Zavvi gone bust

[John]

I miss the interaction of real people too and fear for the few music retail shops left; as music gradually moves more and more to the net this model will become less viable. I remember when I usd to go into Tower Records or HMV when the whole place was taken up with music over the years DVD and games has slowly taken over. In the last 3 years most of the albums I wanted I have only been able to get from the net so in some ways I have been forced out of local music shopping by market forces I live in London where it should be easy to get the music I want from the big shops but for me this is not the case. Its ok if you taste is mainstream but my taste have never been mainstream

[Beechwoods]

I really used to look forward to going to Tower when visiting London; it was a browsers paradise, with stuff there that you couldn't find anywhere else - the indie and alternative sections were great, as were the folk and jazz sections. About 4 or 5 years ago they stripped out the inventory and started stocking large volumes of fewer titles. Then they shut up shop and Virgin took over - more of the same. I've not been back for 2 or so years...

London still has it's fair share of great independent shops. Sister Ray, Rhythm Records, some of the Camden Lock places. I miss browsing places where there is a vitually nil possibility of coming across something special!

[John]

I guess what gets me even more is the slow but gradual erosion of live music venues
I used to go the Marquee at least twice a week. Still plenty of venues here but more to close in the near future like the Astoria and Astoria2
Sorry should be spreading Christmas joy!!