Once upon a time, record shops were ubiquitous. But they’re not all gone – yet!
The novelty of wandering into record shops seems to be a dying past time. But small homegrown independent retailers are still clinging onto the not-so-distant trade. E2Music, a music and DVD store that buys and sells second-hand products, has gone from Navan (only twelve years ago) right to College Green on Dame Street. Maybe there is hope for those playing the toughest retail game out there after all…
Owners Aaron McGoona and Darach Kane lease expires in March; what happens after is to be decided. According to McGoona the “business is primarily buying and trading, based on the Amazon model”. However, can the duo survive the harsh market? With such a large expanse selling music there is a danger of the business fracturing.
Corkonians saw through watery eyes the much beloved Plugd records closing its doors on Washington Street in December 2009 after eight years. Jim Horgan and Albert Twomey of Plugd came to the reality that “selling music is not enough to get by anymore” becoming victims of the financial climate.
Plugd Records, Washington Street closes in 2009
Maybe it seems like a great idea to open a record store selling vinyls, CDs and DVDs for nostalgic values. For me, it’s reinventing the wheel on grounds where the wheel has become obsolete.
Colossal companies such as Virgin Megastores, Zavvi and HMV have felt the effects of record sale decline. So what chance does the miniature have?
It’s a simple domino effect. The larger stores fall so competition for cheap deals become null. Thus, those who survive hike up prices. The independent record shops attempt to counter attack by selling products at a reasonable cost but eventually get gobbled up by the raging recession. What’s left behind is a ghost town of record shops and overpriced hyperstores filled with junk. This fallacy is seen over and over since the advent of the Digital age.
Not to mention the biggest stab to the new record shops – illegal downloading. The new record shops are basically competing with an invisible enemy who is universal.
I do wish any record shop the best of luck that promote homegrown music and I really do hope they do not become extinct. E2Music are just one of hundreds that combat the Digital age today. However, will they still be here tomorrow?
What do you think about record shops today? Should we leave them as something in the past or keep them alive?
Image: http://www.meg.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/plugd-200×300.jpg
Small, independent record stores nurture your musical taste, never resorting to the bombastic approach of the likes of HMV. Its a shame to see them disappear. I remember getting a secondhand copy of Surfer Rosa by the Pixies for €4 in Plugd, it’s heartbreaking not to see it on Washington street anymore.
The bigger chains are literally filled with crap, crap & more crap. Books, DVDS, accessories, CDs, cups, t-shirts, toe nail clippers, heaters and other rubbish…
The first album I ever bought was in PlugD – Queen Platinum Collection for a few bob!
PlugD didn’t close, they moved. First to a temporary spot in the ESB Substation across from Cyprus Avenue, then to the Triskel (just off Wash St.) A bigger space and also a cafe (Gulp’d – geddit). As far as I’m aware they moved because of exorbitant rents, not because of lack of demand.
The writer doesn’t seem aware of this!?
Thank you for the comment. I do enjoy an engaging audience!
I am aware that PlugD moved and it’s evident that Cork won’t let the great shop die so easily (thankfully!).
But yes the rates were to great for the lads to pay – whether this was a result of lack of sales and being unable to pay or being tripped into a pit most of the country fell into because of the recession. Maybe even both – a vicious double whammy.
But when the beloved PlugD closed in 2009 there wasn’t any prospect of a re-open at the time.
The only reason Id buy a cd today would be to support a small band, either unsigned or on a small or indie label. The only place I’d buy the cd is at a show, from the band themselves to help them on their tour, to enable them to come back to the country and to make sure they get all of the money.. These days it seems to be the only way bands are making money anyway, from touring live and selling merch at the shows. Most of the bands I see now on labels such as Nitro, Fat Wreck Chords, Paper + Plastick etc. dont even sell many cds, they sell 7″ vinyls. Are these available in independent music stores? Unfortunately independent music stores usually dont stock the music I want either way, so as much as I would like to support them, I really have no reason to.
I don’t think that’s correct, actually. Just that the Triskel had been delayed again hence the temp spot in Caroline St. Either way, it’s conjecture and should be labelled such!
Rent rates (esp. on Washington St) forced loads of business’ to close/move from there over the last three years. A lot of those were paying rates from 2004 days, others (apparently) have cheaper rents as they’ve moved there more recently.
I don’t think it’s correct to say they were ‘victims of the financial climate’ when they’re still open! And the article doesn’t acknowledge that it’s still open, just that it’s closed due to record shops being obsolete, which is patently false as the demand, at least in Cork, is still there.
I know it doesn’t gel with the intention of the article, of course:)
I probably should have mentioned that PlugD did fortunately get a safety net and got a second chance – you are very much correct
I was just taking the snapshot of the time, really.
Do you believe record shops still have a chance of survival? Or will they be swept away like some think books (eBook,Kindle), newspapers (Internet) and pen & paper (iPads) will be?
I think there’s room for small, independent records stores, definitely. I’d agree with you that the likes of HMV and Zavvi have a tougher time ahead but the smaller guys can corner that niche market (and sadly, that’s all it will ever be from now on) if they’re good at it. Over the last 12 months, Galway (WingNut Records) and now Dublin have gotten new, small, independent record stores.
Vinyl is still selling today and DJs/collectors still need these places. Also, for underground/independent/local music, the internet doesn’t always provide what you’re looking for, though admittedly that’s going to be less of a problem over the next few years.
It’s challenging times ahead but I think those who are innovative and use a little imagination will do fine. I personally don’t think newspapers are as dead as everyone suggests either. Most sites on the net are either digital versions of the physical thing or aggregators like the Huffington Post. These sites still require the weight and power of a ‘name’ newspaper and experienced, accomplished journalists behind them in order to get their content. Web tablets might replace ‘em in the future alright, but you’ll be paying the same price or more (depending on the all-important advertising dollar)!!
For books/comics/magazines, digital could be a godsend! Books and comics in particular aren’t struggling so much because of piracy; they were losing sales long before that became an issue.
As for how to make money out of music if your a musician/band/record label: your guess is as good as mine!:)