Events
I realize this may come as a shock to many people but independent music stores still exist in 2009. And I mean actual physical stores, not internet services. Hopefully you’re like me in the sense that you like to support your local artists and musicians [shameless shoutout to Danger Invites Rescue!], but I say we should all support our local record stores as well. Before dismissing this as crazy-talk, at least allow me to elaborate.
To me, there are two main arguments for downloading music from iTunes and the like. First of all they have a crazy selection, much more so than any physical store can possibly compete with. Point duly noted. Second - and this is a big one I think - is the convenience factor. Why go out to the store when you can just sit on your ass in front of the computer screen and watch music magically appear before your very eyes? Well I may not convert you but I can at least give you a couple reasons why.
For my case study I’ll use my local independent music store, Amoeba Music. They have a wider selection of music than any national or regional chain I’ve ever been to. Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz, Blues, Classical, Soul, Funk, Electronic, World - they have it all and more. And they have a well-stocked collection of vinyls for you collectors out there. Plus they have listening stations loaded with thousands of albums that you can listen to all the way through; none of that 30-sec clip bullshit. One can always find used albums there for $8-$10 or less. And for that price you get uncompressed audio which can in turn be compressed to the format and level of your choosing for transfer to a digital music player. Also there’s the liner notes, which are priceless sometimes but worthless others. It’s also important to mention that you can sell an album back to Amoeba for cash or store credit if you’re not happy with the purchase. Granted you won’t get 100% of your money back, but try that some time with iTunes and see if you get a response.
Now I understand that most of us don’t live near an Amoeba Music, but that doesn’t mean you don’t live near some other similar store that shares some of the same perks. There’s probably one closer than you’re even aware. Who knows - if you venture out into the sunlight you might even meet someone new and interesting. And don’t be surprised to feel some sense of accomplishment after having left the house and interacted with other Homo sapiens instead of remaining plugged into your computer. In fact, that’s part of the allure for me in going out to the store. It’s not just about acquiring new music; it’s about the whole experience. There’s something about being in a large room with walls plastered by concert posters while being surrounded by all kinds of music and music-lovers that no online experience will ever compare to. Plus, since you decided to go to the local independent store instead of say f.y.e. or Virgin, you’re much more likely to get a quality recommendation from the staff. You see, these people aren’t working there as a part-time high school job; they work there because music is a big part of their life.
Before concluding this rant I do need to be clear about something - even I have lapses every once in a while. Sometimes I hear an audio clip that intrigues me so much that I must have the album now, not later. So I go for the quick fix. This is totally reasonable for anyone who’s passionate about music. But most of the time when I want to make a purchase, I check iTunes Plus and Amazon’s downloads only after perusing Amoeba’s used and new sections. I don’t even mess with DRM music, and I’m glad that iTunes will soon be exclusively DRM-free. [And it's about time! ...have fun upgrading your current library for $0.30/song.] Now if none of those options have what I’m looking for, it’s probably an obscure album that needs to be shipped from overseas. That’s when I really need to make a decision about how badly I want it.
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