close of a major independant music shop

[blackwax]

Andys records is a chain of music stores in the u.k I worked for them as a manager for 7 years they had 48 stores at that time
In the last 2 years they have closed many of there stores taking the number down too 28. I heard on the news last night they have gone into liquidation
Is this a sign of the times for music stores in a time where the industry is going through many changes. It is very worying as i now have my own store?

discuss your views on the change in record sales

[Jolyon]

I don't think dance music stores have so much to worry about re: downloading from the net. DJs will always buy vinyl.

I'd say there's more to worry about in terms of the general dip in popularity in dance music over the last couple of years (massive fall in dance compilation sales in particular).

Having said that every time I go to Vinyl Junkies or Koobla (two of London's best), they are always full of people buying records.

[Clarkeecat]

yeh, I think that maybes house isn't the massive entertainment option it was in the 90s, its become more specialist. So the record shops that aren't that specialist will suffer (like the psuedo (!) 'chains') but dedicated heads will always need new tunes and the shops that are able to cater to their demands will survive (like you Steve)

Matthew

[blackwax]

I hear you

I had a guy in the shop 2 days ago he listned to a pile of vinyl them told me he had already downloaded most of the titles through the net so instaed of buying 70-90 pounds worth like he used to do he spent 8 pounds so the fact is its definately effecting sales even in a specialist store like mine. I still have a lot of "dj" customers but the average joe dance music byer is definately not bying as much due to burning cd's
also many kids are now used to downloading and burning this is what they no not vinyl so where does that leave things in the future?

[Jolyon]

Younger generation (teens) are well up on downloading music. Even pre-teens are downloading music.

[danny webb]

Old people are still buying wax though, I'm sure I will in my 40's / 50's. Isn't there some ratio, that there will be more old folk by default in the next century?
Blackwax you're safe, better get the OAP's discounts goin though :D

[blackwax]

haaha nice one how about a dhp discount

mmmmmmmmm just might work

[Mark Gurney]

All of the reasons stated above are hitting the record store comunity hard, rent increases don't help either. I was chatting to one of the distributers in Soho last week & he expects another independent store to go under at some point soon. Alot of the vans are shifting more R&B/swing titles than house.
Most of the stores struggle at some point. Some bounce back ie Black Market & some are part of history - Catch A Groove, Time Is Right, Fat Cat, Atlas, Quaff to mention a few.

[Tony Cano]

do not kid yourself, things are really bad. there will be more stores and labels going under real soon. of course, the more popular businesses may be around for a long time, but those that are breaking even will have no option. kids, house wives and djs all downloading MP3 have taken their toll on the industry.

[Mah'chew]

Andy's Records in Wakefield used to do a dance pack of 12"(x5) for 1 pound in the late eighties/early nineties.

I bought one once and it contained*
o Those Guys - Tonite,
o Temper Temper - It's all Outta Loving You,
o Ten City - Devotion,
o Inner City - He's All Mine,
o Kenny Larkin - Integration (red vinyl & plays backwards)

All for a quid!!! :D

It's a telling time in the UK I guess, very similar to the Disco explosion/decline in the US, only the strong will survive... ;)