“The Last Waltz” may not be the greatest name for a used record sale, but at least it feels musical. And who knows? You’ll probably find some Strauss waltzes in the classical section, if that’s what you’re after.
Capital Public Radio has had a yearly used record sale fundraiser for the past umpteen years, but this one will be the last. The Record Sale Preview Party starts at 6:00 this evening. The sale continues through Sunday, and then everything must go.
Why will this be the last sale? Declining returns. It takes a heck of a lot of work to stage a sale like this one, and so many people these days aren’t collecting music in physical form. This is the age of the download, and people who do buy music tend to buy it online.
There’s been a massive shake-up in the record industry in the past decade, and record companies are struggling with relevancy in an age where almost anyone can produce a record at home with minimal equipment, and distribute directly to their listeners via downloads or small press-runs of CDs. There’s also a retro movement where some artists are distributing albums on vinyl. Where it will all end is uncertain, but we do know for certain that the Capital Public Radio Used Record & CD Sale will end Sunday.