Quality record stores survive

Maybe, just maybe, we have choosen the right way. Today there were two articles in the Swedish newspaper SVD about record stores, The conclusion is that stores that work with high quality and profile themselves to a certain group of customers survives. Most swedish record stores have closed down during the last few years, but the ones that survive is not doing bad at all.  Some of the stores we have deals with show very good results indeed. Pet Sounds in Stockholm is a very obvious example on this.

There are some ideas in the article on what a record store can be like in the future. Interactive products, where customers put together the content and looks of the product is one trend seen in other areas like sport shoes.

Also, the articles nuances the debate on file sharing, which I apreciate. It statse three more reasons than just the common “file sharing kills music industry”:

• Web shops has taken a large part of the market, they often offer records to a signifacantly lower price than traditional shops.

• Music is bought in other forms than on record. Todays music consumers buy songs to their mobile phones and computers without ever owning them on plastic.

• High rents in the shopping malls. Somthing that made for example Bengans in Kista to close down.

Demos incoming

As a record company, there is a phenomenon we have to deal with. Suddenly artists start sending demos. This is quite strange, since we used to be the ones sending the demos. Now, at the other end, we try to get the time to listen and write to everyone. It feels important to be able to give some kind of relevant feedbakc to people sending. mostly we have received websites and myspace sites, which is very efficient and gives a good view of the bands style. Some has sent CD:s, which in turn is a great way for us to take home or listen in the car.

Generally the recording quality is incredible. I mean, gosh, I sat with a cassette 4-track when I started… It seems that musicians knows how to handle a studio and how to twist the knobs for great sound. However, the songs; meaning melodies, groove, spirit and dynamics, are not as good. I feel that there is a lot of technology and very little magic involved in the music. Some exeptions though… We will see what happens.

Two japanese bands, one english and some swedish bands has sent the demos. Of course we are not a usual record company, so we require more than just someone who wants to get onto Itunes… We want people who become part of the team, to work with us in marketing, networking and creativity.