CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 10/3/24

Hey Everyone,
 
Water is a powerful thing people….
 
I woke up this morning thinking about Milton and all of the people that are affected by this storm. I have been nervously checking in with our Florida friends and family to get word and to make sure everyone is okay. Most everyone I have heard from so far has been safe which I am grateful for, but I know there will be a long road ahead after this one. 
 
Here in Alabama, our biggest worry is tornadoes. We all know those can be devastating as well, but they usually come on very suddenly and are usually over just as quickly as they came on. Hurricanes are different. There is that anticipation. There is a level of “preparation” that comes with the territory, and I think that waiting for the storm and the anxiety and worry that comes with it may in a lot of ways be worse.
 
I know we are all keeping our Florida people top of mind as they will surely need our help and support in the weeks to come.
 
In other water news, I also want to send out a call for support for our man Matt Vaughan, his family, and his Easy Street team. Many of you know, but if not, his store was flooded in the middle of the night when a pipe burst from the apartment above. I know Matt is still considering himself “lucky” because the fire department was on the scene quickly and was able to get in to stop the water before too much more damage was done. They still suffered damage to thousands of records and merch, but in typical Easy Street fashion, they are still pushing forward and are up and running.

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/community-rallies-around-west-seattle-record-shop-after-flood/G7HMN3EDKJHNFBUGQGEKMSCFGU/?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=later-linkinbio

This is one of our iconic CIMS stores so here are some ways to send them love and support:
Buy a gift certificate to use later
Place an online order
Buy some Easy Street merch
Dine at their café or grab a coffee
Grab a drink (or a few) at their bar
Attend an event

Big love to Matt, Keisha and everyone who is a part of the Easy Street community, and everyone who is being affected by Milton.
 
Here are the charts,
Andrea

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 8/8/24

Hi Everyone,
 
This week I am sharing a conversation that I really appreciated. One of my heroes, Nick Cave speaking with Stephen Colbert about his new album Wild God, grief, the mystery and power of music and singing with one of my other heroes, Johnny Cash.
 
“Music is a thing that makes things better…. It is a sort of glue that binds us together. For me, music is really at the very soul and the core of the world.”  -Nick Cave

 
Enjoy the preacher man preaching.

Thanks, Russell, for making sure I saw and heard this.
 
Here are the charts for the week.
Andrea

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 8/1/24

Hi Everyone,
 
I want to thank everyone who took the time to join us last week in New Orleans for RSD Summer Camp and for all of the support that makes it possible for us to have that event. It was wonderful to see so many of your faces.  I always look forward to those moments of connection. Seeing our part of the industry gathered and all the conversations that happen leave me reinvigorated to get back to business.
 
We spend a lot of time, especially in the sidebars of that gathering talking about the powerful effect of music. It is one of the few things that can take you back to such a specific time in your life. That happened to me very randomly this morning. As I sat down to start the day, I put on an old, saved playlist. The song "Let the Cool Goddess Rust Away" by the band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah came on. It was from their debut self-titled. I haven’t listened to them in a while, but the second that track came on I had to start the album from the beginning and listen to it start to finish. It is such a sentimental record for me because it came out the first year I was with CIMS/ThinkIndie. It really is a soundtrack of a very specific and exciting time for me.

The band didn’t have a deal and they were trying to ship CDs out of their apartment. They got a killer Pitchfork review and they couldn’t really keep up with the demand.  Don (CIMS President at the time) was able to get in touch with the band and before we knew it ThinkIndie was shipping a lot of that CD to record stores all over the country. Our whole office was really, really obsessed with the record and we probably all listened to it hundreds of times- back when you did that with albums. Anyway, it really took me back to the excitement of that time. That first taste of really being into a band and loving what they made and even being able to play a small part in it reaching more people. I think that is the fun and exciting part of doing what we do. Coming back to it all these years later, I still love that record- so if you are looking for a suggestion today…you might consider giving it a spin.
 
Here are the charts,
Andrea


Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 7/18/2024

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Hey everyone,

Carrie and Eric both mentioned this in their chart messages yesterday and I would love to echo the sentiment.

“A little reminder that a lot of the infrastructure that allows things like the conference, listening party organization, zoom calls with record stores, discussions and planning on how to keep the physical music business healthy and lots of people employed -- pretty much everything relies on the coalitions remaining healthy too. So please consider all that early in your plans for releases…. Without coalition support, there never would have been Record Store Day or RSD Black Friday. Nor will they exist in the future”

I’m very excited for Summer Camp 2024 and I am looking forward to seeing you in a few days at our SOLD OUT conference!

I also come to you with some big news in advance of that. We have added Vinyl Tap in Nashville as our newest member of CIMS. There will be more on that soon and they will officially start participating in CIMS marketing October 1st, but we look forward to working with Todd and his crew and adding a Nashville store to our Coalition.

https://www.vinyltapnashville.com/

Safe travels and see you in the Big Easy!
Andrea


Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 5/23/24

Hi Everyone,
 
It is with a heavy heart that I write this note today. Last week we lost a member of our CIMS family, Bob Schick from Plan 9. Bob was a dedicated member of our indie retail community as well as a beloved musician. He was also just all around a lovely guy who was quick to throw out an encouraging word and had one of the kindest smiles out there. He will be greatly missed. Sending love to Jim, Bob’s family and friends and the entire Plan 9 team.

I am including this note from Plan 9 owner Jim Bland:

Today, May 24, 2024, I lost a long-time friend and co-worker of 42 years, a man who was like a brother to me. We grew our store, our friendship, and our families side by side, through our heydays, and through tough times. We wouldn't be where we are today without his extensive knowledge and loyalty. Today, we at Plan 9, mourn this unfathomable loss, in hopes of soon celebrating his life.

-Jim


We invite you to follow the page below, and share your memories, photos, etc. Thank you.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559745585192

Rest in peace, Bob.
 
Here are the charts.
Andrea

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 5/2/24

Hi Everyone,
 
I would be a damn fool if I did not use this message today to remember Steve Albini.
 
At some point, I guess you finally start to get used to losing your heroes. However, some hurt more than others, and this is definitely one of those.  When I got the text from a friend with the news, it hit me like an actual punch to the gut.
 
To say Steve Albini was an essential figure to my musical development is still an understatement. In his eternal coveralls, he was more like a brick mason, helping to build my musical foundation one brick at a time.
 
From the first time hearing Big Black’s album Atomizer- no song spoke more clearly to the heart of a bored and often angst-filled teen growing up in Birmingham in the ’90s than "Kerosene". I felt like the lyrics could have been a page ripped from my journal. From there, I became a disciple of all things Touch and Go and I felt like a whole other world was opened.
 
From the music of Shellac, Slint’s Tweeze, Superchunk’s No Pocky for Kitty, The Pixies' Surfer Rosa, Nirvana’s In Utero, PJ Harvey’s Rid of Me, Palace Music's Viva Last Blues , My Disco's Paradise, Dirty Three's Ocean Songs, the music of  Low, Dirty Three, Man or Astro Man?, Don Cab, Joanna Newsome (the list could go on), this man was a part of making so many of the albums that are close to my heart.
 
Steve Albini you were a force. Thank you for all your amazing work. Thank you for being a part of so many albums (like for many of us) that played a huge part in helping me survive a world where I felt I didn’t fit in, and also helping me find one where I did.

I will be in Nashville for Music Biz next week. Looking forward to seeing many of you there.

Andrea 

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 3/7/24

Hi Everyone,
 
This week I want to call out and celebrate our CIMS Board member Terry Currier and his store Music Millennium in Portland, Oregon. Tomorrow marks 55 years since Terry first opened his doors to serve the Portland community with all their musical needs. Music Millennium is one of our founding members of CIMS, and Terry is a treasured member of our indie community. Running a record store, as we all know, is no easy feat- but what has always been one of my favorite things about Terry is what a true music fan he is.  He is still like a kid in a candy shop (or a record shop) when he hears new music he is excited about and that right there is probably the secret to his store's longevity;  never losing that love for what you do.
 
Music Milliennium will be celebrating tomorrow so be sure to show them some love.
 
Congrats Terry!
 

Wanted to share this with you all as well.

On the Ides of March, March 15th Music Millennium will turn 55! It all started when we opened our doors in 1969 at 3pm to the sounds of The Beatles "It's All Too Much." Join us at 3pm as we commemorate the moment by playing "It's All Too Much." Join us again at 6pm for free cake and refreshments, a $4 Pint Happy Hour Special and a discount coupon good all day long!

It was The Ides of March, March 15th of 1969, when Don MacLeod, his wife Laureen and brother-in-law Dan Lissy first opened an 800-square-foot record store on the corner of 32nd & East Burnside. Specializing in mostly underground music not found in the department stores, drugstores or the couple of record stores that existed at the time, Music Millennium filled a niche for the Portland music community.

Titles by Fairport Convention, Frank Zappa, John Fahey, The Fugs and Holy Modal Rounders were stocked in the small store along with the sounds heard on the then three-month-old FM station, KINK- The Underground Link.

The store quickly grew in the first five years to its current size, including the addition of a classical store called The Musical Offering, later known as Classical Millennium (closed in 2012). A second Music Millennium store was also added next to the now-defunct Purple Earth Tavern at NW 21st & Irving, later located at 23rd & Johnson. 

It's 55 years later and Music Millennium is the oldest record store in existence in the Pacific Northwest. Throughout our history, we've stocked the ever-evolving gamut of formats including LP, 45, reel-to-reel, 8-track, cassette, DAT, compact disc, mini-disc, DCC and CD-ROM and have now come full circle with vinyl sales soaring and up over 14% worldwide!


Here are the charts.
Andrea

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic