Independent Record Stores

Throughout history, technology has transformed the way music is played, stored and shared. In the past few years, the Internet changed the dynamics of the music industry.

According to Billboard’s mid-year report, CD sales dropped 16.3 percent in the first half of 2008, while digital album sales increased 34.4 percent.

In April, iTunes replaced Wal-Mart as the top music retailer in the U.S. Today, most music is a few mouse clicks away, whether downloaded legally or not.

Still, the general public seems to be growing less concerned with owning original copies of the music it buys, and Jacksonville’s independently owned record stores persevere with deep community roots.

“Every dollar that is spent on the Internet is a dollar lost to the local economy,” said Terry Dixon, owner of CD Connection at Jacksonville Beach.

CD Connection recently joined the Coalition of Independent Music Stores, which describes member stores as those who “continually seek to challenge the jaded, color-by-numbers advertising and marketing of other retailers,” according to its Web site.

Major chains and discounters’ sales have declined most because they’re forced to keep such a narrow selection, Dixon said. But whatever your taste in music might be, lack of selection is hardly an issue at CD Connection, where in addition to used and new CDs, it sells vinyl, T-shirts and posters, which can’t be downloaded online.

Ultimately, any independent business depends on the support of the community.

“If you’re passionate about music but don’t support it, there’s no guarantee you’ll have that music … to enjoy in the future,” Dixon said. “Music is our voice, and our voice is stifled right now.”

Everyone doesn’t agree though.

“I don’t see it,” said Steve Parker, owner of Vinyl Frontier. “The Internet has done nothing but help music.”

His business now consists of four satellite stores spread throughout Jacksonville.

The Internet has turned people onto artists they might not have heard otherwise, Parker said. Much younger people have gotten involved in much cool music, he said.

Parker likened a vinyl store to a coin store – a place for enthusiasts. He credits DJ culture with being one of the biggest reasons why vinyl survived over the years, he said.

“It’s apples to oranges,” said Ian Ranne, owner of The Royal Treatment DJ Shop, about comparing the tastes of the general public to that of a vinyl collector.

E-mail Justin Pugh at features@unfspinnaker.com.