of this. It comes with a dvd and it's a decent price considering. But there won't be a domestic release of this until May. Maybe March if BMG gets its shit together but I highly doubt it.
be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle
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