CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 11/16/23

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Hi Everyone,
 
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends,  and a successful Black Friday.

Here are the charts.
Andrea 

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 10/19/23

in

Hi Everyone,
 
Last week we had an error on the CIMS Debut and Vinyl Debut charts due to a missing UPC in the feed. Our number one title on both debut charts was actually A.F.I.- Sing The Sorrow which was a title that came through ThinkIndie Distribution/UMe and since it is always nice to sit at number 1, I wanted to give proper credit where credit was due. We have corrected those charts and are resubmitting with this week's info.

Thanks,
Andrea 

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 10/14/23

in

Hi everyone,

In communications with various industry groups, the data analytics company Luminate has announced a dramatic change in the method used to calculate physical sales from independent retailers, set to go into effect 12/29/23. The details disclosed lead us to expect charts and data that show an abrupt, inaccurate and misleading physical market collapse immediately in Q1 2024.

The rise in physical sales in general -- and vinyl sales in particular -- has been a positive story in the music industry for over a decade. Independently-owned record stores have provided the music business with sustained positive media attention, as well as an entry point to music for consumers. The new leadership at Luminate, along with Billboard, has created and implemented new rules, changed guidelines and defined chart ineligibility in ways that have been damaging to record stores, labels and artists. Regardless of this, as coalitions and as Record Store Day organizers, we have worked for eighteen months to increase the number of stores reporting to Luminate, despite the confusion and lack of clarity in that process. As of today, the number of reporting accounts is 72, representing less than 5% of the indie record store base of over 1400 storefronts. We have seen little to indicate that the number of reporting stores necessary to prevent a perceived market share collapse when these changes are implemented is attainable by the end of the year. 

Our desire to be true partners in the effort to raise the number of reporting stores, thereby increasing the accuracy of the crucial data provided to labels, artists and management for decisions that will affect the entire industry has not been matched by Luminate. The changes laid out for the end of the year, which will affect not only the charts and data, but will directly impact over 1400 independently-owned businesses did not include input or approval from the record stores, from artist managers, or record labels. 
 
To be clear: the negative impact to the charts in January 2024 will be due to Luminate's decision to abruptly change how physical reporting is collected and calculated. We call for record labels, vinyl manufacturing plants, distribution companies, and record stores to be aware of this, and to work together against this inexplicable but blatant attempt to diminish the importance of the physical market to the music business ecosystem.

Alliance of Independent Media Stores
Amoeba Music
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
Dept of Record Stores
F.A.M.S. (Forever A Music Store) Coalition 


Here are the charts for the week.
Andrea 

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 9/14/23

in

Hi Everyone,
 
This week I am thrilled to announce that we have a new addition to the Coalition of Independent Record Stores. We are proud to add Rust & Wax in West Palm Beach, Florida to our CIMS roster!
 
One thing that really stands out to me about our organization is that despite our stores being their own independent establishments, there is definitely a common thread that runs throughout our group. It is one of the reasons we don’t add stores very quickly. We like to really take the time to get to know the individuals behind the business and make sure that not only are they a good fit for CIMS, but that CIMS is also a good fit for their shop.
 
I have enjoyed getting to know Melanie and Jesse Feldman, owners of Rust & Wax, as we have gone through this process, and one of my favorite things is learning about how all of these amazing record stores got their start. I guess I am a sucker for a good origin story, and I have heard some great ones over the years.
 
As our newest member of CIMS, I thought it would be nice to share one of those exciting origin stories with you, in the words of Melanie and Jesse themselves.
 
So please read on and without further ado, please meet Rust and Wax!

Rust & Wax Record Shop in its current form was born in November of 2020, but our shop has been around in some capacity since 2014.  
 
We started this as a weekend side hustle while both of us worked our full-time careers (Melanie in social media marketing, Jesse as an attorney).  With this new venture, we found ourselves popping up at local indie markets across the state of Florida each weekend selling records and an assortment of vintage goods (hence the “Rust”). This path eventually led to us getting recruited to open a small record shop inside a local collective of makers called Elizabeth Ave Station (“The Station”) in West Palm Beach, FL.
 
Over a period of 2 1/2 years, our small record shop inside The Station kept growing in size, starting with only two bins of records and eventually growing to close to twenty bins.  We held in-stores with Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, The Jacuzzi Boys, and more. And most importantly, we built an awesome community of fellow local music-lovers.  Things were looking up.  Then Covid hit, The Station (and our shop) closed, and we were forced to move all of our inventory into our house.  We thought our record shop dream was dead.
 
In order to stay connected to our customers, we started hosting weekly live-stream sales over Instagram, all while continuing to work our full-time jobs from home during lockdown.  It was during this time we both realized the world could end, or we could be gone in an instant, and we knew we didn’t want to go out as anything but record shop owners.  So we made the decision to quit the careers that we hated and go all in on the record shop.  
 
We leased a new standalone space in the same neighborhood as our old home at The Station and, in November of 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic, we opened our doors for the first time.  
 
This November will mark three years of our shop being open.  In those three years, we’ve held an in-store with the Scone Cash Players, several incredible Record Store Day events, many amazing listening parties, and thankfully have watched as our local vinyl community has continued to grow and flourish. 
 
We are grateful to be West Palm Beach’s friendly neighborhood record shop.  We are also grateful, and consider ourselves very lucky, to be joining CIMS and the incredible group of stores in the coalition.  

Here are the charts for the week.
Andrea 

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 9/7/23

in

Hi Everyone,
 
Here are the charts for the week.

Andrea 

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

The Chemical Brothers
For That Beautiful Feeling
(Republic)
 

Nick Campbell - ThinkIndie Warehouse Manager
Boy, I really like this new Chemical Brothers album. Heck, I think this thing is jazzy and cool.

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 8/24-23

in

Hi Everyone,
 
Here are the charts for the week.

Andrea 

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

Far From Saints
Far From Saints
(Ignition Records)
 

Scott Register - ThinkIndie A&R
Can’t stop listening to this new album from Far From Saints (Kelly Jones of Stereophonics, Patty Lynn and Dwight Baker of The Wind And The Wave). I’ve always been a Steroohonics fan and Kelly has a unique voice that is hard not to recognize. Paired with Lynn’s vocals, magic occurs and these modern folk songs take flight. The album is currently on repeat and giving me the therapeutic help I need. Looking for something new that makes you love music again? This could be the album. Fleetwood Mac, The Civil Wars, The Swell Season… vibes abound.

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 8/10/23

in

Hi Everyone,
 
This time last week we were wrapping the last day of RSD Summer Camp. What a whirlwind it all was! I can truly say this is one of my favorite projects to work on and be a part of planning. This was our largest Summer Camp so far, and to bring together so many amazing stores and industry members in one city to have the conversations and interactions that we did was truly exciting.

Of course, we need to send a gigantic thank you to all the labels, distribution, one-stops, and vendors that came out in full force to help us pull this off. Your support of this event and our organizations are never forgotten. I would like to thank all our special guests, speakers and panelists for making sure we had lots of good things to talk about, and all our sponsors for helping us pull it off- especially Marshall and Deer Park/Crosley. A special thanks to Redeye, Euclid and Verve for helping to welcome us to the Big Easy, Amped and Tommy Boy records for helping us bring a little (De La) Soul to our event, ADA/BMG for the late-night tunes, ATO Records/Virgin/UMG and Eric Burton of the Black Pumas for a special conversation, Virgin Records and Czarface for keeping us cool by the pool, Thirty Tigers/The Orchard and The Shindellas for getting us going in the morning, Eleni and Q-Prime/ADA and John Dyer Baizley of Baroness for keeping it real when it comes to true music artistry and the critical role record stores can play in inspiring and facilitating that.

Finally, a massive thank you to the Hotel Monteleone for being our home away from home for the week and for taking such good care of us!
 
I loved seeing you all this year, and Carrie and I are already excited to get to work on 2024!
 
Here are the charts for the week.

Andrea 

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 7/27/23

in

Hi Everyone,
 
I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of you next week at Summer Camp for a few fun-filled days of discussions and hangs.

Here are the charts for the week.
Andrea 

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 6/29/23

in

Hi Everyone,
 
We are officially a month out from Summer Camp, where we all come together to celebrate the Independent Record Stores across the nation, share ideas and learn from one another. It is one of my favorite weeks of the year and I am looking forward to seeing everyone again. Last year was our first year back together after the pandemic and I remember being struck by how much knowledge and experience I was surrounded by. It is something that continues to inspire me to do what I do.
 
Speaking of “songs of experience”, this year marks 50 Years of selling records in Austin, TX for John Kunz, owner of Waterloo Records! In typical fashion, Waterloo will not disappoint with the good times and events over this week and next. From Monday, July 3rd, through Sunday, July 16th, they will be celebrating John's anniversary with in-store performances, record signings, book signings, storewide sales, and fundraising for non-profit community radio stations.
 
John, congratulations on 50 Years of selling records and serving your community. You are a treasured member of CIMS!
 
Let’s all show Waterloo Records some love, and if you find yourself in Austin, here is what all they have in store!

 JOHN T KUNZ 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Mon, July 3rd - Lucinda Williams In-Store / Record & Book Signing
Wed, July 5th - THE DROP: Blakchyl In-Store Performance & Record Signing
Thur, July 6th - Sun Radio Benefit Day (5% of sales donated to Sun Radio)
Fri, July 7th - Jake Andrews In-Store Performance & Record Signing
Tue, July 11th - Shinyribs In-Store Performance & Record Signing
Thur, July 13th - Bob Schneider Book Reading / Signing
Thur, July 13th - KUTX Benefit Day (5% of sales donated to KUTX)
Fri, July 14th - Brownout In-Store Performance & Record Signing



Here are the charts for the week.

Andrea 

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 6/15/23

in

Hi Everyone,
 
Here are the charts for the week.

Andrea 

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

Ron Trent, Missing Soul, Trinidadian Deep
New Discovery of Old Feelings: Artifacts From The Future
(Future Vision Records)
 

Blake Wimberly - CIMS/ThinkInidie Cabana Boy
Three silky, summertime house jams: a deep, late-night groove from the legendary Ron Trent ("City Beat"), Missing Soul's laid-back jazzy piano & drums ("Luna Eternelle"), and a percussive Caribbean treat from Trinidadian Deep ("Future Sonic"). May I refresh that daiquiri for you? Perhaps a fresh SPF lathering? Ring the bell if you need me.

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 5/18/23

in

Hi Everyone,
 
Congratulations to Portia Sabin and the entire Music Biz team on another successful event. I know how much hard work goes into putting together a conference and they all did an amazing job this year. We had three days of productive meetings and programming and great representation from our group, which always makes for better discussions all around.
 
I would also like to congratulate our CIMS members, Sandy Bitman of Park Ave CDs in Orlando, FL and Harry Crumpler from T-Bones in Hattiesburg, MS as well as Joe Nardone of Gallery of Sound (DORS) on being finalists for this year’s Frontline Innovator Bizzy Award and also big ups to Tobago Bonito of DBS sounds and FAMS on taking that lovely award home!
 
It was, as always, great to be back in Nashville and to connect with so many friendly faces. The part of my job that I enjoy the most is connecting with people in our industry to discuss what we can do to make things better, and there were lots of those discussions last week. I am excited to see where things go from here.
 
Hope you all have a safe and happy holiday and here are the charts.
 
Andrea

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic