tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596887012213289929.post5438800096258036812..comments2023-08-03T09:33:59.461+01:00Comments on Spoonful Of Tar: Last Shop StandingEwanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00125469491832887419noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596887012213289929.post-16568478925364821572012-09-15T18:03:48.131+01:002012-09-15T18:03:48.131+01:00I've wondered about the record shop/download t...I've wondered about the record shop/download thing, too, but I suspect there are two big reasons why we won't see it happen:<br /><br />1. More cost/equipment for the stores to maintain: Record stores are hurting already, and investing the money in the tech and expertise needed to maintain it is just another financial burden they're probably ill equipped to handle. An indie record store is never going to have the resources or be able to take advantage of the economy of scale that the big eTailers can.<br /><br />2. Competition from existing juggernauts: If you're someone who already likes iTunes and Amazon, you're probably not going to be willing to expend the effort to go to a physical location to buy something that you could get without ever putting pants on or leaving your house, especially if you know they won't have an exhaustive catalog like what you can get online. I also think it' s a bit of the "preaching to the converted" problem. Most download sales would be to people who were going to come in and buy product anyway, not someone who wouldn't normally be bothered.<br /><br />I always look at bandcamp first if I want a digital release, but I'll be curious to see how it holds its own against the big guys. I hope it does well, but on the other hand, I feel like most people have already shown that they're perfectly happy with mp3 quality and they're perfectly happy with iTunes and Amazon, just like they're perfectly happy buying from big box stores in the real world.Justin C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09482606493779869171noreply@blogger.com