Recently on 'Music in the digital era' Simon Warner, Senior Teaching Fellow in Popular Music, Leeds University, was interviewed about the future of music retail. He said: “I feel as if the high street retailer is in a no win situation. I can't see in 2020 there being too many of those shops left. There may be none left.”
But what will it be like without CD shops? Will this not be a sorry day? Well in some respects I would say yes. Music shops have served a purpose in society for a long time; it's not always been about buying and selling CD's. They have been places where people can meet up hang out, and chat about music. People go to browse through music stores as something to do during their lunch breaks.
It has to be said though that record labels, and distributors and retails have been guilty of charging too much for CD's for far too long, with usually only around 8% going back to the artist.
As HMV diversify they seem the most likely to survive, but maybe they will become more of a merchandise store than a music store. Either way I think it is important that they do survive. Online shopping can be great, but buying everything online or in a supermarket does not greatly appeal to me in the future. What do you think?
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I think that music retail shops should try to stay in business but at the same time, they should explore their opportunities on-line as well to survive. It is important in today's business, not only in the music industry but else where, to cope up with the demand of their consumers whose buying behaviour changed. They want an easy reach to the product and that's where on-line sales comes in. Therefore, any music CD shops should provide both kinds of 'point of sale' for the consumers.
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