Just when I had been given hope by the news that Canadian firm Sunrise Records had bought the collapsed chain HMV comes the news that the three local branches I use most often are to close. The stores at Cribbs Causeway and Bath are on the list but worst of all the quite magnificent FOPP on College Green is there too. I am gutted.
It was always likely that FOPP would go. It has always been a niche part of HMV since they took it over, providing a wide, eclectic music offering with a knowledgeable group of workers in store to assist the happy shopper. No more.
Doubtless, the three local stores to close are regarded as basket cases by the new owners and that lies behind the decision to close them. I understand that. No business, apart from a football club, exists in order to actually lose money. I’m just very sad.
Although FOPP was no longer independent, it still felt like it was. I love nothing more than browsing through the records, DVDs and books, but mainly the records, just like people used to do before downloading and stealing…er, sorry…streaming music became the norm. I download the occasional song, too, although my preference is always to own a hard copy. I don’t think that’s ever going to leave me, even if the ability to buy a hard copy leaves me.
Now, I will have HMV in the never lovely Broadmead and Rough Trade on Nelson Street, which doesn’t quite do it for me yet.
We will never go back to record shops on every street corner or even in every town now, music sales will plunge still further, and, as more and more people demand theirs for free, new talent will find it even harder to make a crust, especially as it will become far more difficult and costly to play in Europe.
Some music stores will survive but for how long? If people don’t believe bands and artists should be paid, then what will be the point of record shops?
