WHO WE ARE / FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS The Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) is a group of some of the best independent music stores in America. CIMS was founded in 1995; its current membership is made up of 29 accounts that handle 59 stores in 21 states. Many of the accounts have been recognized by the music industry and their local communities for their outstanding dedication to customer service and developing artist support. Each member is bound by its shared love of music, a reputation for great selection and customer service in each's community, yet each CIMS account is as unique as the market it represents. Most importantly, CIMS member stores continually seek to challenge the jaded, color-by-numbers advertising and marketing of other retailers. See the store finder to the left or go to CIMS STORES to find an account closest to you. What does CIMS do? CIMS is a network of stores that provide labels with a cohesive national marketing effort for their developing and established bands. So, instead of having to make 29 separate phone calls to set up promotions at key indie stores across the nation, a label may contact the CIMS office to coordinate their efforts. Whether it be an advertising program, an instore positioning or Adopt program, listening booth, or even a custom-made promotion for an artist, CIMS helps labels break through the clutter for their artists to be recognized by the early adopter music fans that constantly seek the best in new music. Who are the members? Members include a list of stores that have been recognized over the years for their contributions to their individual communities, as well as their participation in the music industry at large. Most report to Soundscan, and almost all buy direct from the labels. Most lean heavily towards "alternative" music, but everyone sells certain types of music better than others, whether it be folk, rap, urban, techno, jazz, classical, punk, etc. For a list of stores, see the CIMS STORES page. How can I get those free goodies if I don't have a store in my town? Many of the CIMS member stores have their own websites. Go to CIMS STORES, call or hit any store's link, and order that artist's CD to receive the free toy. You may wish to call the store before ordering online, because supplies on many of these collectibles are EXTREMELY limited. How does a label work with CIMS? Normally, a label will contact CIMS to work an artist for a given period of time. In most cases, CIMS HQ will poll the stores and vote on that release's inclusion on a project. Factors that decide whether or not a release is voted in depends on available space, whether or not the stores like the release, and what other support may lend to a release's success. Does it cost money to work with CIMS? Yes, CIMS charges labels to run promotions. There are a lot of office expenses involved with setting up nationwide promotions with CIMS accounts, such as office space, phone, DSL, and fax lines, and the personnel to coordinate these efforts. The cost of our programs covers those expenses. Through a vigorous voting protocol, CIMS has turned down hundreds of thousands of dollars in years past, simply because member stores did not believe that the titles met the standards of a CIMS program. Can I work with individual stores? Although it sounds simple just to make one call and get your release in all the stores, CIMS realizes that not all titles make sense for a national program, whether it be due to the budget or potential audience. For localized cases, we highly recommend direct contact with member stores to set up local marketing efforts. Numbers and addresses are available under the CIMS STORES page. I just put out my own CD. How do I get it in you stores? Unfortunately, CIMS does not have an internal distribution mechanism to get your release into all of our stores nationwide. Each CIMS member is owner-operated, and each makes its own purchasing decisions. Therefore, you would have to contact each individual member store to get your music into the stores. One thing many of us have learned from our experiences: we always recommend building a local story before trying to go nationwide. There is little need to have your product sitting on a shelf if you are not able to actively promote it in a particular market, whether it be through touring or radio airplay. As an independent artist, it is ALWAYS best to focus your energies on a handful of areas in which you can build your audiences and develop relationships with the right club bookers, store owners, and radio staff. New technologies now allow you to have your music heard around the world via the internet, but nothing beats human interaction to get the word out about your labor of love. How come there is not a CIMS store in my town? CIMS began its charter membership through a roundtable discussion of independent music store owners at a convention in 1995. Since then, CIMS has cautiously grown its membership to include stores that have the reputation as "button pushers" both within their communities and within the music industry. The slow-growth practice of CIMS has been largely dictated by a search for quality members in markets that help impact sales of releases. Just because a store is not part of CIMS does not mean it is not Coalition worthy, but rather the result of the Coalition’s deliberately slow, judicious process that concentrates on quality over quantity. How does a store become a part of CIMS? The main basis for deciding if a store joins CIMS is whether or not it is a button pusher both within its community and within the industry. Does the store have a reputation for helping develop an artist's profile in the market? Our membership is currently closed, but CIMS encourages stores that meet such standards to develop a portfolio to submit to be voted in. Anything to show the store's role in breaking artists helps: charts, store pictures, newspaper and magazine articles, promotional recaps, industry recommendations.