This one is rather about music-biz relations and record store's sense of place in teh global industry. One thing i do religiously when on tour is go to record stores and check whether they have copies of my work and when they don't, try to sell them some directly. (sidenote: I'm not obliged to, there's distribution in most places, but I like to do a little extra where other acts won't, you also get a much better feel when you actually meet the people and talk to them). The function of the record store as a hub for discovering new music is perhaps long gone, but i have met some wonderful music nerds like myself while record store hopping and managed to place copies in some remote locations where distribution wouldn't have reached otherwise. Some record stores owners, on the other hand treat you like scum, assuming if you approach them you're clearly a charity case. Yesterday for instance, i've been to Hanover's 25 Music and the owner (such a lovely fella! :S) dismissed me with ''not interested'' before i even made an introduction, then when i asked whether he might at least want to know what it is, did a monologe explaining that there's lots (of us people) coming from the street and he can't help us all, since I'm actually not at all obliged to go to the stores myself, the situation was a little amusing - but isn't the function of little record stores, their owners and employees, at least according to what i've always thought - is to be curious about things they don't yet know (or reconize. he might have actually known my name had he asked). There's also the question of class, had i actually been ''someone from the street''... etc.. The big chains will always be able to offer chart music for less, but if you're an owner of a small record shop, you should at least care about music (and show some respect, if not humility to the people who make it). if you only care about what sells in numbers and available on every corner, sell underwear or I-phones, but not music. read more