Last week, KISS announced that its new album, Sonic Boom, is to be sold exclusively at Wal-Mart. Is this further evidence of what the Chicago Tribune's Mark Caro referred to as "the death of the record store"? Caro also asked if a rock band selling an album exclusively at a big box store counted as a sell-out.
I think it's a valid question. The Tribune's Greg Kott and compatriot critic Jim Derogatis on the Sun-Times have discussed this sort of thing time and time again on their program Sound Opinions, and the point that they make is that regardless of who you're talking about -- be it KISS, AC/DC, or Prince -- this is an artist turning their back on the mom and pop record shops that allowed them their start.
Of course, the fact that everyone seems to be ignoring is that most artists today are making their way almost totally independent of any sort of traditional brick-and-mortar business. When you can release your album direct to iTunes, Rock Band and Guitar Hero, why invest any money in actual physical product? If the album tanks, that's all lost money. The point made by JG Mason of Gadgetell is most prescient:
"Album sales are off 45% since 2000. The answers why are pretty clear: we don't need to pay for stuff the bands made just to fill an album. Seriously, every album I own has a track I typically fast forward or choose not to download to my player. Some easy examples: REM's "Airplane" off their Accelerator; Depeche Mode's "Macro" off their Playing the Angel release. Surely, you know what I am talking about."
He goes on to describe the "iTunes effect," wherein programs like iTunes help their users "completely and happily miss the filler." You hear about the "death of the album" almost weekly anymore, but when one considers the hip-hop comedy skit, it starts to sound almost welcome (exemption granted to Eddie Griffin's "EDucation" from The Chronic 2001 -- that was bomb).
Here are the basic facts: Love Garden, much as it is the "local record store," isn't a mom and pop. Maybe a cool older brother, or an child-free aunt and uncle who spoil you, but not a mom and pop. When Kief's used to be on Iowa, it could've been a mom and pop. Penny Lane, Needmore -- both were mom and pops, certainly. Do we really have any left, though? Streetside's about your only option in Kansas City.
The real kind of store this is going to hurt barely exists anymore, however. The sort of store that carries everything from ICP to the Eagles to Skankin' Pickle doesn't really exist anywhere near here anymore...except in one place. Mike's CDs & Tapes in Leavenworth is the sort of store that a kid (myself) growing up in a small town (Lansing) needs. It carried Nirvana's albums with all the swears!
Seriously, this place was a mecca for me growing up. I found the first Specials album on cassette for a dollar, and nearly wore it out. I really started hanging out there when I tagged Mike's rear bumper when I popped the curb turning my truck out an alley, and had to get my first real job to pay him back. I'd have to go in there every two weeks and hand over part of my paycheck to pay off the body work to his Camaro, and I'd still drop another $15-20 when I was in there, ordering a Less Than Jake b-sides compilation or something.
While I was there, it wasn't unusual for there to be a dude in a feed cap picking up a Garth Brooks disc with a kid in baggy jeans right behind him to grab something from Too $hort. It brought people together, is what I guess I'm trying to say.
And now, that store -- the very store that would carry Kiss's new album, or AC/DC's new record, is getting shafted in favor of Wal-Mart. If that wasn't enough, Kiss is once again throwing a great big middle finger to the Midwest and not coming anywhere near the farm belt where the last of their die-hard fans live. I guess Saskatoon means more to the monied demon that is Gene Simmons than Kansas City, Omaha, or Des Moines.
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How is KISS shafting the Mid West??? They only announced the first half of their tour. They always go to the mid west on the second half of any tour.
They play the major markets first because if they tank there then they don't risk the smaller markets.
Wake up and grow up!
And the mom and pop stores have been dead for years so the only people getting hurt are the huge companies like Best Buy, and we're supposed to feel sorry for them?
Are you nuts?
I think Nick is making the point that Love Garden never counted on selling NEW copies of top 40 acts. Love Garden didn't really carry major label releases until Radiohead's "Kid A."
Love Garden does sell plenty of USED CD & LP copies of Kiss, AC/DC & the Eagles. We even carry some NEW copies of the most-loved records by these bands. From our prospective, 2007-2009 releases by these bands are totally irrelevant to young modern music fans - our base.
Wal-mart's base? We'll never win them over...No matter how much we try. Love Garden strives to be a shop for the everyman and the cool kid - but niche pays the bills for the small business while mass-culture consistently finds ways to screw the everyman. We'll pick up the pieces when someone realizes that Wal-mart ain't taking care of their music needs.
PS. Note that every band that's done a Wal-mart exclusive are clearly washed up beyond recognition of their former great selves.
Vinyl Renaissance on Shawnee Mission Parkway is another indie store. Not much into conversation but you can get some rekawds there.
I think what he's saying is that Love Garden is a place for cool kids, music geeks and vinyl collectors; whereas a more traditional mom and pop like Mike's serves a wider clientele comprising, on the one end, kids seeking Nirvana and Too Short, and, on the other, folks seeking Garth Brooks and Celine Dion. Now, mainstream music consumers go to Wal-Mart and Best Buy, and their privileged, tech-savvy kids download stuff for free online.
The only traditional mom and pop music stores left are urban ones like 7th Heaven, Wax Factory, Casa De Musica (if that place is ever open) ... stores that cater to neighborhood kids who come for music that they can't get anywhere else. It's a weird dichotomy: Love Garden and 7th Heaven are both independent records stores, but, boy are they different on the inside. And may they both last forever!
Granted, I know you are making a point about your experiences, but how about Zebadee's on 39th?
I'd feel a lot more comfortable though if we had a store where white guys with guitars weren't entirely the extremes we could denote as benchmarks for quality selection.
Care to expand on your description of Love Garden? I can't see how that makes any sense...Pennylane was a national chain, was it not?f
Similarly, who's buying KISS albums in 2009? I mean, maybe someone is buying "Destroyer" on vinyl at LG, but the absolute piece of shit that is "Sonic Boom" (haven't heard it, stand by my assessment)...? Anyone?
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