Fee Credits For Record Stores On Discogs: As we continue to practice social distancing for the foreseeable future, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit physical Record Stores hard. The impact started with drops in foot-traffic and escalated to stores needing to shut down entirely, ultimately leading to big drops in revenue. Record Stores have always been at the forefront of our community; whether it is a recommendation from the person behind the counter or digging in a bin in the back room, they are the glue that keeps us connected to the music and ultimately one another. There are many things consumers can do to support record stores, but we wanted to do something more. As of today, any Record Store that has had a Discogs account and has linked their VinylHub page has received up to a $500 credit for their March sales. With so many new stores being pushed online we want to make sure we can extend this benefit to them as well. So we will be extending credits to any new seller on their April invoice up to $100. Record Stores can create a Discogs account here and in order to verify their physical location…
Boulder, CO | Are record stores an essential business? In the past three weeks, over 30 record stores in the Denver area have closed their doors due to COVID-19. What were once sanctuaries to provide customers and music lovers with a sense of relief and expression are now relying on their customers more than ever. Across Colorado, several record stores are offering ways to provide customers with what matters most: the music. Since the spread of the coronavirus and a statewide stay-at-home order, record stores have no other choice than to close their doors, let go of employees and rethink their business strategy. That means a transition to online sales using social media as the primary method of outreach. Instagram has been a hot spot for online record sales. Stores like Bart’s Record Shop in Boulder and Twist & Shout in Denver have relied heavily on social media as their primary vehicle to get customers the records they need in a time where music is needed most.
Canandaigua, NY | Front-Row Seat: Record shop to open in Canandaigua after isolation era: Things were all falling into place for Jon Cooley. After selling records out of a case at the Ontario Mall Antiques in Farmington since last October, he was happy to see an affordable storefront space open up on Mill Street in downtown Canandaigua. He had some stock, and a distributor. Come May, the lifelong music fan would finally start up a brick-and-mortar, vinyl-centric used-records store, after careers in the restaurant and auto sales businesses. And then? Along came the novel coronavirus, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resulting “New York State on PAUSE” order to keep nonessential businesses closed to slow the spread of the virus. Not the optimal time to be in the middle of opening a small business. “Everything just came together … and then boom, everything changed,” Cooley said. “It seemed to be perfect timing — my lease at the antique store was expiring at the end of April; it was going to be a seamless transition. Then the antique mall closed. So the crowdfunding campaign took on heavy lifting.”
Savannah, GA | Rise from your Grave: Graveface businesses look for help during COVID-19 economic struggles: It was only a month ago that this newspaper published an article about the delightfully weird and macabre Graveface Museum that just opened on Factor’s Walk. The museum, which has the potential to become one of the most unique and popular tourist attractions in Savannah, barely opened its doors before they had to close them again because of the mandatory closure of non-essential businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. Owner and curator, Ryan Graveface, not only runs the museum, but also the Graveface Records store and record label, as well as other record labels including his Terror Vision imprint. With his multiple business all having to shutter at once, Graveface is struggling to pay rent and ensure that he can reopen when the pandemic is over. With a collective rent of $7,800 a month, Graveface’s wife, Chloe Manon, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help raise enough money to cover two months rent on his museum and shop, with the hope that the businesses can reopen soon after and keep their staff employed. “Chloe put it very simply that if we don’t do something, this could all go bye-bye, so ‘I’ll ask for help for you’…”
How Independent Music Could Suffer If Trump Kills the U.S. Postal Service: The music community could wind up as collateral damage from one of President Trump’s recent impulsive decisions. The U.S. Postal Service, long relied on by independent labels and record sellers to deliver a lion’s share of the nation’s vinyl, cassette, and CD orders at cheap rates, has seen its revenues dry up as first-class and marketing mail has slowed to a trickle during the coronavirus outbreak. As The Washington Post reported, Trump made it clear that he would veto the recently enacted $2 trillion coronavirus relief package if it included any emergency funding for the USPS. According to House Democrats, that may only leave enough money for the Postal Service to go on through September. Trump’s move casts doubt over the future of a public utility that—aside from being written into the U.S. Constitution—has turned out to be a crucial conduit for music sales.
