Collecting Culture:
A Defense of Physical Music Media
Below, you can find a series of links leading to various record stores here in our very own Te Whanganui-a-Tara, as well as some resources we discovered during our research.
Bibliography:
1. “History of Sound Recording.” Wikipedia, 25 Sept. 2024. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historyofsoundrecording#TheMagneticEra(1945%E2%80%931975)2. “The Planetary Impact of Music: Physical Media vs Digital Downloads.” FOREIGN PRESS, 21 June 2024, https://foreignpress.org/journalism-resources/the-planetary-impact-of-music-physical-media-vs-digital-downloads3. Bazen, S., Bouvard, L., & Zimmermann, J. (2015). Musicians and the Creative Commons: A survey of artists on Jamendo. Information Economics and Policy, 32, 65–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infoecopol.2015.07.0074. Lee, M., Choi, H. S., Cho, D., & Lee, H. (2020). Can Digital Consumption Boost Physical consumption? the Effect of Online Music Streaming on Record Sales. Decision Support Systems, 135, 113337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2020.1133375. Shuker, R. (2017). Wax Trash and Vinyl Treasures: Record Collecting as a Social Practice. Routledge.6. Veen, T. V. (2023, January 6). Streaming vs. CDs — Who wins? Disc Makers Blog.
https://blog.discmakers.com/2023/01/streaming-vs-cds/7. onlysmallbites. (2022, March 23). CDs, Cassettes And Vinyl. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm0jzTYVsS08. Jukebox History. (2022, November 15). Physical Media: The Importance of Owning Your Music. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oguwdfd0VOI
Slow Boat Records!
Slowboat is the longest-standing record store in Wellington, being open since 1985! Dennis O’Brien originally opened the store to share his passion for music, records and serving the local music community.
We asked the current owner some fun questions about operating the store and serving the scene:
What impact do you think you have on the Wellington music scene?:
Hopefully we are seen as a significant and vibrant part of Wellington’s music and retail community, who have supported local artists, and in return been supported by them - hence hosting instore performances from The Phoenix Foundation, Tami Neilson, Erny Belle, Reb Fountain, Neil Finn, Dave Dobbyn, Don McGlashan, The Mutton Birds etc…
What were sales like in the mid-2000s - mid-2010s? Did sales drop during this period?:
Record stores were certainly less visible, but we have always had strong support from a committed customer base, both instore and online - we sell a lot more new vinyl now, and also a lot more CDs. I think our greatest strength has been ’sticking to our knitting’ - just concentrating on trying to be a good music store, rather than selling skateboards or sneakers or soft drinks…!
What is the main demographic you see coming through your store?:
Increasingly, it is young people, especially young women, but really, a huge range - we like to think we have something to please everybody!
Slowboat is well known for high-profile visits from people all across the industry.
Who’s your favourite celebrity customer that’s been in?:
Whew - Robert Plant? Noel Gallagher? Sigourney Weaver? Martin Freeman? We have also hosted instore performances by international artists Courtney Barnett, Kurt Vile, Robert Forster and Lou Barlow… all pretty special - a special mention, though, for former England cricketer/ sports writer Derek Pringle who is a massive record collector and terrific person who has become a friend!
Herbs Mobile Record Store!
Herbs is a mobile record store, with his shop living inside of a van. This gives him the unique opportunity to drive out to various locations to find new customers and deliver new hot wax to!
What made you decide to open this store?
Better than being on the dole. And I've always wanted to try out a Mobile Retail unit. Kinda a middle finger to Property investors and commercial lease moguls.
What are the benefits (or downsides) to having a mobile store?
Benefits are I can pull up into communities that just have nothing like a Record Store in their small town. Especially a store that doesn't have the latest Tay Tay album but music from all around the world from the most obscure labels.
What impact do you think you have on the Wellington music scene?
Fark who knows? Musicians themselves are generally so self focused all they care about is what they are doing. I've owned and run venues, owned many Record Stores. I do it because generally I find people need to be exposed to music from every corner of the world. Especially music that has a historical foundation of important.I'm 100 percent not into gatekeeping. Which seems to be a trend with the cool kids. Its just music.
Check Back Here for more interviews coming soon...