Have Record Shops Decreased As A Result Of Music Downloads?

When ‘Here in my Heart’ by Al Martino became the UK’s first number 1 single on November 14th 1952, the UK Singles Chart was officially born. Back in the fifties and sixties, when you purchased music it was either a 7 inch single or a 12 inch record (LP). Long before the CD (compact disc) and the cassette came into being, vinyl was king. What made vinyl records so exciting in the 50s was that for the first time, the British public had something of their own in their possession that they could physically play on record players of their own. Vinyl also became widely accessible in record shops up and down the country. Coffee bars and cafes were the ideal place for youngsters to meet up and listen to their favourite records which they could pick from the juke boxes that housed them.

CDs and Cassette Tapes

As the century progressed, the manner in which music was available to purchase changed in medium. From 1980 cassette tapes, and from 1982 compact discs (CDs) began to replace the commonplace vinyl record. CDs and cassettes were a much more portable way of listening to music. The development of the cassette tape player (the Walkman) and the CD player made it possible to not only listen to music at home or in a cafe, but also with the aid of headphones whilst being on the move: a businessman or businesswoman could listen to music whilst on the move walking or catching the train to work; a student could now listen to music while at college. The compact disc was also intended to outlive the lifespan of a vinyl record because it was read by a laser therefore its quality couldn't be worn down over time by a needle unlike a vinyl record. It was also designed to be harder to shatter. Cassette players and later CD players also became common in vehicles. The MiniDisc came into being in 1992 to take the place of the cassette but met with only limited success. By the middle of the eighties, music had therefore become significantly more accessible to the majority. Record or music shops were still a mainstay of the high street. Both established chain stores and independent shops prospered in the same city or town centre.

The Download

The twenty-first century has bought about another manner of listening to music. Digital or music downloads permit the consumer to listen to music through devices including MP3 players and Ipods without having to purchase a physical single or album. Instead a file of music is downloaded to a computer thus making it possible to gain access to music without having possess its physical format such as the CD. This in itself did originally cause significant problems, and to a certain extent still does, through illegal downloads (downloading files without paying for them). Portable equipment such as the Ipod are now smaller as a result of this media. With downloads being incorporated into the official UK Singles Chart since April 2005, and since April 2006 with downloads able to count towards the chart a week prior to the physical release, they were officially acknowledged as a chartable format thereby negating the requirement for the stand alone download chart.

The Impact of Downloads on Record Shops   

With the success of music downloads regrettably music shops have suffered. Though downloads are not solely to blame for the closure of both recognised high street chain stores and independent record shops (other factors include the economic climate and increased rentals), they are a measurable factor. In today’s society convenience is key. With people working longer hours they usually have less time to visit high street shops; many prefer the convenience of Internet shopping. This isn't just applicable to digital downloads. Music shops have suffered significantly as a result of this trend. Gone are the days when there would be a choice of independent and chain music stores on virtually every high street. HMV is now the only major music chain that still has a presence in the high street. Only three hundred independent music shops remain in the UK. How much longer will they survive?

Written by Amy Shepherd who works in Internet marketing for the successful e-tailer Venus Sales Ltd, running websites such as Temptations Direct and Purple Pleasures who stock sex toys including vibrators and nipple clamps.

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