BREAKING: Best Buy to Squeeze Out New Artists & Indie Labels
Word on the street is that Best Buy has handed down a new set of policies to music distributors regarding new release orders that will effectively cut-off the entry of new artists and independent label releases into their stores. Reasons given include Best Buy’s belief that they are not getting “equal return” on initial orders, resulting from what they call “inflated forecasts.”
So what does this mean?
Those most affected will likely be new artists, particularly those on independent labels that cannot support forecasts that meet Best Buy’s new desired first-week sales threshold. With indie music shops almost completely wiped-out by big-box retailers over the last few years, this leaves very few retail outlets for literally hundreds of indie labels and thousands of releases each year. One could also speculate that this will only help expedite the transition from physical to digital music purchases. We will continue to report on this story as it develops…
08.6.09Singled Out: Ron Burman
Ron Burman (3rd from right) with Nickelback
The first piece in our new Singled Out industry spotlight series, is Roadrunner Records’ Sr VP of A&R Ron Burman. We recently caught up with the big man and asked him to show a little swagger when telling us what he’s been up to (truth be told, it didn’t take much convincing), so here’s the latest on Ronnie B’s projects: Theory of a Deadman’s Scars & Souvenirs LP has already surpassed gold certification in the U.S. and with Top 3 singles at both Active and Hot AC radio, it’s on its way to platinum sales… Fellow canucks Nickelback, who are no strangers to the sales bling, have gone double platinum with their Dark Horse LP and are currently making their way through a sold-out summer tour… With their AC/DC-infused guitar sound, Aussie rockers Airborne are currently in the studio with hot-shot producer Johnny K. working on the follow-up to 2007’s Runnin’ Wild album… Coming out later this month is the new Collective Soul S/T release on Tom Lipsky’s recently minted Roadrunner imprint, Loud & Proud. Their first single “Staring Down” has already entered the Hot AC Top 20 chart and continues to climb… With no evidence of slowing down, Burman has inked a couple of new signings soon to be announced. Stay tuned…
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