HMV to close ?

[hot_ice]

This attitude is not only effecting the sales of cds but also music in general, I think it is also contributing to decline in live music and festival attendences.

[mrtourette]

I don't know how true it is but industry types would have you believe that the rising cost of live music is caused by the increase in pirating.

[Guest]

I don't know how true it is but industry types would have you believe that the rising cost of live music is caused by the increase in pirating.

[hot_ice]

I'm sure it's part of it..

it's odd though how the largest rises in ticket prices have been with the major artists. Probably because they can... newer acts don't have the luxury of choosing what punters might pay to see them

[Guest]

supply and demand, i think as ebay/get me in ticket touting is now so common for big events, i think industry have taken a look and thought, well if people are going to buy them at that price, we might as well charge that price

Edited January 15, 2013 by tonyblair

[TalkShow Bob]

I don't believe that for a second.

[eFestivals]

Now there's another chart.. who makes the most money (touring) each year...

Last year it was Madge. Bruce was 2nd, and Roger Waters third.

[Sparticus]

I really hope it doesn't close, 45 quid on a gift card (was getting a refund and there was fuck all that took my fancy).

That and 4000 people losing their job because of shite mismanagement is a crying shame, whilst amazon are better in price and selection, the thought of tesco being my emporium for music is not one I want to entertain.

Also can't help with that's entertainment stores popping up all over and flogging second hand CDs at a fraction of the price.

[radish]

Stands to reason for me. The record company now takes a cut from live takings, which they didn't before. They do this to maintain profits lost due to pirating. Recorded music is fast becoming more of an advert to go and see the band live; where as before it was generally the other way round.

[abdoujaparov]

Edited to add, HMV stopped being a record shop years ago. In fact, it stopped being anything tangible really, no focus, no plan, at least not one that would work. I still say a 'record shop' could work if it became more of a lifestyle store. If if could go into a shop, browse and listen to music I like, play a guitar, take part in a workshop, record a tune in the pay by the hour studio, watch a band in the central pit/stage area, buy the t-shirt, get the tattoo, have a beer in the bar next door, I'd stay there all bloody day.

[thetime]

I think that's pretty much spot on

Look at Rough Trade at Brick Lane. A big retail space, selling music to peop-le who are passionate about music, coffee shop, live bands, staff who really know their shit. It works - they're successful. It's probably the best record shop in the UK. I could spend all day every day there.

[Guest]

I'm not so sure about that tbh. Go back to the 70s/80s/90s, a mate did a mix tape or taped an album for you, you liked a band, go to see them live, really like them, buy some more of their stuff. Touring has become more lucrative, yes, but I don't imagine there are many artists that made significant money from sales of records/CDs, think of how much they made from each one, only a few pence. The record companies made more from the physical product, but to make out that online piracy has killed off their perfect business model as they seem to claim is bollocks. People have always copied music, taped it off the radio, copied friends albums, whatever. It's how music has spread as far as it has. If a few more of them had embraced the online revolution early on, supported and developed it instead of crying like babies about it, maybe their part of the industry would be in better shape.

[Guest]

These type of shops work in big city's like london, manchester etc etc. What about the small towns and smaller city's?

[thetime]

did small towns ever have many independent record shops?

[abdoujaparov]

did small towns ever have many independent record shops?

[abdoujaparov]

These type of shops work in big city's like london, manchester etc etc. What about the small towns and smaller city's?

[Guest]

what's your definition of small? Two market towns near to us, one population 15k the other 35k, both have independent record shops

I grew up in a town with a population of about 7000...it had two independent record shops. There were two more in the similar sized town 2 miles down the road...

[thetime]

then unless you're lucky enough to have an independent shop, you're knackered

[abdoujaparov]

ok, that's good then (isn't it?)

[abdoujaparov]

Pretty much, no more browsing for me in the shops..

That leads to another question, is there an online shop where you can go like independent shops?. I dont think ive explained that correctly, Somewhere different to amazon. I know you can go to individual record labels but anywhere to explore?

Edited January 15, 2013 by abdoujaparov

[thetime]

ok, that's good then (isn't it?)

I lived in Brighton, and there was one independent record shop that went out of business when Virgin came to town. Seems like it was better in other towns than I imagined.

[thetime]

http://www.roughtrade.com/

[abdoujaparov]

Cheers for that.

[abdoujaparov]

Even the big city's independents are going to the wall, swordfish records in birmingham city centre has gone and that place was fantastic. When you think birmingham is englands second city it has no major record shops if hmv goes. Tower records gone, virgin gone, hmv going and they have 1 independent I think left.

[kaosmark2]

http://www.cdbaby.com/