By Al Kaufman
What with more and more chain stores getting exclusive rights to releases from Tom Petty, Rolling Stones, Sugarland and the like, it is nice to see the record companies throw the independent record stores a bone once in a while.
Warren Hudson, owner of Decatur CD, likes the idea: "I encourage record companies to do anything they can to put music in the hands of consumers. If they hear the sampler and come back and buy an artist that they heard on the sampler, that’s good for everybody. Now," he adds, "if they were just doing this promotion for chain stores, I’d have a different reaction."
Criminal Records owner Eric Levin is also happy: "We were very pleased to be a part of the WB sampler, along with dozens of other CD sampler and give-away opportunities that we participate in. For our customers, they are loud and clear choosing physical products for their music needs, so marketing on-line is less effective for these particular customers. It only makes sense for the labels to promote music at music specialty retailers and Warner Brothers is one of the best."
