Record Stores: Coronavirus ‘Could Be the Death Knell’ For Indie Retailers: Most shops were already scraping by, but many look for hope as the pandemic forces their doors closed. …The paradox of killing your store to survive has been brutal for small businesses across America, and it has been especially vexing for record shops, many of which were already barely scraping by in their quest for survival. More than half a dozen store owners and buyers across the nation tell Rolling Stone that the coronavirus pandemic puts the world of record retail in peril. For much of the past year, stores have been dealing with a frustrating problem, as major labels shifted their distribution operations to Direct Shot Distributing, a service they say has crippled their business by making it more difficult to get new releases. Many say they had recently pulled themselves back into the black when the pandemic hit, putting their profitability back in jeopardy. Now they’re navigating uncharted waters.
Record Labels Feel the COVID-19 Crunch: Established labels have been trying to keep business going during the pandemic. There is no shortage of harrowing stories that illustrate the pain inflicted by every aspect of the music industry at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Record labels, major and independent, aren’t exempt. As every scheduled tour, from stadiums to living rooms, has been postponed until later in the year (or outright canceled) and several anticipated albums shifting their release dates in kind, it’s certainly understandable to see the Chicken Little effect setting into the collective psyche of industry insiders. It’s scary out there, and stories like this harrowing depiction of the biz do very little to ease worried minds out there within the music business. Artists haven’t been exempt from the crunch either. Yet for more established labels, there are promising stories of hope as they bravely keep moving forward through unprecedented dormancy.
Lafayette, LA | Outbreak forces record store back to its roots: Husband and wife team Tess and Patrick Brunet have owned Lagniappe Records since 2013. The store did not start out that way. Back in 2011, Tess and Patrick were online. “The two years prior, we were primarily operating online, so full circle,” Tess said. Tess said she and Patrick, both musicians, grew tired of touring. They wanted to keep close to their musical roots and have a chance to connect with the people buying records from them. “You miss that interaction, that face-to-face, that connection with people,” Tess explained. “Talking to people and getting to know people–that seemed like the natural progression for us.” While the last few years have been good to them, the recent stay-at-home order has forced them to head back to their roots. Lagniappe Records is going back online. “It’s a good way, especially as a record store, to have that as an option,” Tess said. “It’s an added bonus to operating a brick and mortar storefront.”
Vancouver, CA | Have vinyl, will travel: Vancouver record stores forced to improvise due to COVID-19 pandemic: Selling records can hardly be considered an essential service to most people, but one retailer is doing what it can to satisfy vinyl lovers during this pandemic. “So, right now, we’re doing curbside pick-up, which means you basically get a hold of us, tell us what you’re looking for, and then we’ll do a safe handoff through our gate,” says Ben Frith, assistant manager of Neptoon Records, located at Main Street and East 20th Avenue. “We also do delivery within our neighbourhood. That’s kind of the radius I’m willing to walk. Certain exceptions will be made if it’s not too much further or if an order is big enough,” he adds. “We’ll also ship out to you if you’re a little bit further out or don’t feel comfortable leaving the house or having someone come to you.” Neptoon isn’t alone in offering home delivery. Audiopile and Red Cat Records are also offering similar services during the pandemic.
Nashville, TN | Nashville’s United Record Pressing temporarily lays off workers: Nashville’s United Record Pressing had to temporarily lay off 120 workers due to the COVID-19 crisis. The company manufactures vinyl records. It put out and official WARN notice with the Tennessee Department of Workforce and Labor which requires employers to provide 60 days notice before laying off workers. The layoffs were effective March 20, but the Dept. of Labors dislocated worker unit wasn’t notified until March 30.
Special Online Screening Of New “Vinyl Nation” Documentary: A special online screening for the new documentary called “Vinyl Nation” is coming up next weekend! The doc “digs into the crates of the record resurgence in search of truths set in deep wax,” and proceeds from the sales of tickets go directly to local record stores! In a post on their Facebook page, Vinyl Nation says: “In partnership with Record Store Day, we will be offering a special, limited-time digital screening of Vinyl Nation on what would have been RSD 2020 weekend, i.e. Saturday April 18 and Sunday April 19th. Independent record stores all over America will be selling digital tickets through our ticketing partner, Brown Paper Tickets. Tickets will be $10 plus sales tax and Brown Paper Tickets processing fee (so roughly $12 all told). Here’s the catch. Record stores selling tickets will keep 100% of the proceeds. That’s right. The entire $10 ticket face value goes to your favorite record store.
Chicago, IL | Larry Sherman, co-founder of Chicago’s legendary TRAX Records, dead at 70: Like many independent record label owners, Sherman had a complex legacy. Larry Sherman, the co-founder of Chicago’s legendary TRAX Records, died of heart failure on Wednesday. He was 70. “It is with great sadness that TRAX Records and Rachael Cain [the label’s president] must announce the passing of Larry Sherman — it’s legendary founder,” said a label statement. “I am beside myself … I ask that everyone please send LOVE AND PRAYERS. He was of the Jewish faith and passed away on his holiday Passover.” Mr. Sherman also was a member of the Wisconsin recording group The Robbs, whose 1966 song “Race With The Wind” became a hit record for Mercury Records. He founded TRAX in 1984 with Vince Lawrence. He was an ardent collector of vinyl, which led him to purchase Precision Printing Plant in Bridgeport. TRAX was instrumental in developing house music — a music genre that was born in Chicago. House music legends Frankie Knuckles, Larry Heard and Marshall Jefferson were some of the mainstays who released iconic music on the label.
Aurora, IL | Aurora vinyl record collectors enjoy taking the music for a spin: Like thousands throughout the area, Aurora couple Pete Carmichael and his wife Kristina are spending more hours at home these days and passing the time by taking their extensive vinyl record collection for a spin. While each enjoys music, Pete said his interest in records “started young as my mother was into old country music and Johnny Cash.” “I grew up listening and singing along and it wasn’t something that was a drag,” Pete Carmichael, 45, said. “As far as record collecting goes, a couple of years ago I felt that vinyl was really coming back – depending where you live – and we thought having a shop in downtown Aurora would be a good place.” Kristina Carmichael, 41, said the couple “plans to be part of downtown Aurora” and actually left their home in West Palm Beach, Florida, in order to come back to the area where they have family. “We have family here and it was our decision to come back even though some people think we were crazy,” she said. “For us, it was a no-brainer.”
Gallatin, TN | Randy’s Record Shop demolished: The former home of Randy’s Records Shop was demolished late last month ending a nearly two-year effort by a group of local residents to save and restore the building. “We held it as long as we felt like we could, but they just didn’t raise enough money,” said local businessman and Gallatin City Councilman Steve Fann who partnered with local real estate investor Michelle Haynes to purchase the West Main Street property at auction for $56,000 in November 2018. “We’ve been involved over a year and at some point, you just have to say enough is enough.” …Since that time, a group of local residents had been working to save the building from demolition. The group formed the Historic Randy’s Record Shop Foundation with the goal of restoring and reopening the record shop as a tourist destination. “There is not a city or town in this state that would not have loved to have Randy’s,” said Johnny Griffin who spent nearly two years trying to save the building. “That is the only one in the world and Gallatin had it.” “The city was sitting on a gold mine and they wouldn’t (save) it.”
