So let me go ahead and say out loud what everybody has known for at least a couple of years now.
The music industry is officially dead.
What blows my mind is not only the way nobody will come right out and acknowledge the obvious, but the way those who do sort of see the writing on the proverbial wall try to rationalize just what the hell happened.
Most recently, my brother Blogcritic Ray Ellis lamented the apparent demise of Tower Records on these very pages. Now, you've gotta understand something about Tower Records. For at least a couple of decades now, Tower has represented the very epitome of the ultra-hip record store.
When you think of the type of snotty, hipper-than-thou record store employees sitting behind a counter with their green hair and multiple piercings snickering as you bring your copy of the new Kenny G album up to the register, nothing comes to mind quicker than Tower. Admit it. You've been there, and so have I (though in my case it was probably something by Genesis rather than by Kenny G).
Pain in the ass that these ultra-hip, underpaid record store jockeys could be, they were essentially a big part of what made the wheels turn for the record industry at large. They were the proverbial oil in the grease. Simply put, they were record guys (and gals). You see, the record business, up until very recently, was a very unique animal. It was the one job in the universe where you basically didn't have to worry about showing up to work hungover, because the chances were pretty damn good that your co-worker was checking out the same band as you in some club the night before.
Ray's article, and Joan Hunt's response to it touched on this somewhat, but in my opinion, they only scratched the surface of the much larger problem. To coin a tired old cliché, what it boils down to is "it used to be about the music, man."
Record stores like Tower — but to a much greater extent, the smaller Mom And Pop indies — used to be a place you could go to not only get good recommendations on the latest music, but maybe even a leftover promo poster or bumper sticker. Once you got past the snotty, hipper-than-thou persona of the underpaid guy behind the counter with the green hair, chances were pretty good you could make a valuable connection with a music expert. Especially if you connected with that person on a common ground of musical interest. I mean, these guys didn't work for minimum wage for nothing. They did it because they loved the music, man.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Vern Halen
"If there are actually guys like that still out there (and I have little doubt that there are) banging their craft away in some garage, what motivation do they actually have?"
Sure they're out there. And they're posting stuff on internet sites like garageband.com, soundclick.com, songplanet.com, myspace (of course) and other such dotcom sites, where it's basically given away. Because, in the end, it really is about the music, mon.
Home recording has got to the point that anybody with a few $$$, a little time & some knowhow can record an album in their living room. But there's still a lot of swill on those sites too that one has to wade through, and it's tough to find that next Springsteen in a pile of tens of thousands of tunes.
But rock 'n' roll soldiers on. We just have to find a way to bring the idea of quality back into the public eye - you know, substance over style & all that. But for that we'll need the powers that be to get onside, and for that we'll need them to focus on something other than the alimighty dollar.
2 - Benjamin Cossel
Indeed, the next Dylan, Rolling Stones and what have you are out there. THey're flocking to the indies who have somewhat of a better reputation for taking care of band, working their tail off to get their artists heard and what have you. The system, by all means, has been hijacked by a few elite corporate hack jobs, but we can take it back, stopping buying the pap, go the extra step and go to the indie store or band website and buy direct.
3 - Glen Boyd
You're not going to believe this but somebody at ABC News World webcast just read this piece and they want to interview me for a story they are doing on Tower closing (I wonder if they called Ray too...)
Unbeleivable!
Anyway, thanks for the comments Vern and Ben...I'll keep ya posted on what happens with ABC.
4 - Mohjho
Music is communication. Before the 60s, all records,(pop) were sold by large established distributing companies. The 60s music scene changed all that with a different message promoted by new upcoming producers and distributors(Tower). As these cutting edge very talented producers started making money, the old established companies took back the business, reestablished control over the message and over the last 3 decades or so have dominated what gets sold.
Back to the 50s with it's pastel message.
Now we have digital recording and network distribution. This is very cheap and easy. If you want to see the real music talent, you have to look for it in its medium. All you will get from Tower is old news. The wonderful part is that this medium spans all continents and cultures.
So much talent with so much message, all you got to do is open your mind and look for it.
5 - Alan P
Great article Glen. Thanks.
Tower was always important in my life, always a place to find something out of the ordinary, and get my "coolness" level measured by the "pierced one".
Rasputin and Amoeba records will get more of my business and hopefully will be able to navigate the waters for a while longer.
The Internet has provided an unprecidented opportunity for musical discovery and growth, support artist direct sales and the indies....
Thanks Again and Congrats on the ABC News World Webcast.
6 - Ray Ellis
As a matter of fact, ABC did contact me for an interview. James Wang emailed me, but by the time I got home, the segment had already been done. C'est la vie.
But enough of that-- Nice piece of work, Glen!
I never worked for Tower, but I did work for Wherehouse, Borders, Sound Warehouse, Sam Goody and several others. It beat getting a real job, ya know. Maybe it's just my cynicism showing, but I don't think the labels ever promoted an act based on artistic integrity. It's always been about the Benjamins.
That being said, Tower's closing in a lot of ways, is Goliath getting his comeuppance. Finally, the indie stores have a chance to survive for the fans who are collectors. I believe that the days of record stores as we knew them are over. What will happen to the brick and mortar stores is that they'll be in a league with comic book stores, existing for hardcore collectors.
Anyway, I like your take on it.
Cheers!
7 - Glen Boyd
Thanx Ray! Your piece inspired me to write this so that means a lot!
Heres the link to the ABC radio thingie for all interested: Obituary: Tower Records
Thanx!
-Glen
8 - Ray Ellis
Just saw the ABC clip, Glen--way cool! Congrats!
9 - Eric Olsen
terrific Glen and Ray both - congrats on doing such a great job! ABC knows what it's doing
10 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Honestly,
It's truly not going to make much of a difference because I thought this way when Coconuts was shutdown and when Strawberries kinda disappeared, really, nothing happened. Being a Metalhead, I have always had to find my own way because the US has always been "Behind the 8Ball" when it came to that genre.
So, THANK GOD for the internet and who gives a rats a$$ about Tower.
11 - Glen Boyd
I haven't heard the ABC thjing yet because I've been here at work all day. Hopefully I didn't make too much of a fool out of myself anyway. I'm gonna try to reply to all who commented later tonight. Needless to say a very wild day...I've had a hard time concentrating because I've been so distracted with all of this.
Anyway thanx to all for the comments today.
-Glen
12 - Vern Halen
Watched the ABC piece - congrats, Glen! You came across sounding fine!
13 - Glen Boyd
I'm gonna go take a look at it now Vern --just home from work --
Gotta tell ya, work was tough to get into today with all of this going on --although all of my co-workers were very supportive of it all.
So I guess I'm gonna go ahead and watch this and let it all soak in now. And you weren't kidding when you said you thought this piece would get some attention after reading it over on my blog. I had NO IDEA ABC was gonna come calling though. Just too freaking wild!
Anyway, I'm gonna try and respond to everyone's comments sometime later tonight. Right now, I'm off to get embarrased watching this (I've always hated how I sound on the radio - even when I was a DJ).
Thanx for the comment Vern.
-Glen
14 - Glen Boyd
Holy Crap! I just saw it -- with BC's name splashed across the time, I think Eric may just have to cough up a few sheckles for this one...LOL...
Does anybody know if this made it to TV? I had no idea Charles Gibson anachored the story.
Guess I can now say Ive officially had my, umm...30 seconds was it?
-Glen
15 - Glen Boyd
Alan P, Mojiho, and Guppus...and of course EC...thanks for getting your two cents in here. And I think thats everybody.
I apologize for not making more direct responses (something I always try to do) but it was a little tough today to balance my "day job" with the interview and everything else that went on today.
I guess when it gets right down to it I'm pretty "old-school." Buying music on the internet is great for the snap of your fingers convenience and the access it gives you to pretty much anything. But I just know I'm gonna miss going to a record store (even one like Tower), browsing through those racks, and even getting abused a bit by Captain Hipster behind the counter.
Tower is more of a symbol than anything else in all of this. Its just another sign that an era has really passed and for an old school rawk dawg like me, it's just really sad.
As for digital music and downloading and all...well, for me nothing that beats holding a tangible thing like an album or even a CD in your hands, looking at all the purdy pictures, and reading the lyrics and the liner notes.
For me that has always been a big part of the whole music experience. Maybe I'm getting old, but the whole fast moving, instant gratification thing today just really leaves me cold.
I think that the age of the record album, and even the CD is just going to be really missed in the long term.
Thanks everybody for your comments and a big thanks to Ray Ellis for inspiring me with his own article about Tower to scribble down a lot of thoughts that have been locked up in my head for awhile now.
-Glen
16 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Great going, Glen, for the ABC coverage, and also for this article. It triggered my fondest green-haired Tower cashier moment: I'm bringing up my Christmas gift purchases to the disaffected attitudinal youth wearing a "Fuck You" button for all to see. Oh well, at least her hair was seasonal. Congrats, again.
17 - Glen Boyd
Well, what else can you say about that Gordon? 'Tis the season as they say. Thanx for the kind words.
-Glen
18 - Glen Boyd
The double post was some sort of slow down on the site. If a comment editor could delete one of those, I'd appreciate it...as it was not intentional. Thanx.
19 - Mark Saleski
great article glen. i'm definitely in the non-internet buyer camp too.
and gees, the abc thing: fantastic.
i do have to say that i've never gotten any help from a tower employee, but most of 'em don't know much about the kind of thing i'm into anyway.
20 - Snarkattack
Does anyone remember that song by Corner Shop 'Brimful of Asha'? The lead singer gives a shout-out to Tower Records. Alas, it is no more.
Stellar work with the ABC thing, Glen - you rocked it hard! What will be next, I find myself wondering...
21 - Glen Boyd
Thanx Mark & Snark (hey, that rhymes doesn't it?).
I was never so proud to be associated with this site as I was yesterday. Whats really funny is that article came about sort of by accident. I'd had the "hippies" thing kicking around in my head for awhile as just a general thing about the state of the music biz (I was originally going to call it "When Are we Going To Let The Hippies Run The Record Labels Again?")...
Then Ray wrote his Tower thing and that got the wheels turning and...and the damn thing pretty wrote itself from there.
That ABC would notice it (and in fairness they noticed Ray's piece and contacted him as well) still just blows my mind
Thanks again everybody.
-Glen
22 - Jason
After dealing with Tower for distribution & encountering a nightmare of incompetence, I can't help but wonder how much of their demise can be attributed to bad business and/or bad execution of their business model?
Inventory stuck in warehouses, never delivered to stores. Sloppy accounting and accountability from stores to HQ. AP not knowing it's ass from it's elbow and not paying wholesalers, causing runs on the stock they *were* distributing when the wholesaler decides to suspend shipments.
They made money in spite of themselves, sometimes.. but that only goes so far. And when the CODB increases (rent, heat, gas, etc).... and you are losing $ through the cracks faster than you're making it....
you know.
23 - Connie Phillips
Congratulations! A link to this article now appears on our Myspace Profile page.
24 - Ray Ellis
Thanks for the attribution, Glen, but this is YOUR moment to shine--you done did good, dude!
25 - Manny Hernandez
This reminds me of an experience I had in a record store in a different country, but still felt like it was here.
I was looking for an album by this guy Pablo Milanes (Cuban trobadeur) which had been release eons ago. I went to this record chain store that had some of the same types of people in them that you describe above, and asked about this album. He gave me "the look" back, as if I'd asked him something in Chinese, and pointed out that the album in question had been a limited release and my chances of getting it were slim at best. He recommended that I get the compilation of hits by the artist (insert here your favorite sales push pitch) to which I said no, since I was on a very specific search.
I went a few stores down the same mall and ran into another record shop (not smaller by any means, but that's irrelevant to my point). I started simply browing through the reduced items, and what do you think I found? The SAME album I was asking about, and not one but dozens of copies of it, one of which ended up in my collection.
I couldn't help going back to the other store to point out to the guy who'd "taken care" of me before, to let him know if anyone else asked about this limited edition CD, they could go to this other store. ;)
Indeed, the music scene and the industry at large is no longer the same, but I have faith that there is still hope because I learn about artists that develop their own craft and deliver it directly to their fans using the Web as an e-commerce/distribution vehicle. So ironic... the very claim that the industry makes, ends up being the way in which innovative independent artists convey their art. I say there's hope, Glen.
Still, congrats on an amazing article!