Talk About the Passion
Published July 29, 2003
....As far as Weinstein is concerned, all record buyers are die-hard groups, and that's where the mainstream music industry has failed. "I'm at a loss to understand how all these supposedly creative [industry] people are unable to come up with exciting and creative alternatives when you're talking about a product that is just pure soul," says an indignant Weinstein. "It's the greatest product anyone could be involved with. I love selling music. It's everyman's art form. It's available to everybody and can be made by anybody. It's absurd that these jokers can't figure out how to market it to me."
....Weinstein, Currier, Madell and Wojcik all agree that the state of the music industry won't improve until more labels and chain stores become more passionate about the music they push.
"There are literally hundreds of thousands of beautiful albums out there," Weinstein says. "Soulful pieces of art created by people who in many instances have worked their lives leading up to that one recording. These recordings are in the can, and in many cases just sitting around. There's so much product, and no one's touching it! It's so bizarre. The merchandising that the Internet can provide: Why can't you just click on every world music label, see what they have, and play a sample? The technology is here, but where is everybody? I'm mystified."
"We carry a million 45s," he says. "We don't make any money off of them, but you can look at them all day. Just to be completely surrounded by the music and posters and things to remind you why you're there, it's inspiring. That's what a record store is supposed to be, and small stores are capable of pulling that off. And those stores will do well. And those without the passion or interest to make it exciting, those stores will find it harder to survive."
- Talk About the Passion
- Published: July 29, 2003
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- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: News
- Writer: Eric Olsen
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Tom--totally agree. I've had the hardest time trying to find old stuff from Sigur Ros (even from local used music shops).
stores like this are great. my favorite is Lou's Records down in Encinitas, CA. i only get to visit once a year (because as much as i love Lou's, it's kinda expensive to fly from new hampshire to california just for records....)...but it's always inspiring. dang, just the 'new music' (read: skronk) section alone is enough to make me drool.
locally, i have to drive about an hour to find a decent store...which is Bull Moose in portsmouth, nh. a great jazz section, tons of vinyl, and a staff that knows music.
that combination is very rare.
i've just gotta make it out to amoeba.
Lou's is probably the second-best store I've had the pleasure of visiting. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time there either, as I was there to see Mike Keneally play an acoustic in-store for the release of his Dancing album.
I need to make a San Diege-Hollywood record store trip, I think.
Amoeba is great. Although the crowds on the weekends could be a little overwhelming at times.
I just moved from SF to DC - anyone know of an Amoeba-type store out here?
Being a serious music junkie, I buy my music everywhere from in-store to on-line. I have been to all three Amoeba Music stores and I love them. I make a bi-weekly pilgrimage to Amoeba and Rasputin Music in Berkeley. I agree that you can spend a little less shopping at sites like half.com but it is nice to be able to touch your music and purchase get it now. I know I will definitely continue to support the indie stores.
Although I love Weinstein for starting Amoeba, the reason why Ameoba is so successful has nothing to do with his staff that "recommends" music. I have spent literally thousands of dollars in amoeba, and not once have I needed, nor have the staff offered, recommendations.
The reason why they are so successful is simply PRICE and SELECTION. Their average price for a CD is about 10 bucks, which is about the price point that I think most pepple will accept. I hardly ever buy new CDs because they almost always violate this price point. The only time I buy new CDs is from Amazon b/c their proce point is closest to $10 than anyone else. On occasion I buy new from Amoeba despite their high price (for new content), only b/c they save me so much money on the used selection they have.
I am the author of 1001 Ideas To Create Retail Excitement and want to thank you for carrying it. However, I noted that you are still carrying the original 1994 edition which is both outdated and out of print. A revised edition with seven new chapters as well as additional ideas and information was published in October 2003. I would suggest that you change the link to the new edition. Its ISBN number is 0-7352-0343-1. Thanks for your past support and I hope you will continue to carry the newly revised edition.
Thanks Edgar, will make the change
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I've been to Amoeba (the Hollywood store, in fact) a total of one time last year and I'm convinced it is by far the greatest music store of all time. I wish I could make the trek to LA more often just to go there.
The reason they're so successful is not only their prices but their selection. I only had an hour or so, and so had to hurry through, but I could have easily spent an entire day perusing a seemingly endless library of music there. I found used copies of long-out-of-print albums at reasonable prices, even. And their staff was out wandering the aisles stocking discs and they did indeed seem more than happy to help.
While everyone focuses on the horrors of the RIAA, there is the other end of the business, the retailers, that needs to be paying attention to what makes Amoeba successful. It may not be difficult to get me to buy something new, but retailers need to realize that sometimes the depth of stock they display can suck people in. Simply carrying the latest release by a band isn't enough. A place like Amoeba seems to make sure that they have numerous items to offer - because if I'm in the mood for that band, I'm buying something. I can't be alone in that regard. But I have had numerous times where I went in looking for something at a local store (chain indie, I mean) knowing it was something they should have and they didn't. That is inexcusable. That is why I end up resorting to the internet for purchases. I'd be happy to pay a little more than online prices to have what I want now. It may seem unnecessary and expensive for these stores to keep one or two copies of everything a band they sell releases, but there are more of me out there than they realize. They've just decided to focus only on "big sellers" and don't even realize what they're missing out on. It's this mentality that will result in the death of the brick-and-mortar music store.