On one hand, I can sympathize with the record stores. Corporate chains deserve to be out of business, frankly, but smaller independent stores have been a backbone long before chain stores started popping up in shopping malls. Much of those (the ones I’ve come across, anyway) are relatively fair when it comes to pricing and service. It’s a shame they’re being done like this.
I think their ire shouldn’t be directed at Jay-Z or West, though. The label would have made that decision for marketing purposes. We’ve already talked about how Apple is in bed with them now, and Best Buy has had exclusives like this for ages. It’s a common practice that, many times, the artists have nothing to do with. Although, with the stroke that Jay and ‘Ye have, they may be going after the right people after all.
On the other hand, this can also be chalked up to being a sign of the times. CDs have been dying a slow death for years now. The digital marketplace is where the action is happening—once again, a sign of the times. I hope the independent stores never go completely under, but I’m also afraid that the course is already set. Stories like this only serve as a small indicator, too. The future is far from set, but it would not surprise me if we look at this as the record stores having a very valid point, in hindsight, because there may not be any left a few years down the road.
Article comments
1 - Jennie
No jokes should be made about people with drug addictions. No jokes should be made about someone who's dead. I was never an Amy Winehouse fan, but I was saddened when I heard of her death. She was only 27 years old. That should make people sad and anyone who can make jokes about her now needs to have their head examined. People have no compassion for anyone anymore. We would rather laugh at someone's life falling apart then hoping they get their life together. What the hell is wrong with the people in this world?
2 - Sara
It shows how ignorant you are. People like you that do not do their research about their subject, should be restrained from writing. Michael Jackson was murdered and he was no addict. Just to let you know. You can read a bit further and see that there is an "involuntary manslaughter" pending in his case. By the way, the murderer is not the only one involved and he is only the "Fall Guy". DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE WRITING ANYTHING, OR YOU DISCREDIT YOURSELF AND PEOPLE THINK TWICE BEFORE READING YOUR JUNK.
3 - Aaron Grimm
Sara, [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor]. I think you completely missed the point of the entire article, getting hung up on an inane detail that you interpreted out of context. READ THE WHOLE FUCKING ARTICLE BEFORE YOU WRITE YOUR JUNK.
BTW, Melchor, good article.
That is all.