From ear X-tacy's Facebook page comes the sound of John Timmons letting go of a dream. We were headed that way to shop on Saturday when word came across the Twitter feed that the store had closed without explanation. I've been around long enough to know what that usually means, and it made me sick to think it might be the end, but I had no illusions. Capitalism is pitiless this way, which is probably why I love it and loathe it all at the same time.
Ironically, most of the day today, the usual suspects (me included) were debating the usual topics about local business, chains, ethics, personal responsibility and whatever else came up. About all I can add at this juncture is that if anyone ever cried when a McDonald's or Wal-Mart closed down, he or she is an imbecile. If this sentiment renders me an egotist, one upsmanshipman or pie-eyed leftist, so be it.
Dear Louisville, and all who have shopped, supported, and loved ear X-tacy over the years,
It has been a dream come true...actually, a dream exceeded, to be part of your musical lives here in Louisville for the last 26 years. My life was changed forever, and guided by the power of music since I can remember. Music has been the soul, the heart, the passion of my life for my entire 56 years. The record store experience has been the only child in my life. Now, it's time for me to let it fly.
Thank YOU...for allowing me to be part of your musical universe. Louisville, you made me feel like I was truly HOME when I moved here in 1976. It's been a great ride, but as George Harrison knowingly said, "All Things Must Pass." It's with sadness, but also with great pride I say to you now...
ear X-tacy is no more
Long live ear X-tacy!
Please keep the music alive. Support the incredible music scene and independent businesses we have here! Until you leave this great city, you cannot realize what a unique treasure we have here. Embrace it, celebrate it, and promote it. Love it.
Thank you all for making my dreams come true. Thank you for making ear X-tacy the wonderful place that it was. I thank all of the staff that made this store THE hub for music in Louisville for the past 26 years. Please take pride in knowing that YOU have been the heart and soul of what this store became. Thank you for sharing my dream and exceeding all of my expectations! To all of the musicians who have graced our store and stage, I cannot tell you what a thrill it's been. From the local newbies to the incredibly huge national artists...THANK YOU for gracing our store and sharing you incredible musical talents with us all...that's what I like to call: "earX-tacy".
Love, peace, music and ear X-tacy to you all,
John D. Timmons
President, ear X-tacy, Inc.
12 comments:
Is it capitalism that killed Ear X Tacy or technology? In fact you could probably argue that the exact opposite of capitalism killed the store. A grassroots network of individuals giving away music for free is what caused record stores to become obsolete. As a musician I have a love hate relationship with the way music finds it way into the hands of the consumer these days. I've thought about it and I don't see any other choice but to accept reality and adapt.
I've never shed a tear when McD's, Wally World, etc closed. However, I didn't shed one over this, either.
What does that make me?
"A grassroots network of individuals giving away music for free is what caused record stores to become obsolete."
That's not what happened - Apple's HyperCard was the framework for iTunes. iTunes took off. The numbers are staggering:
iTunes songs: 10 billion songs sold: February 24, 2010
iTunes videos: 200 million television episodes sold: October 16, 2008; 1+ million HD episodes sold: October 16, 2008
iTunes apps: 15 billion apps downloaded: July 7, 2011
Free downloads wouldn't have mattered to ear x-tacy. The dollars spent through iTunes is what clobbered them. It is very sad.
I worked with John Timmons when we both worked at Vine Records in Louisville in the '70s. He is simply one of the nicest guys and one of the most outstanding businessmen you would ever want to meet. He's held on while everyone around him ran away.
The ear x-tacy store was one thing - but John's absolute commitment to his local music scene is unparalleled in American music history. He backed bands, produced albums, CDs, concerts - Louisville wouldn't be so respected as a music "scene" today without John Timmons.
It's a much bigger loss to music (moving forward) than folks currently realize.
It's a much bigger loss to music (moving forward) than folks currently realize.
Agreed.
Timmons could have made more and spent less money than he did over the years but instead decided to matter.
I agree that Itunes is a major problem for brick and mortar record stores but Illegal downloads out number legal downloads by a HUGE amout. the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry which is basically the RIAA of europe claims that 95% of all music downloaded is illegal and here is some info from the RIAA own website
"Music theft is a real, ongoing and evolving challenge. Both the volume of music acquired illegally and the resulting drop in revenues are staggering. Digital sales, while on the rise, are not making up the difference."
-In the decade since peer-to-peer (p2p) file-sharing site Napster emerged in 1999, music sales in the U.S. have dropped 47 percent, from $14.6 billion to $7.7 billion.
-NPD reports that only 37 percent of music acquired by U.S. consumers in 2009 was paid for.
combine those numbers with legal downloads and the writing was on the wall for traditional record stores. It's not just them either just about anyone that is in the business of selling hard copies of media day's are probably numbered
As a musician who has released multiple albums and toured all over the world I can tell you that people downloading music for free has had a major impact on album sales. 10 years ago we could expect to sell tens of thousands of copies of an album. That number has gone way down with no major difference in the amount of people coming out to shows or buying other forms of merchandise. It's at the point now where we have had very serious talks about not even trying to sell music anymore and just offer it for free directly from the band. when we released our latest album last year we did a pretty good job of keeping from leaking but hours after the official release it was available to download illegally on dozens of websites and blogs.
Matt - your facts are correct re: piracy vs. iTunes.
I stand (sit, as I type this) corrected! Thanks!
The last time I saw the California Guitar Trio, they were taking a somewhat different approach that I thought interesting.
They record each show from the board and have onsite duping capability. Hang out after the gig a bit, schmooze with the band, and walk away with a signed "bootleg" of the show you attended for about $10-$15. I'm sure it doesn't make up for all lost record sales but the line was pretty long. Several hundred or thousand dollars per gig with no middleman doesn't hurt.
Todd Snider has been doing roughly the same thing but you have to wait a couple weeks to buy "your" show via a download.
On the other hand, here's Pete Townsend today, railing against Apple -
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2121483/apple-digital-vampire
While we mourn the loss the ear-x-tacy and search for blame, I think its important to mention that Underground Sounds and Better Days West are still here and doing fine, with Better Days expanding their business back to the Highlands. Shake It Records(terrifyingly good) and Everybody's Records in Cincinnati are also doing well,while Pop's Resale in Lexington has so many customers these days that the used record selection dwindles nearly as soon as it reaches the shelf.
The lesson is that these stores are specialized, they know that they are small, local businesses, they also know that the customers purchasing vinyl albums (as opposed to overpriced greatest hits compilations, incense or Misfits t-shirts) are loyal, and rarely download music. Different business models, different record inventories, and a completely different customer base.
My point is that the demise of ear-x-tacy does not signal the end of records stores, but rather, a certain kind of record store, the loss of which will have very little effect on some record buyers.
Good comments all around, thanks. I've been to Underground Sounds, and now will go more often.
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