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You just have to do a quick Google search to find out how many record stores have died in recent times.

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As of the weekend, you can add all 89 locations of Tower Records to the list, as the bankrupt company was sold to a liquidation company. This is terrible news for consumers, as the next-largest surviving music chain is the 20-store-strong Virgin MegaStore. It's worse news for independent music distributors (such as the one I work for) which have depended on Tower for years to carry and champion the "tastemaker" releases which Best Buy and Target wouldn't touch for all the co-op dollars in the world.

If you think there's no fundamental difference between Tower Records and Best Buy, you haven't been shopping outside the Billboard charts.

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It makes me sad.

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It makes me fearful for my job security! But yeah, more sad than anything. As it gets progressively harder for independent stores to make money, that makes it progressively harder for independent labels to make money, which in turn makes it harder for independent music to get made.

Stupid young'uns and their I Pods!

On a more positive note, I will second WildWind's recommendations of Rasputin's and Amoeba, each of which take about $100 from me every time I walk through the door.

Oh yeah, and for more info about good indie retailers near you, check out this site and/or this one

Thank you, I am already drug addict