ROTFL
I won’t go into a Starbucks because they not only play awful music, but they play it VERY VERY LOUDLY.
Quickly learned this was not a place to meet anyone for coffee and a conversation.
Starbucks can’t make decaf. Plus even just plain coffee overpriced. Cheaper and better tasting coffee can be made at home.
CDs have dropped in demand. Records (vinyl) have begun to bounce back (new and used sales, used sales are not tracked in ‘vinyl sales’ charts, neither are independent retailers).
Starbucks would not be well served to branch into the record business (even 45s).
The CDs were a novelty item that offered some exclusive marketing tie-ins.
Best Buy does the same thing (bundling CDs with live recordings or DVDs).
Starbucks has the opportunity to break new artists in ways that no other retailer can today because of the footprint, the breadth, and the loyalty we have, Schultz said in 04. ... We’re now the Third Place. The physical environment has become as important as anything we do, including the coffee.
Starbucks is still doing this today, with a free digital download card every week.
Why they feel concerned about being known for breaking new artists, I don’t know. Maybe it is to appeal to new/young consumers. Maybe it is like comic strips in the old newspapers, you come back next week for the next installment.
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"They" all do it these days.
Whether it is Scion or Red Bull sponsoring free concerts and CDs from coast to coast or Doritos sponsoring a giant vending machine stage at SXSW concerts.
http://www.scionav.com/section/music/
http://www.redbull.com/us/en/music
Doritos Lesson: How to Make Your Brand Stand Out at Major Events
This is known as 'selling out'.
I saw this coming two months ago. The only cd they had on their rack was the Frozen soundtrack, not exactly a hipster fave, but probably the best selling music cd in the country. I saw it as a sign that the music was not selling and they were desperate.