RSD 2014 - HMV and Tower records joining this year

Snake

I know the R.A.G.E and a few other Dublin based record shops are a bit angry that tower records and HMV are joining the RSD 2014... One shop actually said it's the business day that gets them through the year.. Just wondering how many people feel like big named companies such as them shouldn't take part, since they sell a wide variety of other music and games?

danceinthewake

I'm biased 'cause I worked in Tower for years but it's been part of RSD since the first one so it's hardly hopping on the bandwagon like HMV. It's also been Irish owned and independent since 2003, way before the US stores went bust. Grand, they're leasing a brand name, but it's the name of a company that hasn't existed anywhere else (outside Japan and possibly Mexico?) for almost a decade now and while recognisable, i'm not sure how having the name of a famously defunct company is necessarily all that beneficial anyway! It's two shops in Dublin, not Tesco.

The RAGE didn't even exist seven years ago and started out primarily as a retro games-oriented shop, with some records. Honestly as a music fan and long-time vinyl junkie, I think there's room for everyone and the more places I can pick up stuff the merrier. Record Store Day is definitely getting more commercialised which is annoying (for bands trying to get non-RSD stuff pressed in plants around this time of year etc) but with success, that was inevitable. The petty arguing from all sides is less welcome. Do what you do, try to do it well and if people like it, they'll hopefully support you. I do think that HMV were being cheeky but they're a business too so I guess all's fair in love, war and PR.

blastman

HMV are not an independent record store by any stretch of the imagination and shouldn't be part of Record Store Day, end of. They were barely selling music of any description in their shops outside the main ones when they went t!tsup the first time, let alone vinyl. Tower I have no problem with for the reasons outlined above.

44thservice

the way i look at it is , if a certain independant record store looks after their customers through out the year and looks after/out for them all year round, they will return the custom on RSD , and in some cases without even knowing what i do anyway

As part of an independent label, this time of year is an absolute p*ss take, we've had 2 pressings pushed back and delayed from our plant because of RSD and the way release makes their way into pressing last minute. the smaller indie labels just get pushed aside. we have now changed our pressing plant that stays loyal to their year round clients and makes them their priority and not just an annual contract

Also we were behind so its kind of our fault swell, but a note for anyone,have your releases for around this time of year to be arranged in advance and have them pressed so their ready 2 months or so before


Regarding HMV doing RSD , tough sh*t! You can't tell a music store not to sell music. RSD has become more mainstream now , with the annual person claiming to be a record buff, if someone buys a record full stop , i don't give two sh*ts, they both it and thats what matters

For me RSD is every thursday and friday. My favourite thing to do is thrawl online/website stores for new labels and releases, then email what i find on that store to my local record store and see if they can source it and get it in from a distributor


But i can't stand those who specifically target RSD to profit on the loss of others, taking from the experience of RSD. selling records for triple its value :mad: I have numerous of RSD releases that are selling for 80+ , i would in now way sell them for a profit . . . . hold on , or even sell them lol