This is actually a great idea! Morph it into "records of the month" events. Each month, perhaps on the first Saturday, a group of new releases on reissues drop, sold exclusively in these brick and mortar stores for that whole week. Stop limiting it to vinyl -- a lot of these stores carry CDs too. But it has to be a physical product, sold only in these "record stores" for the first week of that month. An artist may choose to go this route for a "special edition" of a new release, maybe including a couple of extra "b-side" tunes or some live tracks. Or they may do their initial release this way and then offer the online retail and downloads a week later. Or maybe only the vinyl version of something rolls out this way. Either way, it gets traffic into these stores on a regular basis, allowing the store owners to get to know some more "regulars" and tailor their merchandizing to a wider audience. It's a win-win. I'm not sure who exactly is behind the RSD machinery, but if it's labels and distributors, they should favor this concept because it's a 12-month retailing plan vs. a one-day cluster-you-know-what. -- Tom Fine ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robin Hendrickson" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 1:23 PM Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Record Store Day and the Ambivalent Branding of Independence > RSD needs to morph into a monthly "First Saturdays" type of event. > Releasing exclusives to indie retail is a great thing, but there is no > reason for everybody to do it on the exact same day, once a year. > > Fostering a healthy indie retail ecosystem requires more than one day > out of the whole year. > > Much as heavy partiers consider New Year's Eve to be "Amateur Night", > RSD is kind of a BS event that real record store denizens would do > well to avoid. > They want me to line up early so I can overpay for a plaid picture > disc of the "Clueless" soundtrack? No, thanks. > > Everything Tom said in his first post regarding the secondary market > and clogged-up pressing plants is accurate, in my experience. (I work > for a label.) > > I don't think RSD or "the vinyl revival" will peter out any time soon, > but it needs to evolve into something that actually benefits the > little guys, by which I mean brick & mortar indie retail and small > labels. > > The irony of a small indie having to bump street dates due to a lack > of product caused by majors hogging press time with tchotchkes like > two zillion 'Ghostbusters' picture discs, is painful. > > Good record stores are based on a well-curated selection overseen by a > knowledgeable and trustworthy staff, not access to some > rare/special/colored/limited/buy-it-now piece of crap. > Good record stores have *personality*. > > The once-a-year "Big Event" seems to be hyping up competitive > consumerism rather than fostering thoughtful, long-term listening and > collecting. > >