My Research

My research paper is on the recent closure of record stores and independent music stores across the United States. In my research paper I want to address the issue that have led to the downfall of mom-and-pop stores, such as the dramatic increase in digital music sales and the commercialization of large chain stores, and the effect that has on local communities as well. My general thesis pertains to the reasons why independent music stores are shutting down.

I was initially having trouble finding scholarly sources, but my focus has shifted a bit and I hopefully I will be able to locate more. The majority of sources I have found belong to magazine articles and popular newspapers such as The New York Times. I'm also planning to try and include an interview with a local record store employee if I can get some of his free time.

The reason I chose this topic is a personal one. I believe in supporting locally owned businesses to keep money within communities in order for them to flourish free of commercialization. It's important to maintain the upkeep and existence of these stores in order to keep some sort of control over sales and what exactly is brought into the stores themselves; they also employ community members and are unique to their individual location. If independently record stores cease to exist, then the benefits that surround them will cease exist as well. These stores are shutting down at a rapid rate and the effect is evident. Large chains and digital music stores do not tend to care about the small independents stores, so their contribution to their demise seems to go unhindered.