Record store owners and Covid-19
Record store owners and Covid-19: navigating the pandemic
On March 11th and 12th, Governor Andrew Cuomo forbade all gatherings of more than 500 people – Broadway and Off Broadway theaters were shut down and many individuals lost their livelihoods in a matter of 24 hours. The night of March 16th, when bars and restaurants were officially closed, the calendar had been wiped clean.
“I can’t see there being any moral position to staying open. If the government advice is to limit your social actions unless they’re necessary and you decide that buying a record is a necessary thing, then I think we need perspective…”
As in most cities, the arts are inextricably linked to the service and event-production industries, and the loss of creative livelihoods has been compounded by the closures of bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, as well as the cancellations of weddings, conferences, and other large events. Record stores worldwide are also feeling the pressure and the severity of the times.
How are record store owners dealing with it?
“I can’t see there being any moral position to staying open. If the government advice is to limit your social actions unless they’re necessary and you decide that buying a record is a necessary thing, then I think we need perspective,” says UK Banquet Record store owner Jon Tolley. “It’s immoral to have my doors open and I couldn’t live with that.”
The heavy financial burden that consumers are already starting to face and the anxiety that comes with it is another reason for the plummeting sales. I took the time to interview an Atlanta record store owner, Daryl Harris of Moods Music in Little Five Points, for his take on how the Coronavirus is impacting the local market.
“My love of music evolved from a young age,” says Daryl, a New Jersey native who began as a DJ and has been living in Atlanta for 30 years. He started with producing and selling mixtapes and then began servicing Earwax Records – the most famous DJ driven record store in the southeast of the United States from the 90s to early 2000s. This then expanded into Moods Music, the business he owns now.
What is Moods Music and how does it serve the Atlanta community?
“Moods Music is a specialty store” states Daryl. Any music that is underground and independent is its main focus. Daryl goes on to say, “Mood Music does not sell any of the music that you hear on commercial radio. That is what sets Moods music apart from any other record store.” Currently, Moods Music occupies two locations – one in the mall at Stonecrest and the flagship store located in the heart of Little 5 Points.
Daryl tells me, “Moods Music has always had a website since day one. Online sales account for 20% of the business’ overall sales.” He currently has three employees and has looked into a couple of the programs the US government is offering for financial support. He recently went to visit his main banking branch and the business accounts manager gave him resources to apply for financial help as he waits out the quarantine.
Will Moods Music close during the pandemic?
As of now, the Little 5 Points location of Moods Music is still open, from 12pm to 5pm daily; customers can call in and pick up orders curbside; online purchases are delivered through USPS.
“Mood Music does not sell any of the music that you hear on commercial radio. That is what sets Moods music apart from any other record store.”
In terms of staying creative in order to both activate and retain the store’s customer base, Daryl has been very active on social media during the last two weeks. He continues to post to keep up the engagement through his followers and friends. “It seems to be working. We have been generating more orders online.”
8 Likes, 0 Comments - Moods Music (@moodsmusic) on Instagram: "**ATTENTION all Brothas & Sistas worldwide... This just in: 'Yours truly' @thedynamitedavesoul will..."
Additionally, Moods Music will be hosting DJ livestreams from the store’s flagship location, starting Sunday, April 5th, with local DJs rotating livestream sets. The first episode will feature Dave Soul. DJ Salah Ananse and DJ AppleJac have agreed to do a set and other local DJs are being added to the schedule daily.
You can follow Moods Music on Instagram to find out more.