Tower Records Closing all 89 stores in USA

[akweaver]

[Paperback Writer]

Yeah, it's really strange, the collapse of all these stores. Record shops, really were a cornerstone of a generation.

Now, here's what I envision, I pray someone has thought of this already and is working on it coming to be - or will be inspired by this:

Record shops can be re-born, this way:

The main music product will be the highest quality download service, slightly more $ than from your computer, but offering way much more.
They will include:
1. All the packaging for the downloaded CD (notes, pictures, art lyrics)
2. Bonus tracks NOT downloadable anywhere else. (Artists and record companies need to get together on this)
3. Many listening stations (with chairs, benches, stools, couches) for ALL material that is down-loadable, full length versions on great equipment.
4. All of the above for music DVD's from full-length to short bonus ones.
5. Coffee, snack bar, liquor, (where licsenced.)
6. Schedule of live local artist performing.
7. Music related material, books, magazines,, T-shirts
8.Frequent user benefits
9.Vinyl records
10. Vinyl record converter service into CD's for out of print/out of CD/non-down-loadable music.

Please respond to this and show the world, there still is a place for music in the community and that the one thing you can't get out of a computer is a community of people.

[akweaver]

[EwaldK]

What happpens if you download £50 worth of music and your harddrive crashes??? Lost forever.

That's not entirely true, but it is a cumbersome experience (as I found out myself).

[larro9]

PW
progressive stores like virgin and amoeba are looking at that model.
Tower had that idea a long time ago and called it "retail entertainment" and wanted to load music and movies for customers on demand and eliminate the thousands of inventory SKU's in each store and create a fun place to go and hang out and consume

you were spot on..give the customer a place to hang out, listen, read and be with others. look at what starbucks and peets are creating and add music movies and media to the mix and we have what you wanted in a store!!!!
brilliant idea PW..know anybody with venture capital?

[maccastheman]

I think Starbucks is leading the way in that department. They've already talked about expanding their music line and offering more downloads in their stores. Starbucks has really become the new gathering place. Of course they don't offer all of the great things PW was suggesting yet - mainly just downloads and a place to meet. Oh - and they serve coffee.

They do have live entertainment from time to time. I like the idea of offering album art and DVD selections.

[2 of 3]

They do have live entertainment from time to time. I like the idea of offering album art and DVD selections.

It's just a matter of time before you can download that too. Right now there are a lot of sites where you can download the covers and liner notes from just about any album and they are already converted so once you print them out, they fit your blank cd sleeve.

Didn't Tower have gigs at their superstores? I remember seeing YES at one on the www.

[akweaver]

http://www.donecoffee.com/CoffeehousesC ... ToMeet.php

[maccastheman]

Thanks for that link, akweaver. Very insightful.