Rush my money to the record shops

[venta]

Crap.

HMV is going into administration.

And if HMV goes, it'll take Fopp with it (I imagine).

And that'll be the end of the big high street record shops.

If it causes an outbreak of independent record shops, then hurrah! I fear it won't. And I like record shops.

I don't browse well online, not for music or for books. I want to pick stuff up, and look at it. I want to own a CD, and a nice cover, and some sleevenotes. I want to be able to wander into a record shop, and listen to what's playing. I want to flick through CDs and see what's on offer.

I'm a dinosaur.

Time for a ceremonial trip to HMV on the way to work in the morning.

Comments

[emarkienna.livejournal.com]

I agree it's sad - well, I suppose there are still plenty of places online to buy physical CDs, but as you say it's nice to browse, plus if you have an impulse buy, it's nice to have it immediately rather than wait for the post. HMV was also useful for DVD/Blu-rays.

As it happens, when I noticed the HMV had gone in Cambridge, opened opposite was Head[*] which as far as I can tell is a new independent CD shop. It was packed too. Though I fear that this isn't going to be a general trend.

* - Of course there's also the "Why can't they have a website, not a bleeding Facebook page" rant.

[venta.livejournal.com]

As someone without a Facebook account, I quite agree!

Actually, apparently independent record shops are doing quite well at present - selling vinyl with added indie cred, and such. I don't know if it'll be a long term thing.

I don't really have a local independent, but do occasionally pop into Rough Trade East (in Brick Lane) and that seems to be booming away quite nicely.