Hey Everyone,
First of all, this week I would like to start by calling out and saying congrats to two of our members, Twist and Shout and Euclid Records for being 2 of 16 record stores selected by the Pitchfork Staff for their “16 Great Indie Record Stores You Can Support Online” story. It was a great roundup of stores and I was happy to see a few of our stores get that extra love and support.
Here is a link to the full list of wonderful stores to check out if you don’t already know and love them:
https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/pitchfork-staffers-recommend-16-great-indie-record-stores-you-can-support-online/
I can’t tell you how much it means to me to see the outpouring of love and support for these stores that are such an important part of their communities. So, as things are once again shifting with everything out in the world, please continue to show that love and support.
I would also like to send out another thank you to our partners at WEA/ADA for joining forces with our Dualtone X ThinkIndie X Magnolia Record Club T- shirt initiative. They have stepped up to finance manufacturing costs of the shirts so that now even more money can go back to the stores. Again, a huge thanks for that show of support.
So, if your record shelves are stocked and you just can’t think of anything else to buy (when has that happened to probably anyone reading this email) then this is another great way to show your support for all independent record stores. They are the life force of what we do!
Here is the press release for more details:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
THINKINDIE SHIRTS LAUNCH TO HELP SAVE LOCAL RECORD STORES THROUGH PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN DUALTONE MUSIC GROUP, MAGNOLIA RECORD CLUB, WEA/ADA DISTRIBUTION AND THINKINDIE
100% OF NET PROCEEDS OF NEW, THINKINDIE SHIRT GO TO PARTICIPATING STORES
(May 5, 2020) Dualtone Music Group, an Entertainment One (eOne) company, has partnered with ThinkIndie, Magnolia Record Club and WEA/ADA Distribution to raise money in support of independent retail record stores through sales of a new, ThinkIndie shirt.
All net proceeds will be sent back to participating retails stores, with $1 of each sale going to ThinkIndie Distribution. Each store is expected to receive a minimum of $20 per unit sale. Additionally, WEA/ADA Distribution has stepped up to finance T-shirt manufacturing, allowing additional revenue to flow through to stores.
Retailers can sign up by emailing info@dualtone.com.
Each participating store will receive a unique link to promote the event. Shirt sales generated through that link will be tracked and net revenue will be paid out directly to each store. Revenue coming through the Magnolia store or a non-tracked, generic link will be split evenly amongst all participating stores.
There is incredible support for indie record stores from both consumers and the broader music industry. The creation and expansion of Record Store Day and other initiatives have allowed these entrepreneurs to not only survive but thrive in an everchanging retail environment. The current pandemic is only the latest challenge. Owners have been forced to temporarily close their stores to the public and resort to creative alternatives that emphasize a shift to online sales and curbside pickup.
“Independent stores are the lifeblood of so many of our cities’ communities and cultures. These stores have played such huge roles in the development of our bands,” said Paul Roper, Dualtone’s President. “We hope to make a difference and have tried to make it as simple as possible for stores to be involved. We are handling all the fulfillment, manufacturing and accounting logistics. All the stores need to do is push their links. The more the stores promote, the more they will earn. Every artist, label, agent, trade organization in this industry has been positively affected by these stores. Now is our time to give back and participating is simple; please share the links.”
Scott Register of ThinkIndie states, “The legendary Tom Waits put it best when he said, ‘Folks who work here are professors. Don’t replace all the knowers with guessers. Keep ‘em open. They’re the ears of the town.’ ThinkIndie is owned and operated by indie record stores for indie record stores. Indie record retail is what we know, and we will do anything and everything we can to help keep their doors open.”
In just over a week, pre-orders of the shirt have exceeded $20,000. Participating stores will be paid by Dualtone every 30 days during the promotion.
The shirt retails for $27 and is screen printed on a super soft Tultex Poly Cotton unisex shirt, printed and designed by Yellowhammer Creative. Pre-order is up now at the Dualtone Store and Magnolia Record Club’s Store.
