Indy Music Retailer Fratt Shares Vision Of The Future
We’ve been writing a lot about Indy music retail lately. Part of it is nostalgia for the good old days when visiting a record store was a positive experience; and pert of it is a fear that the demise of these important gatekeepers and their music lover’s clubhouses means that an important point of music discovery will be lost forever.
The City Weekly of Omaha Nebraska this week published an extensive Q&A with Mike Fratt the president of the local Homer’s chain that provides some interesting insights into the plight of Indy retail and the record business as well as some possible solutions.
ON THE INTERNET: "Everybody wants to blame it on the Internet, but all the Internet is, is a giant listening station that identifies the crap, so that big records don’t sell as well anymore."
"But, on the flip side of that coin, indie artists are far more successful today as a result of the Internet. More people find out about great music and it sells more."
"So once these big retailers had captured market share and then they started cutting down their selection, that’s when the industry started going south because there was no selection for customers to look at. And they continued to shop these mass merchants because it’s all about the price."
ON NEW NEW TECHNOLOGIES: "Then the whole iPod and MP3 thing came about, and for the first time rather than the industry driving the format, the format began to drive the industry. It’s always been the industry that introduced the LP, or the 8-track, or the cassette, or the CD, and now that’s suddenly been taken out of their hands, and technology is driving where the industry is headed."
Read the full Q & A here.
Click below for this week’s Coalition Of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) Top 200
Coalition of Independent Music Stores’ Top 200 for Week Ending 12-4-05
Label Pos. Artist|Title
COL 1 SYSTEM OF A DOW|HYPNOTIZE
ISL 2 CASH*JOHNNY|LEGEND OF JOHNNY C
ATLG 3 DARKNESS|ONE WAY TICKET TO HEL
WAR 4 MADONNA|CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE
WAR 5 WILCO|KICKING TELEVISION- LIVE
ATO 6 MY MORNING JACK|Z
ATLG 7 DEATH CAB FOR C|PLANS
WAR 8 YOUNG*NEIL|PRAIRIE WIND
BNTE 9 MONK/COLTRANE|THELONIOUS MONK
EPIC 10 APPLE*FIONA|EXTRAORDINARY MACH
ATLG 11 BLUNT*JAMES|BACK TO BEDLAM
COL 12 MAYER*JOHN TRIO|JOHN MAYER TRI
VERV 13 KRALL*DIANA|CHRISTMAS SONGS
COL 14 BUSH*KATE|AERIAL
EPIC 15 MATISYAHU|LIVE AT STUBBS-AUSTI
VRGN 16 GORILLAZ|DEMON DAYS
VFOR 17 TEDESCHI*SUSAN|HOPE & DESIRE
WAR 18 ENYA|AMARANTINE
INT 18 VARIOUS|MUSIC FRM & INSPRD BY
RCA 20 MATTHEWS*DAVE B|WEEKEND ON THE
EPIC 21 INXS|SWITCH
DEF 22 WEST*KANYE|LATE REGISTRATION
CYSY 23 CLAP YOUR HANDS|CLAP YOUR HAND
V2 24 WHITE STRIPES|GET BEHIND ME SA
DEF 24 SANTANA*JUELZ|WHAT THE GAME’S
EPIT 26 DANGER DOOM|MOUSE & THE MASK
ROAD 27 NICKELBACK|ALL THE RIGHT REASO
WNDU 28 WALK THE LINE|SOUNDTRACK
WAR 28 GREEN DAY|BULLET IN A BIBLE
UNIV 30 CHAMILLIONAIRE|SOUND OF REVENG
SUG 31 NICKEL CREEK|WHY SHOULD THE FI
WAR 32 GREEN DAY|AMERICAN IDIOT
AAM 33 BLACK EYED PEAS|MONKEY BUSINES
COL 34 SPRINGSTEEN*BRU|BORN TO RUN-30
UNIV 35 MARLEY*DAMIAN|WELCOME TO JAMRO
RCAV 35 HEAP*IMOGEN|SPEAK FOR YOURSELF
COL 35 DIAMOND*NEIL|12 SONGS
ASK 38 STEVENS*SUFJAN|ILLINOIS
AMNA 38 THIS IS AMERICA|VOL. 2-THIS IS
ISL 40 CAREY*MARIAH|EMANCIPATION OF M
WAR 40 DEPECHE MODE|PLAYING THE ANGEL
VRGN 42 ROLLING STONES|BIGGER BANG
EPIC 43 SHAKIRA|ORAL FIXATION V2
OVCT 44 IRON & WINE/CAL|IN THE REINS
KOCH 45 KWELI*TALIB|RIGHT ABOUT NOW…
JIVE 45 BROWN*CHRIS|CHRIS BROWN
CPDR 47 MCMURTRY*JAMES|CHILDISH THINGS
GEFN 47 SIGUR ROS|TAKK
HOL 47 JORGE*SEU|LIFE AQUATIC STUD SE
WAR 50 RENT (2CD)|SOUNDTRACK
CAP 51 COLDPLAY|X&Y
CAP 52 RAITT*BONNIE|SOULS ALIKE
INT 53 QUEENS OF THE S|OVER THE….(E
RCA 54 GRAY*DAVID|LIFE IN SLOW MOTION
VRGN 55 ROLLING STONES|RARITIES 1971-0
IDER 56 BROWNE*JACKSON|VOL. 1-SOLO ACO
EPIC 56 FRANZ FERDINAND|YOU COULD HAVE
MERG 56 ARCADE FIRE|FUNERAL
FTCT 59 ANIMAL COLLECTI|FEELS
ISL 59 KILLERS|HOT FUSS
FAN 59 FOGERTY*JOHN|LONG ROAD HOME: U
ISL 62 FALL OUT BOY|FROM UNDER THE CO
UNJJ 63 JOHNSON*JACK|IN BETWEEN DREAMS
UMIF 64 CHILDREN OF BOD|ARE YOU DEAD Y
OHB 65 PRINE*JOHN|FAIR & SQUARE
ARI 66 SANTANA|ALL THAT I AM
RHR 66 GILKYSON*ELIZA|PARADISE HOTEL
WRPR 68 BOARDS OF CANAD|CAMPFIRE HEADP
FUER 68 PANIC! AT THE D|FEVER YOU CAN’
ECPK 70 GRASSHOPPER TAK|SEE NO EVIL
AANC 71 BROKEN SOCIAL S|BROKEN SOCIAL
COL 72 CROWELL*RODNEY|OUTSIDER
VRGN 72 BIG BOI PRESENT|VOL. 2-GOT PUR
WAR 74 AVENGED SEVENFO|CITY OF EVIL
CIDV 75 SUN KIL MOON|TINY CITIES
SUBP 75 WOLF PARADE|APOLOGIES TO THE Q
SUBP 77 POSTAL SERVICE|GIVE UP
WAR 77 DISTURBED|TEN THOUSAND FISTS
DUAL 79 GREENCARDS|WEATHER & WATER
DEF 80 CASH*JOHNNY|MAN COMES AROUND
COL 80 DYLAN*BOB|NO DIRECTION HOME: T
VERV 80 CULLUM*JAMIE|CATCHING TALES
AAM 80 CROW*SHERYL|WILDFLOWER
LHWY 84 ADAMS*RYAN|JACKSONVILLE CITY N
ALTD 85 MATT POND PA|SEVERAL ARROWS LA
FAN 85 GUARALDI*VINCE |CHARLIE BROWN
CAP 87 MCCARTNEY*PAUL|CHAOS & CREATIO
WAR 88 CREAM|ROYAL ALBERT HALL LONDON
RCA 88 LAMONTAGNE*RAY|TROUBLE
COL 88 GO! TEAM|THUNDER LIGHTNING STR
INT 88 NINE INCH NAILS|WITH TEETH
YROC 92 REVEREND HORTON|WE THREE KINGS
COL 92 CASH*JOHNNY|AT FOLSOM PRISON
RHMS 94 ATMOSPHERE|YOU CANT IMAGINE HO
WAR 94 RENT|SOUNDTRACK
GEFN 94 FLOETRY|FLO’ OLOGY
COL 97 AQUALUNG|STRANGE & BEAUTIFUL
BARS 97 NADA SURF|WEIGHT IS A GIFT
UNIV 97 MARS VOLTA|SCAB DATES
DEF 97 YOUNG JEEZY|LET’S GET IT
ROUN 101 GILMORE*JIMMIE |COME ON BACK
NWWT 102 MCCLINTON*DELBE|COST OF LIVING
WAR 102 FORT MINOR|RISING TIED
SRFD 102 SETZER*BRIAN OR|DIG THAT CRAZY
RYKO 102 LADYTRON|WITCHING HOUR
GEFN 106 ROOTS|VOL. 1-HOME GROWN
COL 106 THREE 6 MAFIA|MOST KNOWN UNKNO
COL 106 ANASTASIO*TREY|SHINE
GEFN 109 NIRVANA|SLIVER-BEST OF THE BOX
COL 110 SYSTEM OF A DOW|MEZMERIZE
HEIN 111 PINK MARTINI|HANG ON LITTLE TO
ANIT 111 BLACKALICIOUS|CRAFT
V2 111 DAVIES*RAY|THANKSGIVING DAY
CAP 111 PINK FLOYD|DARK SIDE OF THE MO
INT 111 FEIST|LET IT DIE
MERG 111 SPOON|GIMME FICTION
INT 117 BECK|GUERO
GEFN 117 WEEZER|MAKE BELIEVE
ISL 119 THRICE|VHEISSU
CAP 119 BEASTIE BOYS|SOLID GOLD HITS
GEFN 121 SUBLIME|GOLD
SUBP 121 ROGUE WAVE|DESCENDED LIKE VULT
ANIT 123 LAVETTE*BETTYE|I’VE GOT MY OWN
WAR 123 MY CHEMICAL ROM|THREE CHEERS F
ATLG 123 CHAPMAN*TRACY|WHERE YOU LIVE
COL 123 COHEED & CAMBRI|GOOD APOLLO,I’
COL 123 CASH*JOHNNY|16 BIGGEST HITS
INT 123 STEFANI*GWEN|LOVE.ANGEL.MUSIC.
ARI 129 EURYTHMICS|ULTIMATE COLLECTION
WAR 129 HIM|DARK LIGHT
BNTE 131 LEE*AMOS|AMOS LEE
WNDU 131 STAPP*SCOTT|GREAT DIVIDE
ROUN 131 PEYROUX*MADELEI|CARELESS LOVE
MOT 131 WONDER*STEVIE|TIME TO LOVE
INEP 135 AUDIOSLAVE|OUT OF EXILE
J 135 STEWART*ROD|VOL. 4-GREAT AMERI
OLE 135 NEW PORNOGRAPHE|TWIN CINEMA
SUBP 135 SHINS|OH INVERTED WORLD
SLNL 139 FORSYTH*GUY|LOVE SONGS FOR & A
SEAN 139 BONNIE PRINCE B|SUMMER IN THE
VRCS 139 DEATH FROM ABOV|ROMANCE BLOODY
LAVA 139 TRANS-SIBERIAN |LOST CHRISTMAS
AMNA 139 VARIOUS ARTISTS|THIS IS AMERIC
SXDG 139 CHRISTMAS REMIX|VOL. 2-CHRISTM
RCA 139 FOO FIGHTERS|IN YOUR HONOR
INT 146 50 CENT|MASSACRE
TWCV 146 O’CONNOR*SINEAD|THROW DOWN YOU
SMCM 146 CASH*JOHNNY|ESSENTIAL JOHNNY C
NWWT 146 YOAKAM*DWIGHT|LIVE FROM AUSTIN
GEFN 146 BLINK-182|GREATEST HITS
COL 146 IL DIVO|CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
SCRS 152 BRIGHT EYES|I’M WIDE AWAKE IT’
HRTC 152 TAYLOR*WILL & S|COLLABORATIONS
NWWT 152 HIATT*JOHN|LIVE FROM AUSTIN TE
ATLG 152 SHINEDOWN|US & THEM
RYKO 152 HICKS*BILL|OXFORD NOVEMBER 11
RDIK 157 BLACK REBEL MOT|HOWL
COL 157 DYLAN*BOB|BEST OF BOB DYLAN
ASMG 157 SMITH*PATTI|HORSES (30TH ANNIV
ROT 157 FIERY FURNACES|REHEARSING MY C
RAPA 157 BUN-B|TRILL
RAZ 157 THIS BIRD HAS F|THIS BIRD HAS
OCCR 163 COOK*DANE|RETALIATION
HEIN 163 PINK MARTINI|SYMPATHIQUE
RLWD 163 BLIND BOYS OF A|GO TELL IT ON
IPEC 163 MORRICONE*ENNIO|CRIME & DISSON
XLXL 163 BANHART*DEVENDR|CRIPPLE CROW
GEFN 163 ROOTS|VOL. 2-HOME GROWN
J 169 KEYS*ALICIA|UNPLUGGED
VRCS 169 BLOC PARTY|SILENT ALARM
JAGJ 169 OKKERVIL RIVER|BLACK SHEEP BOY
SDR 169 GOGOL BORDELLO|GYPSY PUNKS UND
RCA 169 CLARKSON*KELLY|BREAKAWAY
CAP 169 VA-CHRISTMAS WI|CHRISTMAS WITH
LAVA 169 TRANS-SIBERIAN |CHRISTMAS EVE
SSCR 176 LEKMAN*JENS|OH YOU’RE SO SILEN
KOCH 177 KEEN*ROBERT EAR|WHAT I REALLY
RCNA 177 MCBRIDE*MARTINA|TIMELESS
WAR 177 DIRE STRAITS/KN|BEST OF DIRE S
CDBY 180 SARAH BENCK & T|SUICIDE DOUBLE
KILL 180 DECEMBERISTS|PICARESQUE
ARI 180 UNDERWOOD*CARRI|SOME HEARTS
ATLG 180 TWISTA|DAY AFTER
GEFN 180 BLOODHOUND GANG|HEFTY FINE
UME 185 VARIOUS|NOW 20
ISL 185 MARLEY*BOB & TH|AFRICA UNITE-S
SNRS 185 KOTTONMOUTH KIN|JOINT VENTURE
CNCO 185 REEVES*DIANNE|GOOD NIGHT & GOO
EPIC 185 GARDEN STATE|SOUNDTRACK
GEFN 185 COMMON|BE
COCI 191 LADY SOVEREIGN|VERTICALLY CHAL
ROT 191 BELL ORCHESTRE|RECORDING A TAP
UNIV 191 NELLY|SWEATSUIT
WAR 191 CLAPTON*ERIC|BACK HOME
OLE 191 INTERPOL|INTERPOL REMIX
BNA 191 CHESNEY*KENNY|ROAD & THE RADIO
RHI 191 GARCIA*JERRY|LADDER TO THE STA
CAP 191 BEATLES|BEATLES 1
WAR 191 MCGARRIGLE*KATE|MCGARRIGLE CHR
WAR 191 BARENAKED LADIE|BARENAKED FOR
AGVP 191 PAUL*SEAN|TRINITY
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