The LA Times reports on some notable shifts going on amongst a handful of book and music retailers. They are seeing more product crossover beginning to happen between independent book sellers and music shops.
Purveyors of paper and text based media such as New York City’s McNally Jackson carry a selection of CDs, mostly because they feature some kind of connection to the literary world, and Easy Street Records in Seattle also has a small book section that features a variety of both music related titles and others:
The decision to carry specific books is based on “cultural relevance, if it connects with either modern or significant historic threads in music/culture/arts/politics,” according to [Easy Street] owner Matt Vaughan and printed matter buyer Jefferson Petrey.
…Vaughan and Petrey note that, for visitors to Easy Street, “the books [and] mags are another reason to make a monthly/weekly stop-in at the shop, with the customer knowing the new issue of Mojo [or] The Wire is out or let’s say, that psych-rock compendium they’ve been waiting for or Who biography was just published. Or in some cases being surprised that there are new books out [or] that we stock them and adding a curious new find to their intended music purchases.” Sometimes, after all, it’s the “curious new finds” that inspire the most devotion.
This kind of idea is not new – used book/record stores are a common thing, and large chains such as Barnes and Noble follow the same model. But perhaps this is a way for smaller independent and niche shops to stay afloat – by consolidating into more of a smartly edited, one-stop media store, rather than just sticking to one format.
Los Angeles Times: “Would you like a CD with that? Bookstore-record store convergence”
[via The Morning News]
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