NARM President Jim Donio Talks about Record Store Day

We were lucky enough to have NARM President Jim Donio answer a few questions for us about upcoming Record Store Day and the importance of record stores. Check out what he had to say below.

You are the President of NARM, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers. Can you tell us a bit about what NARM does and it’s function in the industry?

The National Association of Recording Merchandisers is a not-for-profit trade organization that serves the music content and commerce communities by helping advance the promotion, marketing, distribution, and sale of music. NARM provides its members with a forum for diverse meeting and networking opportunities, information, and education to support their businesses, as well as advocating for their common interests. Our core content delivery membership consists of music retailers and wholesalers, including brick-and-mortar, online and mobile companies. More than that, our membership encompasses distributors, record labels, multimedia suppliers, technology companies, and suppliers of related products and services. Individual professionals and educators in the field of music are also members.

Record Store Day is a fairly new event. How did it come about and how many retail stores are participating this year?

Record Store Day has more than 1,000 participating retail outlets around the world. The original idea for Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 by a group of independent store owners and their organized business coalitions as a celebration of the unique culture surrounding independently-owned record stores in the United States and internationally, and to highlight the contributions they makes to the industry and their communities. This is one day when independently-owned stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists in the United States and in various countries across the globe make special appearances and performances. Festivities include performances, cook-outs, body painting, meet and greets with artists, parades, djs spinning records and on and on. Metallica officially kicked off Record Store Day at Rasputin Music in San Franscisco on April 19, 2008 and Record Store Day is now celebrated the third Saturday every April.

Vinyl has definitely shown a resurgence lately. Why do you think that is? And do you think it’s for the long haul?

Vinyl records are extremely appealing to a large segment of the population who share a pure love for music. From young collectors discovering the warm tones of vinyl, to the audiophiles who enjoy the “raw and real” sounds, vinyl has become a preferred way to enjoy favorite bands. New generations are still discovering the uniqueness of the LP, and some consider a vinyl album a true work of art and a must-have collectible.

Why are record stores still important?

Record stores are important today because these retail outlets offer a true cultural and economic relevance to their local communities. Music is purchased by a diverse mix of consumers around the world, whose preferences are as varied as their ages and backgrounds. Purchasing music today is not “one size fits all,” nor is it mutually exclusive. For example, a consumer may buy music online, but still enjoy the experience of visiting record stores. As music crosses all demographics, many music fans prefer their unique experience of escaping to a record store where they can listen to new music, browse selections, and discover new sounds — all in a familiar, communal atmosphere. I believe there will be vibrant and thriving record stores for many years to come.

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