Indie Record Stores at Risk

Independent record stores are declining in numbers. The Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) reports that just 300 indie record stores remain in the entire United Kingdom, down from over 1000 a decade ago.

The industry shift to online music consumption has also plagued major retailers, as we reported in January, but stores are trying to fight back with the second annual Record Store Day on April 18, when more than 1000 stores worldwide will offer in-store events and performances.

Kim Bayley, director general of the ERA, said that “anyone who believes in British music must fear for the future” of independent record stores. Bob Barnes, chart director at market research firm Millward Brown, said that supermarkets caused the decline by supplying CDs in the 1990s. It has also become increasingly simple to buy music online, and the newer generations of music fans will probably buy fewer records. This is just an opinion, but it seems that the indie music business too divided. Labels, artists, and stores need to come together to find solutions in the virtual environment.

It would make sense for record stores to pair up with digital distributors to stay alive, instead of shutting down for good. If a digital distributors (like Amazon) supported record stores, then maybe we’d all have still have a place to loiter with friends and check out new music. Online music is great, but nothing could ever substitute the CD and vinyl record. Do you still visit your local “mom & pop” record store?

Have you noticed indie record stores disappear over the years?

Photo via flickr.com
Source: The Sun