Hi Eric:

This article makes a lot of good points. Thanks for sharing.

I am probably going to skip RSD because there are so few things I want, and it's slightly likely at
best that any of them will show up in my local store. I will, however, make it a point to visit the
store the following weekend and spend money there. They always have something to lighten my wallet.

This issue of availability is ridiculous. Initially, back when RSD was new and a hook was needed to
get people in the stores, the "limited edition" thing was a good idea. It's not anymore. They should
pre-announce stuff to record stores with enough lead time to manufacture enough to fill orders, with
the understanding that it's up to each record store to gauge demand and there will be no returns to
distributors or labels. Everything should release simultaneously on RSD, and should not be available
online for at least a week after that (I can see making it a month-long brick-and-mortar exclusive).
This would also kill off the stupid eBay aftermarket, which only enriches the trolls who camp out at
the store doors, snatch up the limited-edition merchandise that store was relegated, and then run
home to sell it on eBay. Real fans of the bands offering the limited-edition stuff have a
DISincentive to go to their store because the trolls will snatch it up before them, and if they
really want it they can buy it for inflated prices on eBay.

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Cartier" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2015 7:39 PM
Subject: [ARSCLIST] Record Store Day and the Ambivalent Branding of Independence


> Hi all,
>
> The eighth annual Record Store Day (RSD) is set for this Saturday, and Eric
> Harvey, Pitchfork contributor/Assistant Professor of Communication at Weber
> State University, wrote an interesting article about RSD:
> http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/736-record-store-day-and-the-ambivalent-branding-of-independence/
>
> I regularly visit record stores to look for and buy used vinyl, I
> occasionally purchase select new releases with accompanying download cards,
> and I've attended three consecutive RSDs, but I'm not sure I'll participate
> in RSD this year. The manufactured exclusivity of the often overpriced
> records and their unequal distribution/availability are problematic.
>
> What do you all think about this recorded sound holiday?
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Eric Cartier
> Digital Librarian
> University of Maryland Libraries
>
>