Drop records closing down

[spencertron]

i think i'm reading this right, due to poor vinyl sales

http://www.droprecords.co.uk/

[Pada]

Fuck, sadness!

[tunnidge]

Absolutely gutted, i think the economic climate in England at the moment is crushing a lot of what is valuable in our society. Soon all high streets will be global branded shops and all pubs weatherspoons and souless chain bars. When i was a kid the record shop was a real hub of activity and i think that the internet has replaced that on a massive scale, i suppose its just one of those things but still thinks its a real shame. Its not even a vinyl digital issue for me i think people have it so hard at the moment that every penny counts. I was on the train the other day and two business men clutching their daily mails were discussing the state of the country how kids are going nuts and aren't being bought up right etc. Couldn't help thinking about how people like themselves (generalization for arguments sake) bankers, estate agents etc are reaping what they have sewn for the last decade, squeezing the people for every last drop of cash, putting pressure on relationships causing marital breakdowns causing single mothers, disillusioned youth all sorts of additional stresses that financial hardship brings. Greed is the most destructive force at work on the planet today.
I have known Adam for years (owner Drop) and done a load of artwork for the shop when it first opened, i know the commitment and passion he has shown to that shop and the support of the music so just want to say a massive MASSIVE BIG UP to him.
Sad news.

[clifford_-]

Absolutely gutted, i think the economic climate in England at the moment is crushing a lot of what is valuable in our society. Soon all high streets will be global branded shops and all pubs weatherspoons and souless chain bars. When i was a kid the record shop was a real hub of activity and i think that the internet has replaced that on a massive scale, i suppose its just one of those things but still thinks its a real shame. Its not even a vinyl digital issue for me i think people have it so hard at the moment that every penny counts. I was on the train the other day and two business men clutching their daily mails were discussing the state of the country how kids are going nuts and aren't being bought up right etc. Couldn't help thinking about how people like themselves (generalization for arguments sake) bankers, estate agents etc are reaping what they have sewn for the last decade, squeezing the people for every last drop of cash, putting pressure on relationships causing marital breakdowns causing single mothers, disillusioned youth all sorts of additional stresses that financial hardship brings. Greed is the most destructive force at work on the planet today.
I have known Adam for years (owner Drop) and done a load of artwork for the shop when it first opened, i know the commitment and passion he has shown to that shop and the support of the music so just want to say a massive MASSIVE BIG UP to him.
Sad news.

Its sad that the only important thing is profit these days.

[pkay]

Heard the same thing about Rooted closing down too?

[Lurka]

absolutely gutted that drop is closing! spent so much time in there these past four years! Adam (slack) is an absolute legend, his hard work and great attitude kept the shop going for so long so it is a real shame that it has to end in this way. i have met so many great people through this shop, and i feel sorry for anyone who has not had a local shop like this!

big up drop!

[prisoner]

Heard the same thing about Rooted closing down too?

it is?

thought it was just under new management?

[pkay]

Heard the same thing about Rooted closing down too?

it is?

thought it was just under new management?

one of the boys from KOAN posted something this morning on FB. I had interactions with them back in the day only reason I know of the store.... but i know it was a good spot for a lot of people

[badger]

Heard the same thing about Rooted closing down too?

it is?

thought it was just under new management?

it was, but now it's properly closing. mate said that he thought it already had shut by the looks of it but i might pop down next week and check

very sad state of affairs

[Fent Plates]

I sadly am of an age where I missed the record shop culture, I went to Slough record centre once when I was 13 and I went back 3 weeks later and it was closed. I enjoyed buying vinyls in a shop but now I have to trek it to a shop so online buying has become my way for vinyls.

Recently what's happening with stores is making it harder and harder for small labels like us to start up, before the label and as a consumer, I neve truly understood when people spoke about hard times and such.

Setting up the label to push the deeper and chilled side admittedly doesn't sell as much as the commercial but hopefully everyone can work together and continue to keep releasing and for people to keep using vinyl.

I never knew this shop personally but I can understand that if it was mine it would be my baby.

Sad times.

[Pistonsbeneath]

was a good site....used them a few times through discogs before bagging a load of stuff from them after a certain well known site let me down

bagged 7 breaths from them as it happens....so many shops falling...damn shame...dont know how london will cope...sounds of the universe/bm soho/sister ray all right near each other...how can they survive?

best of luck guys that ran drop anyway

[drop records]

It was a pretty get wrenching decision to make but our takings have got to a stage now where we're not making enough money any more to buy enough records to make enough money to pay for all the bills, rent, wages & stock (if you follow me there!)

I think one of the main reasons is that the new generation of people who have grown up with downloads, digital mixing platforms, youtube/myspace, etc, is kicking in.

When i was 16 and wanted to get into dnb properly i had to do the only thing you could back then, get some decks & start buying vinyl - unfortunately there just doesn't seem to be enough people in the new generation interested any more to keep a shop like us going.

Things like music/vinyl are mostly bought by young people with expendable income - at that age i spent any money i had on vinyl (yes older people still buy music of course, but are usually more selective, or life catches up with you & you've got kids/rent/mortgage etc). Now the younger generation have so many more ways, free ways, to consume their music. You'll find full length versions of most music on youtube nowadays, not to mention p2p sites, and it's like quality, morals & pride aren't a virtue anymore. There are still dedicated young people who want to buy vinyl, just not enough, and there's plenty more who haven't got the dedication for it.

Another thing that i think comes in to play is that there's so much pressure on image nowadays. I see kids with clothes that always look brand new, with loads of after shave on, stickers still on their fresh hats etc etc, which all takes money, and they have the option of saving money for this by getting their music for free. which to be honest i can't blame them for because they're probably quite naive, and the option is available. i can't say that if i was an impressionable young 16 year old again that i wouldn't go down the digital route nowadays than the route i took, but it does really undersell the passionate, soulful & personal side to music in my opinion.

When i was that age music came first and everything else second (apart from my family, it still does!). When you buy a piece of vinyl your making a real statement that you believe in that music as you're going to spend around £3 per track, and make room for this slightly awkwardly shaped thing in your home. If you have, or have seen a big record collection in someones house you'll understand how much of a lifestyle choice it is.

Music to me is a deep spiritual thing, whether that spirit is me geeking out on kryptic mind's production, or moshing my head to the latest coki banger - i don't think a file on a computer does any justice to the ethereal essence of music.

Anyway, who knows what the future holds for the physical music market, i wouldn't want to speculate on the future of anyone elses business, only time will tell, but i for one will be buying vinyl as long as it's available, and with regards to Drop: we gave it a good crack!

[mIrReN]

Absolutely gutted, i think the economic climate in England at the moment is crushing a lot of what is valuable in our society. Soon all high streets will be global branded shops and all pubs weatherspoons and souless chain bars. When i was a kid the record shop was a real hub of activity and i think that the internet has replaced that on a massive scale, i suppose its just one of those things but still thinks its a real shame. Its not even a vinyl digital issue for me i think people have it so hard at the moment that every penny counts. I was on the train the other day and two business men clutching their daily mails were discussing the state of the country how kids are going nuts and aren't being bought up right etc. Couldn't help thinking about how people like themselves (generalization for arguments sake) bankers, estate agents etc are reaping what they have sewn for the last decade, squeezing the people for every last drop of cash, putting pressure on relationships causing marital breakdowns causing single mothers, disillusioned youth all sorts of additional stresses that financial hardship brings. Greed is the most destructive force at work on the planet today.
I have known Adam for years (owner Drop) and done a load of artwork for the shop when it first opened, i know the commitment and passion he has shown to that shop and the support of the music so just want to say a massive MASSIVE BIG UP to him.
Sad news.

+ It's mostly them who're raising the new generation, sad indeed.

[murky21]

Rubbish news.

If anyone knows Bigga Records in Plymouth, I popped in a while back and it was very, very quiet in there. I bought vinyl in there from about age 14- 18 before I moved to London met lots of other dj's producers and friends in there. After a while of consistent buying and starting to get sets playing out I was handed whites and promos to listen to and in general the record shop experience was massive in my growing up/ appreciation of the dnb/ hiphop/ dubstep scene. Si from Bigga seemed to think it was only a matter of time which would be a great loss to Plymouth, the South West and djing/ music in general.

Its really so sad to see these places come to an end, and for anyone reading this who d/l's music off YouTube (have fun with your 128 MAX/ cut versions) or p2p I hope you are proud of yourselves for contributing to this. (On a side note I got shown a p2p site recently that links to 100's of Dubstep uploads that you can listen to and d/l for free, anyone know the best way to flag it up/ report it??)
big up to Drop and anyone in Devon - get urself down to Bigga Records by Bretonside bus station and show your support!

[rob sparx]

Bigup Adam a real shame to see this happen any much sooner than expected definately a sign of the times was really nice to have somewhere to visit and still listen to music the way it should be heard your shop was the best ive known bruv. I'm sure the future will still be good for you mate despite this setback, hope you keep the producing and djing going mate and know you and the family are always welcome down here for the weekend if you have the time.

Tim are right everything is about money now greed is the force behind it but many of us just want to be able to have enough money to start a family and live reasonably comfortably etc which is becoming increasingly hard. I do think this country has its fair share of pisstakers rich and poor and it does feel like there's a real lack of soul, direction or hope in capitalist socialism as we know it (not in principle), a real dog eat dog attitude which affects everyone and everything.

[domga]

It was a pretty get wrenching decision to make but our takings have got to a stage now where we're not making enough money any more to buy enough records to make enough money to pay for all the bills, rent, wages & stock (if you follow me there!)

I think one of the main reasons is that the new generation of people who have grown up with downloads, digital mixing platforms, youtube/myspace, etc, is kicking in...

...Another thing that i think comes in to play is that there's so much pressure on image nowadays. I see kids with clothes that always look brand new, with loads of after shave on, stickers still on their fresh hats etc etc, which all takes money, and they have the option of saving money for this by getting their music for free. which to be honest i can't blame them for because they're probably quite naive, and the option is available. i can't say that if i was an impressionable young 16 year old again that i wouldn't go down the digital route nowadays than the route i took, but it does really undersell the passionate, soulful & personal side to music in my opinion.

...always sad to hear that a shop closed, i think you´r right and it´s not only in the uk that record shops "dies"...but big up for keeping the vinyl stuff alive.

[joeki]

if even big stores based around large local scenes in the UK can’t keep their head above the water, the future is not looking bright.

Bigup Giraffe Records in Louvain, I go there once or twice a month and leave behind a 50 note each time. I'm bust broke all the time.
I'm in my mid twenties, so I suppose I've gone through both era's. Vinyl and digital. And I do both as well.

Economic crisis, the internet, a change in youth culture and mentality... All very much unstoppable events I think. The rise of superstores such as .... and.... might not be helping either. Then again, for people on the geographical outskirts of the scene, what alternative is there.


Sad news, hope everyone involved get's back on their feet ASAP. Don't lose faith in the music!

[Coppola]

Now I feel bad for not heading to Bath and supporting the shop!
Bath is about an hour from me, I just don't have much money these days to go up on the train.
Big up to Drop Records!

[brasco]

Rubbish news.

If anyone knows Bigga Records in Plymouth, I popped in a while back and it was very, very quiet in there. I bought vinyl in there from about age 14- 18 before I moved to London met lots of other dj's producers and friends in there. After a while of consistent buying and starting to get sets playing out I was handed whites and promos to listen to and in general the record shop experience was massive in my growing up/ appreciation of the dnb/ hiphop/ dubstep scene. Si from Bigga seemed to think it was only a matter of time which would be a great loss to Plymouth, the South West and djing/ music in general.

Its really so sad to see these places come to an end, and for anyone reading this who d/l's music off YouTube (have fun with your 128 MAX/ cut versions) or p2p I hope you are proud of yourselves for contributing to this. (On a side note I got shown a p2p site recently that links to 100's of Dubstep uploads that you can listen to and d/l for free, anyone know the best way to flag it up/ report it??)
big up to Drop and anyone in Devon - get urself down to Bigga Records by Bretonside bus station and show your support!

Yeah I go Devon quite a lot and always go to bigga. He's a sound bloke who clearly loves what he does. Hopefully it will still be there next year when I am next down those parts.

Gutting to hear these stories, I love going to vinyl shops (Infact its the only shopping I enjoy doing) and can't imagine in the future just buying it offline.

[Lurka]

I love going to vinyl shops (Infact its the only shopping I enjoy doing) and can't imagine in the future just buying it offline.

exactly man! apart from pubs will have little reason to go into city centre ahah!