Indy Music Retail Off To Poor Holiday Start
Indy music retail is already suffering from a sales downturn and the Sony rootkit scandal, and it appears that Thanksgiving weekend sales offer little hope for a turn-around entering into the important Christmas shopping season. Coalition Of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) head Don VanCleave writes in his weekly newsletter:
Peeeee-Youuuuuuuuuu. That was one stinky Thanksgiving sales weekend. For big and small. I am sure all of you are analyzing the data and trying to figure it all out. I did poll our guys and I found out several conclusions. First of all, there ain’t no hits. The TOP 10 this week sold 1,460,527 less than the TOP 10 last year. We had U2 and Emenim last year which are still big sellers at indie retail. Second of all, last year in general was a big one for many CIMS accounts and topping it would be difficult even with hits.
Many of our accounts reported flat to slightly down business. Some were down more than slightly and some were actually up. Most report that they are more profitable this year which is a good thing. Most stocked up on CDs at $5 at Walmart, one of our favorite distributors.
One of our favorite sayings from the current state of affairs – "Flat is the new up"
For more Hypebot coverage of Indy retail’s woes click here and for last week’s CIMS Top 200 Sales Chart click below.
Coalition of Independent Music Stores’ Top 200 for Week Ending 11-27-05
Label Pos. Artist|Title
NWWT 1 VARIOUS|KGSR BROADCAST V.13
COL 2 SYSTEM OF A DOW|HYPNOTIZE
WAR 3 MADONNA|CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE
WAR 4 WILCO|KICKING TELEVISION- LIVE
ISL 5 CASH*JOHNNY|LEGEND OF JOHNNY C
ATO 6 MY MORNING JACK|Z
DEF 7 SANTANA*JUELZ|WHAT THE GAME’S
ATLG 8 DEATH CAB FOR C|PLANS
COL 8 BUSH*KATE|AERIAL
COL 10 MAYER*JOHN TRIO|JOHN MAYER TRI
EPIC 11 APPLE*FIONA|EXTRAORDINARY MACH
UNIV 12 CHAMILLIONAIRE|SOUND OF REVENG
WAR 13 ENYA|AMARANTINE
WAR 14 YOUNG*NEIL|PRAIRIE WIND
INT 15 QUEENS OF THE S|OVER THE….(E
WNDU 16 WALK THE LINE|SOUNDTRACK
EPIC 17 MATISYAHU|LIVE AT STUBBS-AUSTI
INT 18 VARIOUS|MUSIC FRM & INSPRD BY
COL 19 SPRINGSTEEN*BRU|BORN TO RUN-30
VRGN 20 ROLLING STONES|RARITIES 1971-0
VRGN 21 ROLLING STONES|BIGGER BANG
WAR 22 GREEN DAY|BULLET IN A BIBLE
KOCH 23 KWELI*TALIB|RIGHT ABOUT NOW…
BNTE 23 MONK/COLTRANE|THELONIOUS MONK
EPIT 25 DANGER DOOM|MOUSE & THE MASK
VFOR 26 TEDESCHI*SUSAN|HOPE & DESIRE
UNIV 27 MARLEY*DAMIAN|WELCOME TO JAMRO
ALTD 28 MATT POND PA|SEVERAL ARROWS LA
DEF 28 WEST*KANYE|LATE REGISTRATION
WAR 30 DEPECHE MODE|PLAYING THE ANGEL
VRGN 31 GORILLAZ|DEMON DAYS
ATLG 32 BLUNT*JAMES|BACK TO BEDLAM
ASK 32 STEVENS*SUFJAN|ILLINOIS
EPIC 34 FRANZ FERDINAND|YOU COULD HAVE
CIDV 35 SUN KIL MOON|TINY CITIES
ECPK 36 GRASSHOPPER TAK|SEE NO EVIL
VERV 37 KRALL*DIANA|CHRISTMAS SONGS
GEFN 38 SIGUR ROS|TAKK
WAR 38 GREEN DAY|AMERICAN IDIOT
AAM 40 BLACK EYED PEAS|MONKEY BUSINES
SUG 40 NICKEL CREEK|WHY SHOULD THE FI
CPDR 42 MCMURTRY*JAMES|CHILDISH THINGS
ARI 42 SANTANA|ALL THAT I AM
ISL 44 FALL OUT BOY|FROM UNDER THE CO
UNJJ 45 JOHNSON*JACK|IN BETWEEN DREAMS
AANC 46 BROKEN SOCIAL S|BROKEN SOCIAL
INT 47 ALL-AMERICAN RE|MOVE ALONG
CAP 48 RAITT*BONNIE|SOULS ALIKE
OVCT 49 IRON & WINE/CAL|IN THE REINS
RCA 50 GRAY*DAVID|LIFE IN SLOW MOTION
DEF 50 CASH*JOHNNY|MAN COMES AROUND
UNIV 52 MARS VOLTA|SCAB DATES
RCAV 52 HEAP*IMOGEN|SPEAK FOR YOURSELF
ROAD 54 NICKELBACK|ALL THE RIGHT REASO
AMNA 55 THIS IS AMERICA|VOL. 2-THIS IS
MERG 56 ARCADE FIRE|FUNERAL
HOL 57 JORGE*SEU|LIFE AQUATIC STUD SE
V2 58 DAVIES*RAY|THANKSGIVING DAY
RYKO 58 LADYTRON|WITCHING HOUR
COL 60 CASH*JOHNNY|AT FOLSOM PRISON
ISL 61 CAREY*MARIAH|EMANCIPATION OF M
ISL 61 KILLERS|HOT FUSS
VERV 61 CULLUM*JAMIE|CATCHING TALES
IDER 64 BROWNE*JACKSON|VOL. 1-SOLO ACO
FTCT 65 ANIMAL COLLECTI|FEELS
WNDU 66 STAPP*SCOTT|GREAT DIVIDE
CAP 66 COLDPLAY|X&Y
CAP 66 MCCARTNEY*PAUL|CHAOS & CREATIO
RHMS 69 ATMOSPHERE|YOU CANT IMAGINE HO
WRPR 69 BOARDS OF CANAD|CAMPFIRE HEADP
SNRS 69 KOTTONMOUTH KIN|JOINT VENTURE
VRGN 69 BIG BOI PRESENT|VOL. 2-GOT PUR
BARS 73 NADA SURF|WEIGHT IS A GIFT
GEFN 74 SUBLIME|GOLD
SUBP 75 WOLF PARADE|APOLOGIES TO THE Q
V2 75 WHITE STRIPES|GET BEHIND ME SA
WAR 75 RENT (2CD)|SOUNDTRACK
COL 75 ANASTASIO*TREY|SHINE
DRMW 75 FLOETRY|FLO’ OLOGY
LHWY 80 ADAMS*RYAN|JACKSONVILLE CITY N
INT 81 FEIST|LET IT DIE
COL 82 GO! TEAM|THUNDER LIGHTNING STR
MERG 82 SPOON|GIMME FICTION
CYSY 84 CLAP YOUR HANDS|CLAP YOUR HAND
WAR 85 DISTURBED|TEN THOUSAND FISTS
WAR 85 FORT MINOR|RISING TIED
OHB 85 PRINE*JOHN|FAIR & SQUARE
WAR 88 AVENGED SEVENFO|CITY OF EVIL
RHR 88 GILKYSON*ELIZA|PARADISE HOTEL
SEAN 90 BONNIE PRINCE B|SUMMER IN THE
ANIT 90 BLACKALICIOUS|CRAFT
FAN 90 FOGERTY*JOHN|LONG ROAD HOME: U
MOT 90 WONDER*STEVIE|TIME TO LOVE
GEFN 94 ROOTS|VOL. 1-HOME GROWN
COL 94 CASH*JOHNNY|16 BIGGEST HITS
VRCS 96 BLOC PARTY|SILENT ALARM
CAP 96 LENNON*JOHN|WALLS & BRIDGES
NWWT 98 MCCLINTON*DELBE|COST OF LIVING
COL 98 CROWELL*RODNEY|OUTSIDER
INT 100 BECK|GUERO
CAP 101 MAGIC NUMBERS|MAGIC NUMBERS
COL 101 DYLAN*BOB|NO DIRECTION HOME: T
OLE 101 NEW PORNOGRAPHE|TWIN CINEMA
WAR 101 RENT|SOUNDTRACK
INT 101 STEFANI*GWEN|LOVE.ANGEL.MUSIC.
ROUN 106 GILMORE*JIMMIE |COME ON BACK
COL 107 AQUALUNG|STRANGE & BEAUTIFUL
XLXL 107 BANHART*DEVENDR|CRIPPLE CROW
AAM 107 CROW*SHERYL|WILDFLOWER
ISL 110 THRICE|VHEISSU
BNTE 110 DR. JOHN|SIPPIANA HERICANE
WAR 110 HIM|DARK LIGHT
COL 110 THREE 6 MAFIA|MOST KNOWN UNKNO
DEF 110 YOUNG JEEZY|LET’S GET IT
FUER 115 PANIC! AT THE D|FEVER YOU CAN’
RCA 115 LAMONTAGNE*RAY|TROUBLE
BNTE 117 LEE*AMOS|AMOS LEE
AMNA 117 VARIOUS ARTISTS|THIS IS AMERIC
COL 117 SYSTEM OF A DOW|MEZMERIZE
CAP 120 BEASTIE BOYS|SOLID GOLD HITS
COL 120 COHEED & CAMBRI|GOOD APOLLO,I’
GEFN 120 NIRVANA|SLIVER-BEST OF THE BOX
COL 123 DYLAN*BOB|BEST OF BOB DYLAN
RCA 123 CLARKSON*KELLY|BREAKAWAY
COL 123 DIAMOND*NEIL|12 SONGS
SMCM 126 CASH*JOHNNY|ESSENTIAL JOHNNY C
ANG 127 LANCHBERRY/PO|TCHAIKOVSKY:NUTC
INT 128 NINE INCH NAILS|WITH TEETH
RYKO 128 HICKS*BILL|OXFORD NOVEMBER 11
COL 130 CASH*JOHNNY|COMPLETE LIVE AT S
SUBP 131 POSTAL SERVICE|GIVE UP
V2 131 GANG OF FOUR|RETURN THE GIFT
ARI 131 EURYTHMICS|ULTIMATE COLLECTION
TWCV 134 O’CONNOR*SINEAD|THROW DOWN YOU
CAP 134 PINK FLOYD|DARK SIDE OF THE MO
ISL 134 MARLEY*BOB & TH|LEGEND
ROUN 137 COWBOY JUNKIES|EARLY 21ST CENT
ISL 138 MARLEY*BOB & TH|AFRICA UNITE-S
RDIK 139 BLACK REBEL MOT|HOWL
SUBP 139 ROGUE WAVE|DESCENDED LIKE VULT
NWWT 139 HIATT*JOHN|LIVE FROM AUSTIN TE
GEFN 139 ROOTS|VOL. 2-HOME GROWN
J 143 KEYS*ALICIA|UNPLUGGED
VRCS 143 DEATH FROM ABOV|ROMANCE BLOODY
WAR 143 DIRE STRAITS/KN|BEST OF DIRE S
ATOR 146 NORTH MISSISSIP|ELECTRIC BLUE
ROT 146 FIERY FURNACES|REHEARSING MY C
JAGJ 146 OKKERVIL RIVER|BLACK SHEEP BOY
SYL 146 WALL*PAUL|PEOPLE’S CHAMP
HRTC 146 TAYLOR*WILL & S|COLLABORATIONS
SUBP 146 SHINS|OH INVERTED WORLD
RHI 146 AUSTIN CITY LIM|AUSTIN CITY LI
KOCH 153 KEEN*ROBERT EAR|WHAT I REALLY
WAR 153 HANCOCK*HERBIE|POSSIBILITIES
BARS 153 DEATH CAB FOR C|TRANSATLANTICI
BNA 153 CHESNEY*KENNY|ROAD & THE RADIO
DUAL 157 GREENCARDS|WEATHER & WATER
UMIF 157 CHILDREN OF BOD|ARE YOU DEAD Y
GEFN 157 BLINK-182|GREATEST HITS
INEP 160 AUDIOSLAVE|OUT OF EXILE
YROC 160 REVEREND HORTON|WE THREE KINGS
UNIV 160 NELLY|SWEATSUIT
OLE 160 INTERPOL|INTERPOL REMIX
GEFN 160 WEEZER|MAKE BELIEVE
HEIN 165 PINK MARTINI|HANG ON LITTLE TO
CPDR 165 SHAVER*BILLY JO|REAL DEAL
RAPA 165 BUN-B|TRILL
EULO 165 SHATTERED REALM|FROM THE DEAD
EPIC 165 GARDEN STATE|SOUNDTRACK
RHI 165 FOUR DEAD BATTE|SOUNDTRACK
V2 165 GRANDADDY|EXCERPTS FROM THE DI
INT 165 U2|HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC
CHSW 173 BOUNCING SOULS|BOUNCING SOULS
OCCR 173 COOK*DANE|RETALIATION
NNSC 173 VEIRS*LAURA|YEAR OF METEORS
SSCR 173 ANTONY & THE JO|I’M A BIRD NOW
UNJJ 173 JOHNSON*JACK|ON & ON
RHI 173 GRATEFUL DEAD|FILLMORE WEST 19
RCA 173 FOO FIGHTERS|IN YOUR HONOR
HOL 173 QUEEN|NIGHT AT THE OP-30
UME 181 VARIOUS|NOW 20
COCI 181 LADY SOVEREIGN|VERTICALLY CHAL
TTRL 181 EXPLOSIONS IN T|HOW STRANGE IN
LSGA 181 METRIC|LIVE IT OUT
CNCO 181 REEVES*DIANNE|GOOD NIGHT & GOO
KILL 181 DEERHOOF|RUNNERS FOUR
WAR 181 MORISSETTE*ALAN|COLLECTION
GEFN 181 BLOODHOUND GANG|HEFTY FINE
J 189 STEWART*ROD|VOL. 4-GREAT AMERI
WRPR 189 BROADCAST|TENDER BUTTONS
XLIN 189 M.I.A.|ARULAR
SDR 189 GOGOL BORDELLO|GYPSY PUNKS UND
ROAD 189 SLIPKNOT|9.0: LIVE
ROUN 189 PEYROUX*MADELEI|CARELESS LOVE
KILL 189 DECEMBERISTS|PICARESQUE
RCA 189 CITIZEN COPE|CLARENCE GREENWOO
NWWT 189 TEXAS TORNADOS|LIVE FROM AUSTI
GEFN 189 COMMON|BE
VECT 189 RICE*DAMIEN|O
ATLG 189 SHINEDOWN|US & THEM
ATLG 189 STAIND|CHAPTER V
PSO 189 INSANE CLOWN PO|VOL. 4-FORGOTT
c) 2005 by SoundScan, Inc. All rights reserved
Don VanCleave
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
Suite 101
1776 Independence Ct
Birmingham, AL 35216
205-879-9023 x201
205-879-2889 (fax)
