Indie Music Stores Have Better ’05 Than Bigger Music Retailers
Soundscan figures show that CD sales were down almost 10% in 2005. But innovative indie music retailers seem not be suffering quite as badly as the larger chain music stores.
"My guys tell me that it was a really stressful fourth quarter," says Don Van Cleave of the Coalition Of Independent Music Stores. "The first three quarters had everyone’s hopes up. October and November really sucked and then Christmas decided to come later than normal. But, it did come and many reported their best day in history for December 23rd. Overall, I got good reports out of many of our accounts. In general, many seemed to end the year about even with 2004, which was a great year for all. Some
folks were down a little and few down a bunch. But, all blended, it seemed like the year was salvaged and many are happy about it. "
But it’s not the major labels or always even music that’s providing the bright spots. "Most reported that even though they are less dependent on major label product driving their traffic, the less than great release schedule did not help matters," according to VanCleave. Standout sellers for everyone were DVDs, anything Johnny Cash, and anything Jesus. Lifestyle is definitely becoming a much bigger piece of the puzzle at indie retail. Indie records ruled the day also."
As for the future, "My wish for 2006 is that lowest common denominator finally looses traction and real artists with multi-album careers win the day," said a hopeful VanCleave. The only way that will happen of course is for satellite radio to get huge, concert tickets get cheaper and above all, CD prices fall. A guy can wish."
Click below to read this week’s CIMS Top 200.
Coalition of Independent Music Stores’ Top 200 for Week Ending 1-01-06
Label Pos. Artist|Title
ATLG 1 DEATH CAB FOR C|PLANS
BADB 2 NOTORIOUS B.I.G|DUETS: THE FIN
EPIC 3 MATISYAHU|LIVE AT STUBBS-AUSTI
LHWY 4 ADAMS*RYAN|29
ATO 5 MY MORNING JACK|Z
ISL 6 CASH*JOHNNY|LEGEND OF JOHNNY C
BNTE 7 MONK/COLTRANE|THELONIOUS MONK
ATLG 8 BLUNT*JAMES|BACK TO BEDLAM
INT 9 EMINEM|CURTAIN CALL
J 10 FOXX*JAMIE|UNPREDICTABLE
GEFN 11 BLIGE*MARY J.|BREAKTHROUGH
EPIC 12 APPLE*FIONA|EXTRAORDINARY MACH
ASK 13 STEVENS*SUFJAN|ILLINOIS
WAR 14 YOUNG*NEIL|PRAIRIE WIND
WAR 15 WILCO|KICKING TELEVISION- LIVE
COL 16 SYSTEM OF A DOW|HYPNOTIZE
VRGN 17 GORILLAZ|DEMON DAYS
VRGN 18 KORN|SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE
DEF 19 WEST*KANYE|LATE REGISTRATION
RCAV 20 HEAP*IMOGEN|SPEAK FOR YOURSELF
CYSY 21 CLAP YOUR HANDS|CLAP YOUR HAND
V2 22 WHITE STRIPES|GET BEHIND ME SA
WAR 22 MADONNA|CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE
UNCM 24 LIL’ WAYNE|CARTER II
INT 25 BECK|GUEROLITO
ISL 26 FALL OUT BOY|FROM UNDER THE CO
SUG 27 NICKEL CREEK|WHY SHOULD THE FI
UNJJ 28 JOHNSON*JACK|IN BETWEEN DREAMS
EPIT 29 DANGER DOOM|MOUSE & THE MASK
ROAD 30 NICKELBACK|ALL THE RIGHT REASO
CAP 31 COLDPLAY|X&Y
GEFN 32 SIGUR ROS|TAKK
UNIV 33 MARLEY*DAMIAN|WELCOME TO JAMRO
WAR 33 OUR NEW ORLEANS|OUR NEW ORLEAN
COL 35 MAYER*JOHN TRIO|JOHN MAYER TRI
AANC 36 BROKEN SOCIAL S|BROKEN SOCIAL
OVCT 37 IRON & WINE/CAL|IN THE REINS
SUBP 38 WOLF PARADE|APOLOGIES TO THE Q
CPDR 39 MCMURTRY*JAMES|CHILDISH THINGS
COL 40 GO! TEAM|THUNDER LIGHTNING STR
COL 41 CASH*JOHNNY|AT FOLSOM PRISON
MERG 41 SPOON|GIMME FICTION
RHI 43 PHISH|LIVE AT MADISON SQUARE G
WAR 44 DISTURBED|TEN THOUSAND FISTS
INT 44 BECK|GUERO
EPIC 46 FRANZ FERDINAND|YOU COULD HAVE
MERG 47 ARCADE FIRE|FUNERAL
SCRS 48 BRIGHT EYES|I’M WIDE AWAKE IT’
VFOR 48 TEDESCHI*SUSAN|HOPE & DESIRE
WAR 50 GREEN DAY|AMERICAN IDIOT
INT 50 FEIST|LET IT DIE
FTCT 52 ANIMAL COLLECTI|FEELS
COL 53 DIAMOND*NEIL|12 SONGS
OCCR 54 COOK*DANE|RETALIATION
OLE 54 NEW PORNOGRAPHE|TWIN CINEMA
WAR 54 GREEN DAY|BULLET IN A BIBLE
DEF 57 SANTANA*JUELZ|WHAT THE GAME’S
ECPK 57 GRASSHOPPER TAK|SEE NO EVIL
WAR 59 DEPECHE MODE|PLAYING THE ANGEL
WAR 59 AVENGED SEVENFO|CITY OF EVIL
VRCS 61 BLOC PARTY|SILENT ALARM
AMNA 61 THIS IS AMERICA|VOL. 2-THIS IS
ISL 63 KILLERS|HOT FUSS
ISL 64 CAREY*MARIAH|EMANCIPATION OF M
AAM 65 BLACK EYED PEAS|MONKEY BUSINES
V2 66 WHITE STRIPES|WALKING WITH A G
ATLG 66 DARKNESS|ONE WAY TICKET TO HEL
COL 68 COHEED & CAMBRI|GOOD APOLLO,I’
COL 69 BUSH*KATE|AERIAL
FUER 70 PANIC! AT THE D|FEVER YOU CAN’
SUBP 71 POSTAL SERVICE|GIVE UP
OHB 71 PRINE*JOHN|FAIR & SQUARE
INT 73 VARIOUS ARTISTS|MUSIC FRM & IN
COL 74 DYLAN*BOB|NO DIRECTION HOME: T
DEF 75 CASH*JOHNNY|MAN COMES AROUND
RDIK 75 BLACK REBEL MOT|HOWL
INT 75 NINE INCH NAILS|WITH TEETH
UNIV 78 CHAMILLIONAIRE|SOUND OF REVENG
WRPR 79 BOARDS OF CANAD|CAMPFIRE HEADP
SUBP 79 SHINS|OH INVERTED WORLD
RCA 79 LAMONTAGNE*RAY|TROUBLE
IDER 82 BROWNE*JACKSON|VOL. 1-SOLO ACO
RCA 82 GRAY*DAVID|LIFE IN SLOW MOTION
DEF 82 LUDACRIS & DTP|LUDACRIS PRESEN
LHWY 85 ADAMS*RYAN|JACKSONVILLE CITY N
HEIN 86 PINK MARTINI|HANG ON LITTLE TO
COL 86 AQUALUNG|STRANGE & BEAUTIFUL
BARS 86 NADA SURF|WEIGHT IS A GIFT
CAP 89 MAGIC NUMBERS|MAGIC NUMBERS
CIDV 90 SUN KIL MOON|TINY CITIES
RCA 90 FOO FIGHTERS|IN YOUR HONOR
KILL 92 DECEMBERISTS|PICARESQUE
NWWT 92 MCCLINTON*DELBE|COST OF LIVING
COL 92 THREE 6 MAFIA|MOST KNOWN UNKNO
RHR 92 GILKYSON*ELIZA|PARADISE HOTEL
RYKO 92 LADYTRON|WITCHING HOUR
WNDU 97 WALK THE LINE|SOUNDTRACK
SSCR 98 ANTONY & THE JO|I’M A BIRD NOW
VRGN 98 ROLLING STONES|BIGGER BANG
EPIC 100 FRAY|HOW TO SAVE A LIFE
WAR 100 HIM|DARK LIGHT
INT 100 U2|HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC
XLIN 103 M.I.A.|ARULAR
ANIT 103 BLACKALICIOUS|CRAFT
GEFN 103 BLINK-182|GREATEST HITS
COL 106 SPRINGSTEEN*BRU|BORN TO RUN-30
BARS 106 DEATH CAB FOR C|TRANSATLANTICI
WAR 106 ENYA|AMARANTINE
COL 106 SYSTEM OF A DOW|MEZMERIZE
RCA 106 LAMONTAGNE*RAY|LIVE FROM BONNA
RCA 111 CLARKSON*KELLY|BREAKAWAY
CAP 111 MCCARTNEY*PAUL|CHAOS & CREATIO
INT 111 QUEENS OF THE S|OVER THE….(E
LSGA 114 METRIC|LIVE IT OUT
VFOR 115 BROKEBACK MOUNT|BROKEBACK MOUN
GEFN 115 SUBLIME|GOLD
ATLG 115 SHINEDOWN|US & THEM
JIVE 115 BROWN*CHRIS|CHRIS BROWN
RHMS 119 ATMOSPHERE|YOU CANT IMAGINE HO
FAN 119 FOGERTY*JOHN|LONG ROAD HOME: U
GEFN 119 WEEZER|MAKE BELIEVE
SUBP 122 ROGUE WAVE|DESCENDED LIKE VULT
RCA 122 MATTHEWS*DAVE B|WEEKEND ON THE
AGVP 122 PAUL*SEAN|TRINITY
DEF 125 YOUNG JEEZY|LET’S GET IT
AMNA 126 VARIOUS ARTISTS|THIS IS AMERIC
UNJJ 126 JOHNSON*JACK|ON & ON
IMPL 126 COLTRANE*JOHN|ONE DOWN ONE UP
CAP 126 BEASTIE BOYS|SOLID GOLD HITS
MRGE 126 NEUTRAL MILK HO|IN THE AEROPLA
KMDO 131 DUNGEN|TA DET LUGNT
KILL 131 DEERHOOF|RUNNERS FOUR
SUBP 131 IRON & WINE|OUR ENDLESS NUMBER
CAP 131 PINK FLOYD|DARK SIDE OF THE MO
VRCS 135 DEATH FROM ABOV|YOU’RE A WOMAN
ISL 135 THRICE|VHEISSU
UNIV 135 NELLY|SWEATSUIT
ROUN 135 PEYROUX*MADELEI|CARELESS LOVE
SUBP 135 SLEATER-KINNEY|WOODS
BNTE 140 LEE*AMOS|AMOS LEE
AAM 140 CROW*SHERYL|WILDFLOWER
HOL 140 JORGE*SEU|LIFE AQUATIC STUD SE
SUBP 143 SHINS|CHUTES TOO NARROW
CAP 143 COLDPLAY|RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE
GEFN 143 COMMON|BE
INT 143 STEFANI*GWEN|LOVE.ANGEL.MUSIC.
DRGC 143 SILVER JEWS|TANGLEWOOD NUMBERS
ALTD 148 MATT POND PA|SEVERAL ARROWS LA
ANIT 148 LAVETTE*BETTYE|I’VE GOT MY OWN
ARI 148 SANTANA|ALL THAT I AM
CAP 148 RAITT*BONNIE|SOULS ALIKE
WAR 148 JAMES*LEELA|CHANGE IS GONNA CO
SDSF 153 STEVENS*SUFJAN|MICHIGAN
BARS 153 DEATH CAB FOR C|JOHN BYRD E.P
DEF 153 WEST*KANYE|COLLEGE DROP OUT
RBR 153 BIRD*ANDREW|MYSTERIOUS PRODUCT
SUBP 153 IRON & WINE|WOMAN KING
ASDM 153 D4L|DOWN FOR LIFE
VIT 153 HAWTHORNE HEIGH|SILENCE IN BLA
JDUB 160 MATISYAHU|SHAKE OFF THE DUST..
AANC 160 STARS|SET YOURSELF ON FIRE
OCCR 160 HEDBERG*MITCH|MITCH ALL TOGETH
SIG 160 WINTERPILLS|WINTERPILLS
SCRS 160 BRIGHT EYES|DIGITAL ASH IN A D
ATLG 160 STAIND|CHAPTER V
SODF 160 HAMILTON*ANTHON|AIN’T NOBODY W
UNEJ 167 JOHNSON*JACK|BRUSHFIRE FAIRYTA
WAR 168 MY CHEMICAL ROM|THREE CHEERS F
VRGN 168 ROLLING STONES|RARITIES 1971-0
UNIV 170 MARS VOLTA|SCAB DATES
SYL 170 WALL*PAUL|PEOPLE’S CHAMP
ARI 170 UNDERWOOD*CARRI|SOME HEARTS
RCA 170 VARIOUS|SONGS BROWN HOTEL
WAR 174 HANCOCK*HERBIE|POSSIBILITIES
SDR 174 GOGOL BORDELLO|GYPSY PUNKS UND
ATOR 176 NORTH MISSISSIP|ELECTRIC BLUE
WAR 176 AMADOU & MARIAM|DIMANCHE A BAM
RCA 176 STROKES|FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF E
RCA 176 CITIZEN COPE|CLARENCE GREENWOO
WAR 176 RILO KILEY|MORE ADVENTUROUS
SDSF 181 STEVENS*SUFJAN|SEVEN SWANS
TTRL 181 EXPLOSIONS IN T|HOW STRANGE IN
SMCM 181 CASH*JOHNNY|ESSENTIAL JOHNNY C
SUBP 181 IRON & WINE|CREEK DRANK THE CR
INEP 185 AUDIOSLAVE|OUT OF EXILE
KOCH 185 KWELI*TALIB|RIGHT ABOUT NOW…
HEIN 185 PINK MARTINI|SYMPATHIQUE
UMIF 185 CHILDREN OF BOD|ARE YOU DEAD Y
COL 185 CROWELL*RODNEY|OUTSIDER
TVT 185 SEVENDUST|BEST OF SEVENDUST-CH
DUAL 191 GREENCARDS|WEATHER & WATER
COL 191 SON VOLT|OKEMAH & THE MELODY O
BARS 191 DEATH CAB FOR C|WE HAVE THE FA
XLXL 191 BANHART*DEVENDR|CRIPPLE CROW
VIT 191 TAKING BACK SUN|TELL ALL YOUR
COCI 196 LADY SOVEREIGN|VERTICALLY CHAL
WAR 196 WILCO|YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT
JAGJ 196 OKKERVIL RIVER|BLACK SHEEP BOY
INT 196 50 CENT|MASSACRE
VERV 196 CULLUM*JAMIE|CATCHING TALES
RHI 196 AUSTIN CITY LIM|AUSTIN CITY LI
CAP 196 LCD SOUNDSYSTEM|LCD SOUNDSYSTE
CAP 196 BEATLES|BEATLES, THE (LIMITED
COL 196 ANASTASIO*TREY|SHINE
INT 196 ALL-AMERICAN RE|MOVE ALONG
MERG 196 CLIENTELE|STRANGE GEOMETRY
DRMW 196 FLOETRY|FLO’ OLOGY
GEFN 196 NIRVANA|NEVERMIND
c) 2005 by SoundScan, Inc. All rights res
Don VanCleave
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
Suite 101
1776 Independence Ct
Birmingham, AL 35216
205-879-9023 x201
205-879-2889 (fax)
