Independent Record Stores Go Live

Leading independent online retailer Recordstore.co.uk has launched a label page for legendary label Fiction as part of a new pilot of individual record label stores within the retailer’s online store.The new area of site will give record labels their own store on Recordstore.co.uk from which customers can browse the back catalogue, pre-order forthcoming releases and, dependent on availability, buy releases in a wide range of formats, including CD, vinyl, special box sets and digital – all of which is chart eligible.It is hoped that the new stores will get customers to identify with record labels they like and introduce them to new artists on the label they may otherwise not have heard of so that new artists on labels with strong brand identities can benefit.Best known for launching the career of The Cure, Fiction is now home to many of the UK’s leading artists, including Mercury Music Prize winners Elbow, Ian Brown, The Maccabes, Kate Nash and Athlete. The label approached Record Store to be part of the pilot, which if successful, will be offered to other independent record labels.“Labels have an identity,” said Steve Wheeler, manager of RecordStore.co.uk, “and many independent labels work with similar artists that create that strong identity. We want customers to trust the record label brand to find new artists that they will love, generating greater sales for small, independent artists whilst introducing people to a whole wealth of great new music.”Wheeler promises that the label pages will be flexible to the needs of record labels, and the content will suit that. Whether they want to just sell new releases or back catalogue, physical releases or downloads, each label page will be tailored to their own requirements. Labels will also get their own individual URL to their site, which will allow customers to easily find the stores for labels they admire.