> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.hypebot.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Indie Record Stores Protest Jay-Z & Kayne West iTunes, Best Buy Exclusives - URL: https://www.hypebot.com/indie-record-stores-protest-jay-z-kayne-west-itunes-best-buy-exclusives/ - Published: 2011-07-29T08:45:44.000Z - Updated: 2011-07-29T08:45:44.000Z - Description: The Throne, Jay-Z and Kanye West's collaborative project, will be released digitally on iTunes August 8th with a physical release on August 12. Best Buy has also been given the. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2011/07/indie-record-stores-protest-jay-z-kayne-west-itunes-best-buy-exc - Author: Bruce Houghton - Tags: Uncategorized, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 10:55 [![image from www.google.com](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e2014e8a3597b1970d-200wi "image from www.google.com")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e2014e8a3597b1970d-popup?ref=hypebot.com) The Throne, **Jay-Z** and **Kanye West'**s collaborative project, will be released digitally on **iTunes** August 8th with a physical release on August 12\. **Best Buy** has also been given the exclusive on a deluxe edition of the CD for first 10 days, and indie record stores are crying foul. "We believe this is a **short-sighted strategy,** and that your decisions will be doing **great damage** to over **1,700 independent record stores** – stores that have supported you and your music for years," read the open letter signed by dozens of top independent music stores. **The full letter:** Dear Jay-Z and Kanye West, Independent record stores serve our communities. Our passion is music, and we convey this to the millions of customers who come to our stores. That's what we do. Four years ago independent music stores across the country banded together to create Record Store Day. Our goal was to counter the negative media coverage about the supposed demise of record stores brought on by the closing of the Tower stores and to respond to the music business practices that fans deemed to be manipulative and onerous. We reached out to the artist community to see if they would join us, and the response was overwhelming with words of support coming in from Paul McCartney, Erykah Badu, Tom Waits, Chuck D, the Foo Fighters and countless others. Working with their label partners, many of these musicians created limited edition works of art, including vinyl and CDs made especially for music specialty retail. Hundreds of these artists took the opportunity to perform, DJ, and interact with their fans in our record stores. Here in the US, Record Store Day lifted the entire music business by 8% and contributed to the growth in music sales. Record Store Day is now one of the biggest music events in history with millions of people participating worldwide. We also continue to work throughout the year with labels, artists and managers and run regular promotions via physical independent retail and recordstoreday.com. We are responding to the bad news that your new album will not be available to independent record stores until after iTunes gets a window of exclusivity. We also learned that the deluxe version (which is what the true music fans who shop our stores will want by an overwhelming majority) will only be available at Best Buy exclusively for a period of time. We believe this is a short-sighted strategy, and that your decisions will be doing great damage to over 1,700 independent record stores — stores that have supported you and your music for years. We know that you are busy, and that you put most of your energies into creating great music, but we are writing to you in the hope that you will hear us and take the time to rectify this matter. As representatives of the independent record store music community, we are asking you to allow record stores and music fans equal access to your new album. With the utmost respect, Dedry Jones, The Music Experience Mike Dreese, Newbury Comics Judy Negley, Independent Records Mike Batt, Silver Platters Tobago Benito, DBS Sounds Brian Faber, Zia Records Karen Pearson, Amoeba Music Bryan Burkert, The Sound Garden Mike Wise, Monster Rob Roth, Vintage Vinyl Joe Nardone, Jr., Gallery of Sound Jonathan Fernandez, Rasputin Music Dilyn Radakovitz, Dimple Records Dustin Hansen, Graywhale Entertainment Bill Kennedy, BK Music Jim Bland, Plan Nine Steve Wilson, Kiefs Tom King, Central Square Records Alayna Hill Alderman, Richard Storms, Record Archive Karl Groeger, Looney Tunes Paul Epstein, Twist and Shout Nancy Salzer, Salzer's Records Rick Ziegler, Indy CD Laura, Finders Records Deon Borchard, Nic Fritze, The Long Ear Chuck Oken, Rhino /Mad Platter Allan Miller, John Bevis, Disc Exchange Charlotte Kubat, Magnolia Thunderpussy John Kunz, Waterloo Records Chris Avino, Rainbow Records Mike Fratt, Homers Rich Koch, Off the Record Skip Hermans, Skip's Record and CD World Jason Patton, Oz Music Quinn Bishop, Cactus Records John Timmons, ear X tacy Lou Russell, Lou's Records Roger Weiss, Streetlight Records Terry Currier, Music Millenium Andrew Chinnici, Lakeshore Record Exchange Michael Bunnell, The Record Exchange Mike White, Boo Boo Records Steve Baron, CD Central Eric Levin, Criminal Records Pat O'connor, Culture Clash Dan Plunkett, End Of An Ear Paula Kret, Exile On Main St Chris Penn, Good Records Doyle Davis, Grimey's Travis Searle, Guestroom Records Jim Mcguinn, Hot Poop Isaac Slusarenko, Jackpot Records Jason Nickey & Heath Byers, Landlocked Music Todd Robinson, Luna Music Darren & Jim Blase, Shake It Anna & Chris Brozek, Slowtrain Kimber Lanning, Stinkweeds Tom "Papa" Ray, Vintage Vinyl