[Rob Babcock]

It seems the recording industry was very very slow to recognize the writing on the wall.  I had a standalone CD recorder for quite awhile before most people knew such a thing existed, and back when PCs were starting to get affordable but before the dot.com explosion I was amazed that the RIAA seemed blissfully ignorant about how easy copying a CD was.  Years ago my brother was telling our cousin that he could burn him a copy of a CD onto a CD-R:  our cousin didn't believe him & thought he was making it up!   Of course, by the time the recording industry figured it out it was too late to put the toothpaste back in the tube.  SACD was an effort to do that but was largely ignored.

So here we are.  Many of the "record stores" that are going out of business deserve to go out of business.  Honestly, when's the last time you bought anything at Sam Goody's?  Same Top-40 crap in every one but for $4 more than Amazon.  Why the hell would I bother?  Many of the B&M record stores have zero variety or diversity.  Best Buy isn't great but they have a lot more indie and small band selection than your average chain store.  I agree it used to be fun to browse thru the racks but now it's pointless (although the used CD stores are still pretty good, IMO).  While it's fun to look, it's more fun to hit MusicDirect, HB-Direct, Red Trumpet, Amazon, CD Baby, etc etc and listen to samples.

[ctviggen]

Why fight traffic , burn $3 gal/gas plus waste your free time to drive to a record store when you can find almost any music you want online ? I used to like rummaging through a record store when they had stuff worth rummaging .

I still go to a record store, mainly because they have used CDs/DVDs.  I like to buy used if I can, as they are about half price. I still think CDs are too expensive.  On the other hand, I purchase a ton of stuff over the Net.  For instance, I just purchased two sets of headlights for my car.  It was easier and faster for me to order them and have them delivered rather than wait to be able to get to a car parts store, hope they have the lights, and pick them up. 

[The_KiD]

Since Tower Records Closed in my Area, there are no REAL Stand Alone Record Stores. It really does suck that we are forced to go to Borders, Circuit City, or Best Buy to purchase CDs. I usually end up ordering online now which is fine but I do miss poking around Tower Records...

KiD

[lonewolfny42]

Since Tower Records Closed in my Area, there are no REAL Stand Alone Record Stores. It really does suck that we are forced to go to Borders, Circuit City, or Best Buy to purchase CDs. I usually end up ordering online now which is fine but I do miss poking around Tower Records...

KiD

I feel the same way....I lost Tower - Carle Place...my late nite stop (good that they were open till midnight).

On a related note.....from coolfer.com :

"Billboard's Ed Christman has an article that says the RIAA has invited some labels to a May 11 meeting to explore whether a new physical format is needed to replace the CD. Said one exec, "Other new format efforts have failed in the past, but we want to explore if there's a play to be made to come up with a replacement for the CD."

[gitarretyp]

It looks some states may in effect be putting used record stores out of business soon by requiring used cd stores heavily scrutinize from whom they purchase article.

[lonewolfny42]

It looks some states may in effect be putting used record stores out of business soon by requiring used cd stores heavily scrutinize from whom they purchase article.

Thanks for posting that article link.....

[Wayner]

It all goes back to public domain. Which is NOT the case for pre-recorded music! Pre-recorded music is property of the creator and/or the publisher. Period.

There are warnings on any medium about copying and distributing. I for one think that anyone guilty of the crime should receive the full penalty of the law. It's destroying an industry as well as our hobbies.

W: Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

[JeffB]

I think the radio stations have something to do with the downfall also.
Virtually every radio station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and Infinity Broadcast.
It seems both of these companies have decided it is ok to play the same 200 songs over and over and over.
I like metal, and there is no metal played on the radio today. 
Plus the feeling of community, special events and concert promotion that stations used to do is also dead.

Finally I don't know why the Record Labels won't drop their prices.  They might actually sell CDs if they cost $5 instead of $20.
Frequently, buying a CD is a crap shoot.  You won't know if you like it until you've played it a few times.  If the gamble costs too much you won't buy.

[Thelonious Monk]

i am just scared that i will die in a world that no longer appreciates the arts. i hope we get out of this rut. we survived disco and hair metal, but can we survive flat out riaa fascism or, even worse, the fact that people just don't care enough? do not let songs like this become reality:

"hear the sound of music
drifting in the aisles
elevator prozac
stretching on for miles
the music of the future
will not entertain
it's only meant to repress
and neutralize your brain
soul gets squeezed out
edges get blunt
demographic
gives what you want
now the sound of music
comes in silver pills
engineered to suit you
building cheaper thrills
the music of rebellion
makes you wanna rage
but it's made by millionaires
who are nearly twice your age
one of the wonders of the world is going down
it's going down, I know
it's one of the blunders of the world that no-one cares
no one cares enough"