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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.
>
>