“Once upon a time it was just the radio stations that knew about a new music release before we did. These days now that it’s all on-line, we’re the last to know.”
This was what a local independent music store owner said frustratedly to me this week as she searched on-line for a long time, unsuccessfully trying to find out about 3 new album releases from internationally-known music artists I asked her about buying, and pre-ordering if possible.
“I’ll keep looking for them, but the only way for now seems to be pre-ordering digital copies”, she said.
(Not the particular albums I was looking for this week in my local, independent music store, but you get the picture)
The experience that I’d hoped to instead have in that music store was this…
I might be able to pre-order the albums from her. If not, she’d at least say “Yes, we’ll have them as soon as they’re released. Come back then”.
I’d leave the store happy.
Then I’d count down the days in anticipation and excitement of going back to the music store on the release date to pick up my new musical joy I’d been waiting to get my hands on and hear.
On the release date, I would go back to the music store and gladly hand over my money to the owner and walk away with my new record or cd.
I’d take it home and put it on. I’d listen to all of the sounds of the recording that the artist who made the music recorded and wanted me to hear. I’d admire the album art work. Check out the names of the artists who worked on the album and where it was recorded. I’d read the acknowledgments or other messages written by the artist.
It would be a happy, happy musical day for me.
I miss those good ol’ days. They weren’t so long ago.
Independent music store owners undoubtedly miss them too.
I suppose we should count our blessings that in the bad new days of digital music consumption, some independent music stores still have their doors open to go in and ask – that those store owners are passionate enough about music to stay open whilst barely making enough money to pay themselves a wage.
Yes, I know it’s all been said before but it needs to be said again and again.
Blessed be the independent music store owners.
Blessed be the music artists who release their music on vinyl and cd.
Damned be digital music consumption and it’s ever-increasing global monopoly.
Anyone out there apart from me and music store owners, feeling frustrated and saddened by these bad new days in the world of music?
Funk fans out there who aren’t sure, hear this beloved George Clinton & The P-Funk All Stars song in its dirty, compressed mp3 format, and mull over the format in which you’ll be buying the highly-anticipated new Funkadelic album that George Clinton has just announced is coming our way…
George Clinton & The P-Funk All Stars – ‘Funky Kind (Gonna Knock It Down)’ – T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M (1996)
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