Aussie music retailers rebut RSD backlash

Australian retailers have been quick this morning to reject Record Store Day criticisms encouraged by Paul Weller’s decision to no longer take part in the global initiative.

Paul Weller withdrew his support for RSD after condemning “disgusting” touts who re-sold his limited-edition single at an inflated price on eBay.

eBay is proving to be fertile ground for a number of releases and even provides a ‘Record Store Day 2014’ search term to make purchasing easier. Stereogum has neatly issued a list of the 10 most-expensive Record Store Day flips on the site.

Sara Hood, Campaign Manager for the Australian Music Retailers Association (AMRA), spoke at length to The Music Network. She explains how the organisation understands the complaints of those who may have missed out on items in-store, only to see them land on the shopping site. “We appreciate how heartbreaking it is to queue for two hours or drive for three to get to a store and then see the last copy of your dream limited vinyl go to the person in front of you, and by the time you’ve got home again there’s a copy on eBay for $600 or more,” she says.

Weller’s move has prompted critics to call for a reduction in the number of limited edition releases, instead pushing for a rise in the number of pressings made available.

Brian ‘Frog’ Harris who owns Songland in Canberra spoke to TMN and explains why he thinks this is a fruitless move. “We can’t change people’s behaviour. Selling items on sites like eBay will happen regardless of whether the labels press 500 or 30,000.”

He continues, “We must remember that Record Store Day Australia is only just taking off – we’re still very much in the embryonic phase. RSDA is about more than limited edition purchases – it’s about getting the 15-35 audience into bricks and mortar stores and encouraging them to engage with the experience of buying and owning vinyl.”

“I think it’s vital we remain positive and look at the wider picture,” he adds.

Hood confirms that the board of AMRA will be looking into fallout, if only to make improvements to what is already a fantastic day for music buyers, retailers and labels in Australia. “The very nature of the title being limited means there will be fewer copies than people want, and Economics 101 says that when demand exceeds supply the price will go up. Even so, the Board at AMRA is looking at it and if anyone has any brainwaves, please let us know. We sincerely hope it doesn’t come to the point where Record Store Day fails because of the greed of a few. We sincerely hope that people see there’s more to Record Store Day than shopping up big on limiteds.”