In the 1960s, who would have thought we would see music sold next to kitchen appliances and vacuum cleaners.
Back then, kids went to their local music store to buy a record or chat with the owner who knew every title and every band in the store. Unfortunately, things have taken a drastic turn for the worse.
Over break, I made a trip to Best Buy so I could purchase a CD, but to my surprise, the store did not carry the CD nor did they have the name of the band in their system.
About two minutes after asking a clerk about the particular album another clerk was helping a man at the store who was looking for the John Lennon re-releases. The clerk asked the clerk who was \helping"" me if he knew the titles-neither clerk knew. Lucky for the customer, I blurted out John Lennon re-released and this year, which was exactly what the customer wanted. Now, John Lennon is a somewhat big name in the music industry, and if you work at a music store, you should know the latest releases.
Annoyed, I left the store with no CD in hand, nor the comfort that Best Buy's employees knew anything about music, which is a travesty. What became irksome was not the fact they did not have the album, but they had no knowledge of their inventory.
Ron Roloff, owner of Strictly Discs, 1900 Monroe Street, an independent music store in Madison, said, Best Buy uses CDs mainly to get people into their stores. They lure people in with CDs and hope they buy big ticket items later on.
Now, employees who work there have some knowledge about computers, digital cameras and especially the service contracts, but almost no clue about music. True, Best Buy is not obligated to hire music experts, but is it too much to ask to have employees who know their inventory and can offer assistance?
The case is dramatically different with independent record stores, especially here in Madison.
""An indie store like us hand-determines every item in the store, which allows for the inventory to be much deeper and wider, and our staff is far more knowledgeable,"" Roloff said. ""Best Buy has regional and national management bring in titles they know will sell.""
In Madison we are lucky to have small, local stores that specialize in music versus the large chains selling gadgets, appliances and music almost as an afterthought. The employees and owners at Strictly Discs, B-Sides, 436 State St., and Exclusive Company, 508 State St., know the music, recognize patrons and can help consumers find what they need. We, as consumers, need to support these smaller stores by shopping at them more often.
B-Sides is a quaint music store with a library to boast, that includes a large collection of local bands and artists. Their vinyl selection also includes bands who pass through Madison on occasion. The d??cor inside is notable for its style, and their window display showcases some of the best bands of the year.
Exclusive Company also represents a musical delight. They have an indie section, a huge vinyl library and a basement full of jazz and classical music. If you want to be thrifty, look at the 99-cent rack, and you may be surprised to find something that suits you.
Strictly Discs possesses almost any album, and even has rare ones you may not find elsewhere. They sell vinyls, have a great music library and have a room filled with imports making, the store extremely unique.
""We sell to anyone who likes music to music enthusiasts,"" Roloff said. ""If you look at the top 100 selling items at Best Buy versus Strictly Discs, they will be dramatically different.""
I never realized how wonderful it is to have local stores specializing in music with people who can help you versus a large corporation specializing in nothing with minimal help or assistance with music. Support the local stores and appreciate what they offer the music industry.
