Response for Record Store Day from RecordStoreDay.com

· by · in Crate Digging, Flea Market Funk, music, record, record collecting, Record Stores, records, vinyl. ·

Here’s a response I got from the people over at RecordStore.com in regards to the post I put up trying to find out what the deal is with it………..
“Hi,

My name is Michael Kurtz and I am the guy who manages Record Store Day day-to-day. I was the one who originally discussed the idea with Chris Brown after we decided to create something modeled after Free Comic Day. The name Record Store Day came ouf of a discussion with a bunch of indie record store owners in Baltimore, MD that I led a few years back when a bunch of us got together to talk about how we could possibly turn the tide of negative press on record stores. At the time Tower had closed and media coverage was just doom and gloom about record stores.

Ironically, here I am typing you about a negative slanted posting about record stores running Record Store Day.

I’d like to answer your question about whether Record Store Day is some kind of ploy hatched by the music industry. The answer is no. It is an event that has evolved over the years by and for independently owned record store people. If anything Record Store Day is the opposite of what you are thinking. We, the record stores ourselves, create our own products and events. Yes, we work with labels and they help us because frankly we couldn’t do it without their relationships with the artists and signing off on the creation of the special RSD products, thus their credits as sponsors of Record Store Day. But this is really only a part of what we do. We also help the stores to get organized to throw one bad-ass party for the day. This is probably why some folks are under the impression that we only care about one specific day. Well, that and our name. We like the name so it will simply have to continue to confuse and confound, much like Christmas Day does for some folks.

As far as not celebrating year round. I can’t help but think you are new to discovering Record Store Day. That’s fine but I will point out to you we actually work with the labels to create releases for record stores outside of the day itself. Last year we put out about 20 releases for Thanksgiving weekend. Basically, we co-opted and took over the Black Friday concept previously owned by large corporate retailers and subverted it into Back To Black Friday where we celebrated music and art in the form of limited edition vinyl runs. The most famous being the Alive In Europe EP that U2 made for record stores. They were beaufiful hand stamped, numbered pieces. You should’ve seen ’em. They were awesome.

And coming up we are releasing the two track Radiohead 12″ that the band made for RSD that was initially released just in the UK. That said I’m afraid we’re also working with the evil Warner Bros label to put out the new Neil Young album just in record stores BEFORE it gets released digitally or on CD. Okay, I’m getting a little cheeky now but these are all facts.

I invite you and your readers to join the RSD party. We are run by and for independent record stores and we’re going to have a lot of cool stuff coming your way not just on Record Store Day itsefl but year round.

All the best,

Michael Kurtz”

Here’s my response:

Michael:

Thanks for the informative e-mail in regards to Record Store Day. I will publish it on my site for my readers to see as a response to my investigation about the day itself. I appreciate your response to what you may have perceived as “negative slanted posting” on Flea Market Funk. I also appreciate the offer to try out Record Store Day for myself. However, I am not new to the music industry, music, or Record Store Day. In fact, I have been celebrating it on Flea Market Funk since it’s inception, even DJing in independent record stores doing all 45 Funk and Soul sets. I have worked in every facet of the music industry, on the record label/ marketing side (Concrete Marketing), as a major label artist for Lava/ Atlantic, (touring DJ) and as a independent record store owner (5 years in Red Bank, NJ) . I still make a living as a DJ who celebrates every day as Record Store Day. In fact, I did a joint collaboration this year with photographer Eilon Paz from DustandGrooves.com where we showcased a record store owner in Brooklyn that has been a staple in the community for over 4 decades. Being record related, it was posted on the Facebook page of Record Store Day to help spread the message of this man who’s business was in danger of being shut down. The photo essay and short paragraph were removed shortly after I posted it. I found that a bit odd, seeing that it was celebrating a record store, on RSD. It was then I wanted to do some investigating on my own on RSD itself. I embrace any recognition for independent record stores, as we both know these stores are a dying breed. As you can see though, I’m not new to this business of music, and I had to look for answers. My post was in no way shape or form intended to be slanderous, more like I was searching for answers for something I’m very passionate about, Records and a day celebrating them.

I have a pretty large audience throughout the world on Flea Market Funk, and like I said, I will post both your letter and my response on it. I’d love to do anything that helps promote vinyl, records, and record stores. I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to comment on my post.

Jamison Harvey

I’ll keep you posted on this one…….

11 responses to “Response for Record Store Day from RecordStoreDay.com”

  1. Prestige – nice response. I enjoyed your piece on RSD and dissecting it’s current state. Agree with a lot of your points on the growing popularity of RSD and whether it still has relevance. It is healthy to have these kinds of discussions, keep em coming! Thanks

  3. I gotta defend Mr. Kurtz a bit. I’m sure the idea for RSD came from a good place.

    I do think you have to look beyond our collective obsession as diggers for vinyl though. The heart of the matter is we’re basically talking about the delivery mechanism for music and how THAT is what’s killing those businesses. It’s a rather amazing phenomenon that one change in this delivery system can do this much damage. Not even considering the evidence that loads of music is probably not paid for these days. Even with most reports about the resurgence of vinyl, there’s no way that niche market can sustain the levels of sales that these stores were once getting from the, admittedly by record companies, overpriced sales of Compact Discs. You can shout at folks all you like urging them to support the shops and make every day Record Store Day all you want. But, if vinyl ain’t your thing, what would be your motivation to go there?

    This was my first year being able to hit up shops early and grab up those ltd. edition items. Funny thing is, I didn’t find any of those items to be grossly over priced. Whatever you think about the marketing of those items, from what I saw, it was a smart thing to limit them and their availability as the long line I was standing in was obvious evidence of. And once most of it was gone, folks were hitting up the rest of the store and buying stuff. Perhaps a few folks only there for RSD specific items, and are not really into vinyl, are now converts and will become regular customers. I think that’s what makes RSD important.

    The problem is that loads of that ltd. stuff ends up on eBay. That seems to me to be the one problem of RSD. But, that’s the system we live in. If you get mad about that, what’s the difference in buying a really rare 45 or Lp for a ridiculous price, not just on eBay, but anywhere? If it’s that valuable to you and you’re willing to pay the asking price, you do. Are you gonna be pissed off at all the resellers in the world? I mean, what are record stores?

    The idea of releasing Record Store Only releases before digital is a really good idea. It has to be with the intentions of helping your business partners though. A shared sacrifice between artist, label and the shops not to over price the merchandise.

    So, RSD has some good and some bad. Just like most things, eh? I tend to lean toward the good. This business model is and has been under a major attack. Anything anyone can do to keep the doors from closing can be nothing but a good thing. Most importantly, get your ass out to a record store, support these local independent businesses. Buy a record, buy a CD, but BUY it!!!

    Peace and SOUL,
    HSB DaveB…

  4. Well put Dave. I always respect your opinions, and this is a touchy topic that has positive points on both sides. Bottom line, support your local record store everyday, and buy whatever you buy to keep that thing afloat. Thanks for always being a supporter of FMF Dave. Very much appreciated. Cheers-

  6. Indeed Pres! A little healthy debate about something so important is always a good thing. We may not agree on the methods, but we’re all in this together and have fond love for these shops and want to keep them open. I hope Mr. Kurtz doesn’t feel attacked and looks upon a little backlash as a way to make some improvements on his (this man’s opinion) wonderful idea of RSD and year round activities supporting all of “Our Favourite Shops.”

    Peace and SOUL,
    HSB DaveB…

  7. I think in the beginning he thought he may thought he was being attacked, but I believe I got my point across the right way. As did you. Cheers Dave.

  8. I think the reason that Record Store Day doesn’t mean much to me is that I could virtually care less about getting some new release on limited edition vinyl. And I’m most certainly not going to stand in a long line for it. I love vinyl more than 99.9% of the population but give me boxes of musty, old 45’s to dig thru. I’ll take that any day of the year.

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