Vinyl, Cassettes & Retail

Indy Music Retailer Fratt Shares Vision Of The Future

OmahacityweeklylogoWe’ve been writing a lot about Indy music retail lately. Part of it is nostalgia for the good old days when visiting a record store was a positive experience; and pert of it is a fear that the demise of these important gatekeepers and their music lover’s clubhouses means that an important point of music discovery will be lost forever.

The City Weekly of Omaha Nebraska this week published an extensive Q&A with Mike Fratt the president of the local Homer’s chain that provides some interesting insights into the plight of Indy retail and the record business as well as some possible solutions.

ON THE INTERNET: "Everybody wants to blame it on the Internet, but all the Internet is, is a giant listening station that identifies the crap, so that big records don’t sell as well anymore."

"But, on the flip side of that coin, indie artists are far more successful today as a result of the Internet. More people find out about great music and it sells more."

"So once these big retailers had captured market share and then they started cutting down their selection, that’s when the industry started going south because there was no selection for customers to look at. And they continued to shop these mass merchants because it’s all about the price."

ON NEW NEW TECHNOLOGIES: "Then the whole iPod and MP3 thing came about, and for the first time rather than the industry driving the format, the format began to drive the industry. It’s always been the industry that introduced the LP, or the 8-track, or the cassette, or the CD, and now that’s suddenly been taken out of their hands, and technology is driving where the industry is headed."

Read the full Q & A here

Click below for this week’s Coalition Of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) Top 200

Coalition of Independent Music Stores’ Top 200 for Week Ending 12-4-05

Label Pos. Artist|Title

COL 1 SYSTEM OF A DOW|HYPNOTIZE

ISL 2 CASH*JOHNNY|LEGEND OF JOHNNY C

ATLG 3 DARKNESS|ONE WAY TICKET TO HEL

WAR 4 MADONNA|CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE

WAR 5 WILCO|KICKING TELEVISION- LIVE

ATO 6 MY MORNING JACK|Z

ATLG 7 DEATH CAB FOR C|PLANS

WAR 8 YOUNG*NEIL|PRAIRIE WIND

BNTE 9 MONK/COLTRANE|THELONIOUS MONK

EPIC 10 APPLE*FIONA|EXTRAORDINARY MACH

ATLG 11 BLUNT*JAMES|BACK TO BEDLAM

COL 12 MAYER*JOHN TRIO|JOHN MAYER TRI

VERV 13 KRALL*DIANA|CHRISTMAS SONGS

COL 14 BUSH*KATE|AERIAL

EPIC 15 MATISYAHU|LIVE AT STUBBS-AUSTI

VRGN 16 GORILLAZ|DEMON DAYS

VFOR 17 TEDESCHI*SUSAN|HOPE & DESIRE

WAR 18 ENYA|AMARANTINE

INT 18 VARIOUS|MUSIC FRM & INSPRD BY

RCA 20 MATTHEWS*DAVE B|WEEKEND ON THE

EPIC 21 INXS|SWITCH

DEF 22 WEST*KANYE|LATE REGISTRATION

CYSY 23 CLAP YOUR HANDS|CLAP YOUR HAND

V2 24 WHITE STRIPES|GET BEHIND ME SA

DEF 24 SANTANA*JUELZ|WHAT THE GAME’S

EPIT 26 DANGER DOOM|MOUSE & THE MASK

ROAD 27 NICKELBACK|ALL THE RIGHT REASO

WNDU 28 WALK THE LINE|SOUNDTRACK

WAR 28 GREEN DAY|BULLET IN A BIBLE

UNIV 30 CHAMILLIONAIRE|SOUND OF REVENG

SUG 31 NICKEL CREEK|WHY SHOULD THE FI

WAR 32 GREEN DAY|AMERICAN IDIOT

AAM 33 BLACK EYED PEAS|MONKEY BUSINES

COL 34 SPRINGSTEEN*BRU|BORN TO RUN-30

UNIV 35 MARLEY*DAMIAN|WELCOME TO JAMRO

RCAV 35 HEAP*IMOGEN|SPEAK FOR YOURSELF

COL 35 DIAMOND*NEIL|12 SONGS

ASK 38 STEVENS*SUFJAN|ILLINOIS

AMNA 38 THIS IS AMERICA|VOL. 2-THIS IS

ISL 40 CAREY*MARIAH|EMANCIPATION OF M

WAR 40 DEPECHE MODE|PLAYING THE ANGEL

VRGN 42 ROLLING STONES|BIGGER BANG

EPIC 43 SHAKIRA|ORAL FIXATION V2

OVCT 44 IRON & WINE/CAL|IN THE REINS

KOCH 45 KWELI*TALIB|RIGHT ABOUT NOW…

JIVE 45 BROWN*CHRIS|CHRIS BROWN

CPDR 47 MCMURTRY*JAMES|CHILDISH THINGS

GEFN 47 SIGUR ROS|TAKK

HOL 47 JORGE*SEU|LIFE AQUATIC STUD SE

WAR 50 RENT (2CD)|SOUNDTRACK

CAP 51 COLDPLAY|X&Y

CAP 52 RAITT*BONNIE|SOULS ALIKE

INT 53 QUEENS OF THE S|OVER THE….(E

RCA 54 GRAY*DAVID|LIFE IN SLOW MOTION

VRGN 55 ROLLING STONES|RARITIES 1971-0

IDER 56 BROWNE*JACKSON|VOL. 1-SOLO ACO

EPIC 56 FRANZ FERDINAND|YOU COULD HAVE

MERG 56 ARCADE FIRE|FUNERAL

FTCT 59 ANIMAL COLLECTI|FEELS

ISL 59 KILLERS|HOT FUSS

FAN 59 FOGERTY*JOHN|LONG ROAD HOME: U

ISL 62 FALL OUT BOY|FROM UNDER THE CO

UNJJ 63 JOHNSON*JACK|IN BETWEEN DREAMS

UMIF 64 CHILDREN OF BOD|ARE YOU DEAD Y

OHB 65 PRINE*JOHN|FAIR & SQUARE

ARI 66 SANTANA|ALL THAT I AM

RHR 66 GILKYSON*ELIZA|PARADISE HOTEL

WRPR 68 BOARDS OF CANAD|CAMPFIRE HEADP

FUER 68 PANIC! AT THE D|FEVER YOU CAN’

ECPK 70 GRASSHOPPER TAK|SEE NO EVIL

AANC 71 BROKEN SOCIAL S|BROKEN SOCIAL

COL 72 CROWELL*RODNEY|OUTSIDER

VRGN 72 BIG BOI PRESENT|VOL. 2-GOT PUR

WAR 74 AVENGED SEVENFO|CITY OF EVIL

CIDV 75 SUN KIL MOON|TINY CITIES

SUBP 75 WOLF PARADE|APOLOGIES TO THE Q

SUBP 77 POSTAL SERVICE|GIVE UP

WAR 77 DISTURBED|TEN THOUSAND FISTS

DUAL 79 GREENCARDS|WEATHER & WATER

DEF 80 CASH*JOHNNY|MAN COMES AROUND

COL 80 DYLAN*BOB|NO DIRECTION HOME: T

VERV 80 CULLUM*JAMIE|CATCHING TALES

AAM 80 CROW*SHERYL|WILDFLOWER

LHWY 84 ADAMS*RYAN|JACKSONVILLE CITY N

ALTD 85 MATT POND PA|SEVERAL ARROWS LA

FAN 85 GUARALDI*VINCE |CHARLIE BROWN

CAP 87 MCCARTNEY*PAUL|CHAOS & CREATIO

WAR 88 CREAM|ROYAL ALBERT HALL LONDON

RCA 88 LAMONTAGNE*RAY|TROUBLE

COL 88 GO! TEAM|THUNDER LIGHTNING STR

INT 88 NINE INCH NAILS|WITH TEETH

YROC 92 REVEREND HORTON|WE THREE KINGS

COL 92 CASH*JOHNNY|AT FOLSOM PRISON

RHMS 94 ATMOSPHERE|YOU CANT IMAGINE HO

WAR 94 RENT|SOUNDTRACK

GEFN 94 FLOETRY|FLO’ OLOGY

COL 97 AQUALUNG|STRANGE & BEAUTIFUL

BARS 97 NADA SURF|WEIGHT IS A GIFT

UNIV 97 MARS VOLTA|SCAB DATES

DEF 97 YOUNG JEEZY|LET’S GET IT

ROUN 101 GILMORE*JIMMIE |COME ON BACK

NWWT 102 MCCLINTON*DELBE|COST OF LIVING

WAR 102 FORT MINOR|RISING TIED

SRFD 102 SETZER*BRIAN OR|DIG THAT CRAZY

RYKO 102 LADYTRON|WITCHING HOUR

GEFN 106 ROOTS|VOL. 1-HOME GROWN

COL 106 THREE 6 MAFIA|MOST KNOWN UNKNO

COL 106 ANASTASIO*TREY|SHINE

GEFN 109 NIRVANA|SLIVER-BEST OF THE BOX

COL 110 SYSTEM OF A DOW|MEZMERIZE

HEIN 111 PINK MARTINI|HANG ON LITTLE TO

ANIT 111 BLACKALICIOUS|CRAFT

V2 111 DAVIES*RAY|THANKSGIVING DAY

CAP 111 PINK FLOYD|DARK SIDE OF THE MO

INT 111 FEIST|LET IT DIE

MERG 111 SPOON|GIMME FICTION

INT 117 BECK|GUERO

GEFN 117 WEEZER|MAKE BELIEVE

ISL 119 THRICE|VHEISSU

CAP 119 BEASTIE BOYS|SOLID GOLD HITS

GEFN 121 SUBLIME|GOLD

SUBP 121 ROGUE WAVE|DESCENDED LIKE VULT

ANIT 123 LAVETTE*BETTYE|I’VE GOT MY OWN

WAR 123 MY CHEMICAL ROM|THREE CHEERS F

ATLG 123 CHAPMAN*TRACY|WHERE YOU LIVE

COL 123 COHEED & CAMBRI|GOOD APOLLO,I’

COL 123 CASH*JOHNNY|16 BIGGEST HITS

INT 123 STEFANI*GWEN|LOVE.ANGEL.MUSIC.

ARI 129 EURYTHMICS|ULTIMATE COLLECTION

WAR 129 HIM|DARK LIGHT

BNTE 131 LEE*AMOS|AMOS LEE

WNDU 131 STAPP*SCOTT|GREAT DIVIDE

ROUN 131 PEYROUX*MADELEI|CARELESS LOVE

MOT 131 WONDER*STEVIE|TIME TO LOVE

INEP 135 AUDIOSLAVE|OUT OF EXILE

J 135 STEWART*ROD|VOL. 4-GREAT AMERI

OLE 135 NEW PORNOGRAPHE|TWIN CINEMA

SUBP 135 SHINS|OH INVERTED WORLD

SLNL 139 FORSYTH*GUY|LOVE SONGS FOR & A

SEAN 139 BONNIE PRINCE B|SUMMER IN THE

VRCS 139 DEATH FROM ABOV|ROMANCE BLOODY

LAVA 139 TRANS-SIBERIAN |LOST CHRISTMAS

AMNA 139 VARIOUS ARTISTS|THIS IS AMERIC

SXDG 139 CHRISTMAS REMIX|VOL. 2-CHRISTM

RCA 139 FOO FIGHTERS|IN YOUR HONOR

INT 146 50 CENT|MASSACRE

TWCV 146 O’CONNOR*SINEAD|THROW DOWN YOU

SMCM 146 CASH*JOHNNY|ESSENTIAL JOHNNY C

NWWT 146 YOAKAM*DWIGHT|LIVE FROM AUSTIN

GEFN 146 BLINK-182|GREATEST HITS

COL 146 IL DIVO|CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

SCRS 152 BRIGHT EYES|I’M WIDE AWAKE IT’

HRTC 152 TAYLOR*WILL & S|COLLABORATIONS

NWWT 152 HIATT*JOHN|LIVE FROM AUSTIN TE

ATLG 152 SHINEDOWN|US & THEM

RYKO 152 HICKS*BILL|OXFORD NOVEMBER 11

RDIK 157 BLACK REBEL MOT|HOWL

COL 157 DYLAN*BOB|BEST OF BOB DYLAN

ASMG 157 SMITH*PATTI|HORSES (30TH ANNIV

ROT 157 FIERY FURNACES|REHEARSING MY C

RAPA 157 BUN-B|TRILL

RAZ 157 THIS BIRD HAS F|THIS BIRD HAS

OCCR 163 COOK*DANE|RETALIATION

HEIN 163 PINK MARTINI|SYMPATHIQUE

RLWD 163 BLIND BOYS OF A|GO TELL IT ON

IPEC 163 MORRICONE*ENNIO|CRIME & DISSON

XLXL 163 BANHART*DEVENDR|CRIPPLE CROW

GEFN 163 ROOTS|VOL. 2-HOME GROWN

J 169 KEYS*ALICIA|UNPLUGGED

VRCS 169 BLOC PARTY|SILENT ALARM

JAGJ 169 OKKERVIL RIVER|BLACK SHEEP BOY

SDR 169 GOGOL BORDELLO|GYPSY PUNKS UND

RCA 169 CLARKSON*KELLY|BREAKAWAY

CAP 169 VA-CHRISTMAS WI|CHRISTMAS WITH

LAVA 169 TRANS-SIBERIAN |CHRISTMAS EVE

SSCR 176 LEKMAN*JENS|OH YOU’RE SO SILEN

KOCH 177 KEEN*ROBERT EAR|WHAT I REALLY

RCNA 177 MCBRIDE*MARTINA|TIMELESS

WAR 177 DIRE STRAITS/KN|BEST OF DIRE S

CDBY 180 SARAH BENCK & T|SUICIDE DOUBLE

KILL 180 DECEMBERISTS|PICARESQUE

ARI 180 UNDERWOOD*CARRI|SOME HEARTS

ATLG 180 TWISTA|DAY AFTER

GEFN 180 BLOODHOUND GANG|HEFTY FINE

UME 185 VARIOUS|NOW 20

ISL 185 MARLEY*BOB & TH|AFRICA UNITE-S

SNRS 185 KOTTONMOUTH KIN|JOINT VENTURE

CNCO 185 REEVES*DIANNE|GOOD NIGHT & GOO

EPIC 185 GARDEN STATE|SOUNDTRACK

GEFN 185 COMMON|BE

COCI 191 LADY SOVEREIGN|VERTICALLY CHAL

ROT 191 BELL ORCHESTRE|RECORDING A TAP

UNIV 191 NELLY|SWEATSUIT

WAR 191 CLAPTON*ERIC|BACK HOME

OLE 191 INTERPOL|INTERPOL REMIX

BNA 191 CHESNEY*KENNY|ROAD & THE RADIO

RHI 191 GARCIA*JERRY|LADDER TO THE STA

CAP 191 BEATLES|BEATLES 1

WAR 191 MCGARRIGLE*KATE|MCGARRIGLE CHR

WAR 191 BARENAKED LADIE|BARENAKED FOR

AGVP 191 PAUL*SEAN|TRINITY

c) 2005 by SoundScan, Inc. All rights res

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