1 DYLAN*BOB|MODERN TIMES- 2 MARS VOLTA|AMPUTECHTURE
- 3 TV ON THE RADIO|RETURN TO COOK
- 4 TIMBERLAKE*JUST|FUTURESEX/LOVE
- 5 MAYER*JOHN|CONTINUUM
- 6 YO LA TENGO|I AM NOT AFRAID OF
- 7 MASTODON|BLOOD MOUNTAIN
- 8 BLACK KEYS|MAGIC POTION
- 9 LAMONTAGNE*RAY|TILL THE SUN TU
- 10 LOS LOBOS|TOWN & THE CITY
Read the entire CIMS 200 and a great commentary after the jump.
Howdy folks,
Well, last week was surely a shot in the arm. A slate of strong releases made it seem like 2001. Well, almost. The "sold" quantity of the hit titles that I see indie record stores moving has shrunk dramatically since that long ago year. Yeah, illegal downloads are killing us right? Well, in my opinion, this loss of hit business at the indie level has nothing to do with nothing but price.
In this week's Sunday inserts. Best Buy offered the following titles for
$9.99 along with extra goodies:
1) Fergie - plus exclusive digital download track
2) New Found Glory - plus exclusive digital download track
3) Diana Krall Exclusive track on the CD
4) Lupe Fiasco 3 Exclusive track on the CD
5) Elton John - plus exclusive digital download track
6) Bone Thugs - 3 Exclusive track on the CD
7) Chingy -plus exclusive digital download track
8) Jonny Lang - plus exclusive digital download track
9) DJ Shadow - plus 2 exclusive digital download tracks
10) Mushroomhead- 2 Exclusive track on the CD
11) Peter Frampton Exclusive DVD with cd in one package
12) Kasabian Exclusive DVD
13) Jesse McCartney - Exclusive track on the CD
14) Aaron Neville - Exclusive track on the CD
15) Clay Aiken Exclusive Fan pack
OK, that is every release this week including many that really matter to indie retail. The label community takes very good care of us on the value added side just as they do Best Buy. However, $15.98 and a free download obviously does not attract a customer like $9.99 and a free download does.
In some cases were the songs are stripped right on the CD, Best Buy has a better version of the core product dollars BELOW our cost. So, no wonder our hit business is in the shitter. The point being that after the demise of MAP and with major support from the record labels, Best Buy has defined the value of a new release at $9.99. Not $18.98. And the public is shifting all hit business to them and the other big boxes who price similarly. It is not an increase in business (duh) but a shift by customers to the lower price.
My point is that business is business and everyone is doing what they have to do including the indie retail community. Our programs for developing artists have NEVER been so popular. We are helping labels with dozens of new acts a month. But, if we can't figure out a way to be price competitive on titles like some of the ones above, some will not survive to help with the developing artists. Period.
**************************
While I am on the subject of what is happening at other retailers, it would be a fine time to bring up the Scissor Sisters/Transworld bru-haha. At NARM this year, Sister's front man Jake S made a joke about how high the prices were at FYE on his recent shopping trip. This was in the middle of an all out dance party and everyone had a good laugh. Well, except for the FYE guys apparently. They are now refusing to stock the new Scissor Sisters release coming from Universal. Aw guys, have a heart!
CIMS has decided to offer up some valuable program space in fourth quarter to the Scissor Sisters for free to help them out. Bands are made up of musicians, not diplomats. Most musicians I know just can't be held accountable all of the time for comments, especially in mid rock.
**************************
And this newsletter would not be complete without pimpin one of our own would it? Today, in Newsday, one of the New York market's biggest newspapers, is a feature story on Long Island's Looney Tunes. It is well worth reading. See at:
http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/ny-looney0919,0,4789917.story?page=1
1 DYLAN*BOB|MODERN TIMES
2 MARS VOLTA|AMPUTECHTURE
3 TV ON THE RADIO|RETURN TO COOK
4 TIMBERLAKE*JUST|FUTURESEX/LOVE
5 MAYER*JOHN|CONTINUUM
6 YO LA TENGO|I AM NOT AFRAID OF
7 MASTODON|BLOOD MOUNTAIN
8 BLACK KEYS|MAGIC POTION
9 LAMONTAGNE*RAY|TILL THE SUN TU
10 LOS LOBOS|TOWN & THE CITY
11 RACONTEURS|BROKEN BOY SOLDIERS
12 CITIZEN COPE|EVERY WAKING MOME
13 BRAZILIAN GIRLS|TALK TO LA BOM
13 SEGER*BOB|FACE THE PROMISE
15 AUDIOSLAVE|REVELATIONS
16 BLACK LABEL SOC|SHOT TO HELL
17 GNARLS BARKLEY|ST. ELSEWHERE
18 KWELLER*BEN|BEN KWELLER
19 MUSE|BLACK HOLES AND REVELATIO
20 ROOTS|GAME THEORY
20 TUNSTALL*KT|EYE TO THE TELESCO
22 PEYROUX*MADELEI|HALF THE PERFE
23 RAPTURE|PIECES OF THE PEOPLE W
24 G. LOVE|LEMONADE
25 CARBON LEAF|LOVE LOSS HOPE REP
26 MARLEY*DAMIAN|WELCOME TO JAMRO
27 PETTY*TOM|HIGHWAY COMPANION
28 IRON MAIDEN|MATTER OF LIFE AND
29 WARD*M.|POST-WAR
30 OLD CROW MEDICI|BIG IRON WORLD
31 R.E.M.|BEST: IRS YEARS 82-87 2
32 PHOENIX|IT'S NEVER BEEN LIKE T
32 CAT POWER|GREATEST
34 RANDY ROGERS BA|JUST A MATTER
35 GOMEZ|HOW WE OPERATE
36 NORMA JEAN|REDEEMER
37 WHAT MADE MILWA|TRYING TO NEVE
38 COLVIN*SHAWN|THESE FOUR WALLS
39 OUTKAST|IDLEWILD
39 NICKEL CREEK|WHY SHOULD THE FI
41 YORN*PETE|NIGHTCRAWLER
42 CHAMBERS*KASEY|CARNIVAL
43 LOS LONELY BOYS|SACRED
44 YORKE*THOM|ERASER
44 BARENAKED LADIE|BARENAKED LADI
46 BEYONCE|B'DAY
47 HINDER|EXTREME BEHAVIOR
48 MATCHES|DECOMPOSER
49 LAMB OF GOD|SACRAMENT
50 CLARK*GUY|WORKBENCH SONGS
51 ALBUM LEAF|INTO THE BLUE AGAIN
52 SCHNEIDER*BOB|CALIFORNIAN
53 METHOD MAN|4:21 THE DAY AFTER
54 COTTON*DANIELIA|SMALL WHITE TO
55 GUSTER|GANGING UP ON THE SUN
56 HEAVENS|PATENT PENDING
56 HARPER*BEN|BOTH SIDES OF THE G
58 PAPA ROACH|PARAMOUR SESSIONS
59 DEL CASTILLO|BROTHERHOOD
60 JUNIOR BOYS|SO THIS IS GOODBYE
61 MATISYAHU|YOUTH
62 FORD*DAVID|I SINCERELY APOLOGI
62 THILE*CHRIS|HOW TO GROW A WOMA
64 SUGARCULT|LIGHTS OUT
64 BASEMENT JAXX|CRAZY ITCH RADIO
66 LAMONTAGNE*RAY|TROUBLE
67 AUSTIN CITY LIM|AUSTIN CITY LI
67 ROSS*RICK|PORT OF MIAMI
69 MATISYAHU|LIVE AT STUBBS-AUSTI
69 COSTA*MATT|SONGS WE SING
69 RED HOT CHILI P|STADIUM ARCADI
72 CURSIVE|HAPPY HOLLOW
72 PALOL NUTINI|LIVE SESSIONS (EP
74 THIEVERY CORPOR|VERSIONS
75 CALEXICO|GARDEN RUIN
75 FLAMING LIPS|AT WAR WITH THE M
77 THIEVERY CORPOR|COSMIC GAME
77 RATATAT|CLASSICS
77 PINBACK|NAUTICAL ANTIQUES
80 EVERCLEAR|WELCOME TO THE DRAMA
81 J DILLA|SHINING
82 EASY STAR ALL-S|RADIODREAD: CO
82 SPEKTOR*REGINA|BEGIN TO HOPE
82 WOLFMOTHER|WOLFMOTHER
82 DRAFT|IN A MILLION PIECES
86 CASH*JOHNNY|AMERICAN V: HUNDRE
87 ROBERTS*SAM|CHEMICAL CITY
88 KWELLER*BEN|SUNDRESS EP
88 INGRAM*JACK|LIVE-WHEREVER YOU
90 AUBELE*FEDERICO|GRAN HOTEL BUE
91 NICKELBACK|ALL THE RIGHT REASO
91 SNOW PATROL|EYES OPEN
93 METHENY/MEHLDAU|METHENY MEHLDA
93 SECRET MACHINES|TEN SILVER DRO
95 GOV'T MULE|HIGH & MIGHTY
95 DEADBOY & ELEPH|WE ARE NIGHT S
95 BLUE OCTOBER|FOILED
98 MARAH|IF YOU DIDN'T LAUGH YOU'
99 EXPLOSIONS IN T|EARTH IS NOT A
99 EDWARDS*KATHLEE|BACK TO ME
99 RAE*CORINNE BAI|CORINNE BAILEY
102 SLAYER|CHRIST ILLUSION
103 JURASSIC 5|FEEDBACK
104 HATEBREED|SUPREMACY
105 MAGNOLIA ELECTR|FADING TRAILS
106 TOOL|10000 DAYS
107 GONZALEZ*JOSE|VENEER
107 XIU XIU|THE AIR FORCE
107 BUCKNER*RICHARD|MEADOW
110 STONE SOUR|COME WHAT(EVER) MAY
110 AGUILERA*CHRIST|BACK TO BASICS
112 SUBDUDES|BEHIND THE LEVEE
112 KNOPFLER/HARRIS|ALL THE ROADRU
114 LOS AMIGOS INVI|SUPERPOP VENEZ
114 DIFRANCO*ANI|REPRIEVE
116 MORRISON*VAN|PAY THE DEVIL
117 NATHANSON*MATT|AT THE POINT
118 IMA ROBOT|MONUMENT TO THE MASS
119 DENNEN*BRETT|SO MUCH MORE
119 RICHIE*LIONEL|COMING HOME
119 LAMONTAGNE*RAY|LIVE FROM BONNA
122 MURDER BY DEATH|IN BOCCA AL LU
122 HEM|FUNNEL CLOUD
122 FRANTI*MICHAEL |YELL FIRE!
122 WOLF PARADE|APOLOGIES TO THE Q
122 DIXIE CHICKS|TAKING THE LONG W
127 NADA SURF|WEIGHT IS A GIFT
127 FRISELL/CARTER/|BILL FRISELL R
129 LONG WINTERS|PUTTING THE DAYS
130 TORTOISE|LAZARUS TAXON
130 DANITY KANE|DANITY KANE
132 FRAMPTON*PETER|FINGERPRINTS
132 FRAY|HOW TO SAVE A LIFE
134 BLACK ANGELS|PASSOVER
134 SON VOLT|OKEMAH & THE MELODY O
134 MOUNTAIN GOATS|GET LONELY
134 DAZ|SO SO GANGSTA
134 BREAKING BENJAM|PHOBIA
139 I LOVE YOU BUT |FEAR IS ON OUR
139 PANIC! AT THE D|FEVER YOU CAN'
139 BLIND GUARDIAN|TWIST IN THE MY
142 SPRINGSTEEN*BRU|WE SHALL OVERC
142 CRAY*ROBERT|LIVE FROM ACROSS T
144 THERMALS|BODY THE BLOOD THE MA
144 SHINS|OH INVERTED WORLD
144 KINGS OF LEON|AHA SHAKE HEARTB
144 YOUNG DRO|BEST THANG SMOKIN'
148 STILLS|WITHOUT FEATHERS
148 SHINS|CHUTES TOO NARROW
148 PETTY*TOM & THE|GREATEST HITS
148 STRIKE ANYWHERE|DEAD FM
152 STRING CHEESE I|ONE STEP CLOSE
152 IRON & WINE|OUR ENDLESS NUMBER
152 DEATH CAB FOR C|PLANS
155 GRIZZLY BEAR|YELLOW HOUSE
155 BEACH BOYS, THE|PET SOUNDS
155 KEANE|UNDER THE IRON SEA
155 WEDNESDAY 13|FANG BANG
159 SEXTON*CHARLIE|CRUEL & GENTLE
159 PLAIN WHITE T'S|EVERY SECOND C
159 SWOLLEN MEMBERS|BLACK MAGIC
159 DUHKS|MIGRATIONS
163 LOS LONELY BOYS|LOS LONELY BOY
163 BENEVENTO/RUSSO|PLAY PAUSE STO
163 STEVENS*SUFJAN|AVALANCHE: OUTT
163 MURDOCH*ALEXI|TIME WITHOUT CON
163 ZERO 7|GARDEN
163 DIRTY PRETTY TH|WATERLOO TO AN
169 GWAR|BEYOND HELL
169 RODRIGUEZ*CARRI|SEVEN ANGELS O
169 NOUVELLE VAGUE|BANDE A PART
169 I'M YOUR MAN|SOUNDTRACK
169 BAND OF HORSES|EVERYTHING ALL
169 GREEN*PAT|CANNONBALL
169 MOTORHEAD|KISS OF DEATH
176 SOUTH AUSTIN JU|DARK & WEARY W
176 MIDLAKE|TRIALS OF VAN OCCUPANT
176 YUNG JOC|NEW JOC CITY
176 JENNINGS*LYFE|PHOENIX
176 CROSSFADE|FALLING AWAY
181 ELECTRIC SIX|SWITZERLAND
181 HEARTLESS BASTA|ALL THIS TIME
181 SEXTON/MCNALLY|SOUTHSIDE SESSI
181 NELSON*WILLIE|LIVE FROM AUSTIN
181 PERSEPHONE'S BE|NOTES FROM THE
181 30 SECONDS TO M|BEAUTIFUL LIE
187 NEW PORNOGRAPHE|TWIN CINEMA
187 FRIEDMAN*KINKY|LAST OF THE JEW
189 GOLDEN SMOG|ANOTHER FINE DAY
189 MTUKKUDZI*OLIVE|WONAI
189 UNDER THE INFLU|UNDER THE INFL
189 R.E.M.|BEST: IRS YEARS 82-87
193 ELI YOUNG BAND|LEVEL
193 BUCKCHERRY|15
193 KILLERS|HOT FUSS
193 BT|THIS BINARY UNIVERSE
193 VOTOLATO*ROCKY|MAKERS
193 HELLOGOODBYE|ZOMBIES! ALIENS!
193 HUBBARD*RAY WYL|SNAKE FARM
193 SILVERSUN PICKU|CARNAVAS
193 PRIMAL SCREAM|RIOT CITY BLUES
c) 2006 by SoundScan, Inc. All rights res
Don VanCleave
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
205-595-1932 x201
205-595-1938 (fax)
