What a great concept. This is more than another attempt to save the dying breed known as the local, indie record shop (although that is a vitally important role of the cause). This is a way to further celebrate the independent spirit of music and that of those who create it.
The original idea for Record Store Day was conceived by Chris Brown, and was founded in 2007 by Eric Levin, Michael Kurtz, Carrie Colliton, Amy Dorfman, Don Van Cleave and Brian Poehner as a celebration of the unique culture surrounding over 700 independently owned record stores in the USA, and hundreds of similar stores internationally.
A participating store is defined as a physical retailer whose product line consists of at least 50% music retail, whose company is not publicly traded and whose ownership is at least 70% located in the state of operation. (In other words, we’re dealing with real, live, physical, indie record stores—not online retailers or corporate behemoths).
— Record Store Day
I for one rarely ever download music. Not for any righteous moral objections, but because I like having a physical copy of whatever music I buy. Blame it on the nerd in me who always needs a backup file. So my medium of choice is the CD. About 99.9% of my music library is redundant (CD/MP3).
Of course, there is a little voice in me who offers congratulations each time I by a CD, knowing it is a legal copy and the money is supporting the musician. That’s right. All of you out there who think pirating is some grand protest against record labels, it’s not really. It’s taking bread out of the artists’ mouths.
As more shops get involved in Record Store Day, more bands will get involved and vice-versa. But, in the end, the success of the movement depends on the music consumer. So, go to your local shop and by a record.
Talk to the folks that work there. Learn about their tastes in music. Make a friend. Most importantly, support local, indie music. Help free Americans of American Idol and leave Walmart to fend for itself.
See Also:
Record Store Day
The 3/50 Project Celebrates Record Store Day
