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I try to buy as many vinyl releases as possible in my local record shop to try and help it stay open....

One thing that has happened however that is making this harder and harder to do is Surus (ST Holdings online shop) offering free digital downloads with vinyls purchased as standard. As far as I am aware this is something not even Chemical or Red-Eye do...

As if locals didn't already have enough to contend with, is this is another shot in the foot, as for me it is a big plus being able to get free digis with my vinyls so I can easily stick on my phone and listen to on the train etc.....

Could record labels help and make offering digi downloads with vinyl purchasing a standard? It would be a little more effort I'm sure as the download code would need to be within the actual vinyl packaging, and linked to one of those specialist download sites (Like nonplus+ use) to benefit locals .... do people care enough to bother? Would it really make a difference anyway?

Should definitely provide mp3 downloads as standard. This is something I've thought for a while, really doesnt make sense to, CDs u can rip, but vinyl is so hard and especially when your buying the 'premium product', having to buy again is just stupid. In this case I can understand 'illegal download' of tunes you already have on vinyl.

This would also definitely help boost vinyl sales, I mean if I got mp3's as well I'd pretty much always buy most things on wax...

midian wrote:Should definitely provide mp3 downloads as standard

Definitely. I know this is not a new discussion, as people have being saying this for time - I bring this up now tho in particular relation to Surus, as with them using their strong position in the world of distribution to offer this as a standard already, the first people to do so (i think) it makes their web-shop pretty unbeatable, and just seems a bit unfair to the locals! With offering download codes in the vinyl packaging, record labels have the power to ensure there is a level playing field across Surus/ Locals/ Chemical etc

Something interesting to add to this (although I'm not sure to what extent it's true) is that I've seen labels asking that people buy through Surus, as they get a greater cut of the money you spend.

If that means that my favourite labels get more money to put out more releases, then that's another point to Surus. It's a tricky issue with the amount of record shops that are closing though.

it is a tough one, when it comes down to it i would love local vinyl shops and the culture that comes with them preserved. Once these have closed down, it will truly be a sad day... I now buy everything from one small independent as i want the shop to stay open as long as it can, the owner is a great guy who maybe can't offer a digital combo but more than makes up for it with knowledge and helpfulness.

cant see labels going down this route unless the overall price of the combo is higher than a standard vinyl, currently i buy alot of vinyl but will also buy the digital of a percy etc that i know i am going to hammer (for use on serato)