Shame!...

The 2014 Record Store Day has come and gone. And as per usual, there were quite a lot of interesting releases. Getting them, however, was quite a different story.

I don't live in the UK, but a fantastic local record store over here put in an order for loads of titles - including a special order of the exclusive 7" release of "Golden Boy" by Kylie Minogue. The supplier told them that it was available to order, so all I had to do was to go to the store last Saturday to pick it up. Well, no such luck! Instead, the whole order for the store was fucked up, with loads of missing titles they were supposed to get.



Besides Kylie, I had my eye on several other releases - including Pet Shop Boys and Grace Jones. Going to e-bay, I found that the Pet Shop Boys release was going for as high as 100 pounds with the Kylie 7" going for about 50 pounds. I am still trying to get the Kylie one for a decent price!

Obviously, fans (and at least some of the artists) are not very happy about this. Paul Weller has released an excellent statement on the whole thing:

Paul Weller has posted a statement on his website explaining that he won't be taking part in any further Record Store Days.

Weller's fans were left disheartened when they were unable to purchase his specially released, limited edition single on 2014's Record Store Day (April 19). The record, which included Weller tracks 'Brand New Toy' and 'Landslide', sold out, with touts then listing copies for sale on eBay at inflated prices.

Weller's statement reads: "This is a message to all the fans who couldn't get the new vinyl single on Record Store Day and/or paid a lot of money for a copy on eBay. I agree with all of you who have sent messages expressing your anger and disappointment at the exploitation of these "limited editions" by touts.

Apart from making the record, the rest has very little to do with me but I am disheartened by the whole thing and unfortunately I won't be taking part in Record Store Day again. It's such a shame because as you know I am a big supporter of independent record stores but the greedy touts making a fast buck off genuine fans is disgusting and goes against the whole philosophy of RSD.

There were copies of my single on eBay the day before Record Store Day and I've heard stories of people queuing outside their local record shop only to be told there were none left at opening time! It only takes a few to spoil a wonderful concept for everyone else. Shame on those touts.

Don't support their trade and don't let them use Record Store Day to ruin the very thing it's designed to support."

Clearly, it has not only become nearly impossible to get concert tickets these day because of bloody scalpers and touts. As if the music business needed any more attempts to try and suck the life out of it!

UPDATE:

Record Store Day's organisers have responded, stating: 

"We share Paul Weller's frustration at evidence that 'Brand New Toy' has been offered for sale on eBay, and we are disappointed that despite our best efforts to drive out the touts, once again some people are seeking to exploit the goodwill of artists and labels by selling RSD exclusives at vastly-inflated prices on eBay.

At just 500 copies, Paul Weller's 'Brand New Toy' was one of the most limited editions available on RSD and so some re-selling was expected. However, thanks to the measures we have taken on re-sales, overall the number of complaints about unauthorised sales this year is well down on previous years, though we continue to monitor eBay on an hour-by-hour basis.

We clearly cannot control the activities of members of the public, but the Record Store Day Code of Conduct makes it clear that any store found to be complicit in unauthorised sales on eBay faces being banned from future events.

Record Store Day would not exist without the support and commitment of artists and labels and we take our responsibility to them very seriously."