The Great Tower Falls – Does the demise of Tower Records signal the end of the Record Store as we know it!?

We’ve seen vinyl turn to tape. Tape turn to CD. Is it now the time for CD’s to turn to Mp3’s? Is this good bye to tangible media, cover art, lining inserts, and “thank you’s” from the band? Will music become what the ATM card is to the paper dollar? We know it’s there, but we can’t SEE it? My gut feeling says it’s bound to happen in our lifetime and that kids of today and tomorrow are going to miss out on the great music experience known as the trip to the record store only to be replaced by “Come over to my house and you can pillage my mp3 collection”.

Overpriced music and videos have led to the rapid expansion of the alternative music marketplace. Being able to pick, choose and buy the music and videos we really like has opened up the download file swapping phenom we know as electronic media. Being able to get instant delivery of the product via download has enabled the music industry to market their products directly to the consumer, if of course they choose to go that route. I feel that the overly strict copyright laws imposed on the consuming public has led, in my opinion, to the rise of this media buying rebellion. This current generation has grown tired of being forced to buy mediocre music on cds in order to get the one or two good songs they really want. Not since the disappearance of the vinyl 45 single has the public been offered the ability to purchase that latest hit by XYZ band in a convenient consumer friendly format. Gone are the days of production company CD’s whose demise is long overdue. Let ’em R.I.P.