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Losing our independents

Posted in General February 7th, 2007 by Stuart Aitken

If ever we needed more proof of the impact of new technology on the world of music retail, it can be found in the closure of yet another Soho record shop – Reckless Records. It appears that the company has gone into liquidation meaning that the two remaining shops on Soho’s Berwick Street have closed – following the earlier closures of branches in Islington and Camden.

Two years ago when another Soho institution Mr Bongos closed, I interviewed staff to find out what went wrong. The answer was of course the internet.

Online shopping, eBay and file sharing are all taking their toll on the independent retailers as well as the big high street names. Much has been written about the falling profits of HMV and Virgin for example but meanwhile independent record shops really are in the firing line.

A story published in the Guardian last year suggested that we love our independent record stores. http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1885493,00.html

Appreciation is one thing but do we actually support them? If we don’t, is their closure really something to be mourned?

Independent shops are the lifeblood of music retail, ensuring that alternative tastes are catered for. Their disappearance will leave only the major players catering for the most general of tastes.

The situation on the high street is starting to look worryingly homogenous. Just last week Woolworths won a contract to manage the purchasing of CDs, books and DVDs for the Virgin Retail group. This doesn’t bode very well for anyone with what is commonly referred to as a niche interest.

With constant price wars between Virgin and HMV – offering established stars’ classic albums at reduced prices – what hope does the independent retailer have? Late last year for example Music Zone went under, closing the doors on its 67 shops for the last time. The chain has been bought by Fopp, perhaps the major hope of the independent music retail industry. How much longer Fopp can remain independent though remains to be seen.

In the meantime, at the Soho branch of Notting Hill Exchange, no one is entirely sure what happened to Reckless, and life carries on as normal – but for how long?

Have you lost a favourite independent shop recently? Why not share your story?