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Michael D. Jackson The record store was like the barbershop! A real live campfire experience like what you have been writing out tonight. Where people in the industry took the time to breakdown the music with you. I remember going in and telling the record store owner a record I wanted to sample and them putting me own to Count Basie, Coultrane and Duke Ellington. If you told them you were an artist they wanted to play your Demo real quick to "See what you were talking about". That's where you get a real live on the spot critique. It could be me, but I think we are missing that fabric of music which has also created a disconnect with the "Soul" in soul music. The DNA of music has been spliced, and left us with this mutated derivative of the heart, soul and heritage that our music once was. IMO
This statement that Mike D. Jackson made is so true, the record store were community country clubs. At time online in certain FaceBook groups, now is where many of those conversations are.
In the past few years our industry as a whole has been faced with extreme challenges. The online presence has created an environment that literally has killed the functional use of the single. What was that? To make you familiar with an artist and allow you the chance to decide whether you wanted that album. But the biggest thing the online presence stagnated, was people going to the record stores and discussing issues. The record store was a place somewhat like the barbershop where customers could go and discuss music, trending topics and whatever was the caveat of the day. Some say but they were supposed to be going there to buy records, well you say that because you probably never worked in a record store.
It’s funny, the new record store environment is the stores called Foot Locker. It’s the place in every mall across America where the youth consumer hangs out, buy and find out what they ‘re going to decide to be what’s hot. This is now where guys go to buy shoes and wind up chatting with their favorite sales rep about shoes and culture.
You see Hip Hop wasn’t just a form of commerce in some cities. The record store was where emerging entrepreneurs got their first taste of being in business. Customers had a place to express their views to someone where they could get on the spot feedback. Artist had a place where they could learn honestly whether they had product that mattered. The community record store had a lot of functions. It was an employer for young people who needed jobs. An educator for those who were trying to be in business. A place where people who were real fans could mingle. The online does have the ability to engage in discussion but there’s nothing like one on one live engagement with another person.
The record store was where Michael Jackson showed the world that he could out sell everyone. The record store was where hip hop prove its commercial value. The record store was where southern bass music was made available to college student and they found out that 2 Live Crew was as “Nasty As They Wanna Be”. The record store was where Bobby Brown let us know it was his prerogative. The record store also was where NWA let us know how they felt about the police “F*ck The Police” and the record store was where Salt N Peppa let us know “What a Man” they had. The record store was the cultural and community watering hole for everyone.
Michael you’re statement rang so true to me. I myself (and the record business to some extent), really miss those record stores.
I’m ReggieRedd and this has been #RealTalk.
