S.O.S. (Save Our Stores)
I recently read about the amount of music stores closing across the country in Rolling Stone. It hadn’t struck me, until a few days ago, that F.Y.E. is the only national chain record store in operation, which is pretty depressing. I used to visit Record Town or Strawberries as a kid, I rarely went into Tower Records and I’ve never seen a Virgin Megastore. Is this a sign of the times? What is on the horizon as iPods begin to take over?
Borders is said to be cutting a percentage of their music and movie section, Wal-Mart might do the same. People just aren’t buying CD’s anymore, or they are going back and buying vinyl, but soon we may not need these stores to buy and listen to music.
As an audiophile this makes me sad. Pretty soon I only will be able to buy music from Best Buy, and they don’t have a great selection. Small independent chains are holding on still, thankfully, but for how much longer? Whenever I go in to Newbury Comics I feel compelled to purchase something to keep them in business, even a pack of gum or a bumper sticker.
Don MacLean and I each have a sacred store where we’ve heard the music; I just don’t want to see those stores close. Buying music online is no fun at all because you can find everything you want, there is no ‘thrill of the hunt’ when you point and click. I have dreams of coming across rare albums at music stores and finding something special. Please don’t take away my dreams, or I may have to break down and get iTunes.
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