Bandcamp is opening a record shop and performance space in Oakland, California on February 1st. The store will feature a rotating selection of 99 records that showcase "the diversity and design" of the five million available on Bandcamp. The store will also host free, all-ages shows as part of an…
Category archives: Retail & Vinyl
50% Of New Guitars Sold To Young Women
The gender has been a significant issue in the music industry for a number of years, with women often getting marginalized or in other ways receiving the short end of the stick. A positive indicator that change is finally coming however, reveals that half of the guitars sold in the…
Hip-Hop Dominates U.S. Streaming, But Not Physical Sales
Here we look at some fascinating new data from market analyst BuzzAngle, revealing some interesting trends in America’s music consumption habits. One thing at least is clear: hip hop reigns supreme when it comes to streaming, this year accounting for a quarter of all plays. _________________________ Guest post by Bobby…
RPM Music Distribution Shuts Down Without Warning
RPM music distribution has shut down without warning. The Concord, Ontario based company whose distribution and one-stop clients include independent labels Concord, eOne, Drag City and Rough Trade. A letter sent to clients by RPM president Paul Herzog reads: "To all accounts, I regret to inform you that RPM Distribution…
2018s Most Memorable LGBTQ Album Covers
While album sales certainly aren’t what they used to be, many artists still utilize these long form collections of music as a valuable format for telling personal stories, something which the album artwork is a huge part of. In this piece, David Deal looks at some of the cover highlights…
HMV May Be Rescued From Bankruptcy By Buyvia
Beleaguered music retailer HMV may be saved from bankruptcy by Buyvia, an online discount club with more than 200,000 members in the UK. The proposed plan would save a number of retail stores and use Buyvia’s expertise to overhaul HMV’s digital presence. HMV opened its first gramophone store almost 98…
HMV Falls Into Administration, Yet Again
Legendary UK music and entertainment retailer HMV has fallen into administration again. Administration is the British equivalent of bankruptcy protection. The 97-year-old company, which accounts for nearly a third of all physical music sales in the UK and nearly a quarter of all DVD sales according to The Guardian, last…
Why You Won’t Ever See A Market For Used Digital Music
The secondhand market has been a strong feature of the music industry ever since music was fixed in a tangible medium, so it’s only natural that this secondary economy would evolve to encompass, "secondhand" digital music as well – at least if the court of appeals hadn’t shut it down….
Sell More Merch At Gigs: 7 Techniques
Although it’s a great way for artists to boost their overall revenue, selling merch at shows can often be a challenge to do. Here we look at seven ways to switch things up and move a few more shirts at your next show. By Dave Ruch from CD Baby’s DIY…
How To Use Shopify And Single Music To Sell Direct To Fans
[UPDATED] Driving fans to an artist’s site only to redirect them elsewhere to purchase a download or t-shirt means lost revenue and a chance to capture valuable fan and marketing data. The reams of a growing number of major and indie artists are building their own __________________________ Guest post from…