Although this page is primarily about the slow demise of the UK’s musical instrument [MI] retail industry, as we knew it; it’s also an acknowledgement, show of respect, and little nod to all the thousands of employees who worked so hard to make their music shops what they were before they closed down.
It has to be remembered, that music shops close for a whole host of reasons: some owners retire, some decide they’ve had enough of the industry; some become too ill to carry on, some pass away; and some sadly fail.
If you know of other musical instruments shops [not record shops] that are not on the list below, please let me know, the shop name, and the town/s they were in. Please email me the info to dw@davidwood.biz so I can add them to the list.
Although there has clearly been a change in consumer behavior over the past few decades, the demise of MI retail comes down to a plethora of factors in my opinion. Below are my ‘Top 50’ reasons why I believe the industry is eroding faster than ever. These reasons have collectively combined into an insuperable set of problems, that must be carefully thought about and analysed, if there is to be a solid future for a wider MI retail industry.
The ‘Top 50’ Challenges Facing MI Retail in the UK
[1] The shrinking of profit margins in the industry. [2] More competitive pricing than ever. [3] The fragile wider economic climate and lack of consumer confidence. [4] The rise of online sales and the fact consumers often use a brick-and-mortar shop for a free demo before going buying online. [5] The rent increase by landlords (if they rent). [6] The business rates increase by councils. [7] The people cost increase. [8] The National Insurance payment increase by government. [9] The energy cost increase by energy suppliers. [10] The increase in competition from international retailers. [11] The increase in competition from non-specialist music retailers (Amazon, Temu, et.al). [12] The manufacturer / distributor who offers a better prices to favoured retailers. [13] The manufacturer / distributor who offers better prices for larger quantities of stock that’s just ‘not doable’ for a smaller retailer. [14] The manufacturer / distributor who sells direct to consumers. [15] The manufacturer / distributor who sells direct to professional musicians and educational establishments. [16] The manufacturer / distributor who expects a dealer in a small town, to carry the same level of stock, as a dealer in a major city. [17] The manufacturer / distributor who doesn’t appreciate the cost of running a brick-and-mortar operation, compared to an online operation. [18] The manufacturer who excludes certain dealers from their ‘Agency’ agreements. [19] The manufacturer / distributor who won’t supply a dealer with a one-off item, so they can supply a regular customer who’s bought off him/her for years, and therefore that customer can’t buy off the retailer of their choice. [20] The manufacturer who gives an advantage to one retailer over another, by paying the salary of a member of staff. [21] The manufacturer / distributor who gives an advantage to one retailer over another, by supplying the demonstration models on the shop floor on a free basis. [22] The manufacturer / distributor who gives an advantage to one retailer over another, by giving a retailer a budget for advertising and/or promotion. [23] The governments shifting priorities away from music in the curriculum in education. [24] The affect funding cuts have had in wider music education. [25] The fact that some universities have totally closed music departments so no young musicians are now coming into the area. [26] The lack of recognition from society for being a professional musician. [26] The lack of government support for the wider arts. [27] The competition music faces from things like mobile phones, social media, and gaming. [28] The lack of musical instrument hero’s (e.g. we need more ‘guitar heroes’ like Eric Clapton, Slash, etc). [29] The need for better future income streams for artists and more grassroots venues to play. [30] A strong music retail ‘association’ for musical instrument retailers (and only for retailers). [31] The lack of investment by some music shop owners in the appearence of their shops. [32] The lack of investment by some music shop owners in their infrastructure (IT, systems, etc). [33] The lack of investment by some music shop owners in their own personal development. [34] The lack of investment by some owners in the personal development of their staff. [35] The lack of investment by some music shop owners in their websites. [36] The lack of investment by some music shop owners in the ‘other services’ that can generate extra income streams (hire, repairs, teaching, etc). [37] The lack of effort by some music shop owners to seek help from manufacturers / distributors. [38] The fact that some music shop owners have put their own personal spending before the needs of their business… and taken too much money out of their business. [39] Some music shop owners have employed the wrong staff. [40] The lack of new innovation in the MI industry. [41] The possible disconnect between conusmers and music. [42] Consumer disappointment when visiting some UK music shops. [43] The possibility that musical instruments are just out of fashion with the mass public nowadays. [44] The fact that some consumers are now just ‘too busy’ to drive and visit a music shop. [45] The lack of ‘bands’ in the main UK charts. [46] The fact that there are so many amazing online / youtube videos showing gear means it’s not as necessary – for some consumers – to go and talk to people in shops anymore. [47] The fact that some consumers don’t appreciate or give any value to having a local music shop they can visit and buy online. [48] The fact that some consumers don’t appreciate or understand that a music shop will ‘set up’ an instrument before it goes out for sale and some online sellers just send it out without even opening the box to check it. [49] Some consumers are not bothered about supporting small family businesses who employ local people and prefer to buy online. [50] Some music shop owners have been too arrogant to listen to the advice of their manufacturers, distributors, staff, customers, and professional advisors (bookkeepers, accountants, lawyers, etc).
Music Shops That Have Closed
So here’s a list of shops that have closed over the years and – as I said earlier – they closed for many different reasons like: retirement, disillusionment, illness, death, and some just failed.
– A1 Music [Manchester, Stockport & Preston]
– ABC Music [Addlestone , Esher, Surbiton, Slough , Oxford, Bristol]
– Accordion Shop [Rochdale]
– Alan Gregory Music [Manchester]
– Academy of Sound
– Apoco Music Lancaster, Chorley]
– Bandland Music [Stockton-on-Tees]
– Barratts Music [Manchester]
– Beats [Rochdale]
– Biggars Music [Glasgow]
– Blackpool Sound Centre [Blackpool]
– Chandler Guitars [Kew]
– Charlton’s Music Shop [London]
– Chas. E. Foote [London]
– Cookes Pianos [Norwich]
– City Music [Chain of shops in the South West of England]
– Coventry Music [Coventry]
– Dawson’s Music [Belfast, Chester, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Reading]
– DCR Music [Attleborough]
– DG Music [Exmouth]
– Dolphin Music [Liverpool]
– Digital Village [Birmingham, Cambridge, Southampton, Bristol, Acton, Barnet, South London]
– Dirty Red Guitars [Norwich]
– Dr Rock [Bury, Rochdale]
– ED Brown Organs [Barrow, Morecambe, Colne, Nelson, Blackpool]
– Eddie Moors Music [Bournemouth]
– Electro Music [Doncaster]
– Flying Pig [Hanwell]
– Foulds Music [Derby]
– GAK [Brighton]
– Gordon Simpson [Edinburgh]
– Guitar Player [Rochdale]
– Harker & Howarth [Morecambe, Lancaster, Wigan]
– Hard to Find
– Hartnoll Guitar Centre [Plymouth]
– Hessy Music [Liverpool]
– Highams Harmony House [Manchester]
– Highway Music [Manchester]
– Hobbs Music [Lancaster]
– Holiday Music [Leytonstone]
– Jack White Music [Norwich, Ipswich]
– JG Windows [Newcastle, Gateshead, Darlington]
– John Myatt Woodwind and Brass [Hitchin]
– Jones & Crossland
– JSG Music [Bingley]
– Ken Astin Music [Blackpool]
– Kitchens Music [Leeds]
– Klef Music [Norwich]
– London Rock Shop
– Macaris
– Mad Monks Music [Kendal]
– Mamelok’s Music [Manchester]
– Mansons Guitar Shop [Exceter]
– Mayer Harrison [Manchester]
– McCormack Music [Glasgow]
– Mike Edwardes Woodwind [London]
– Millennium Music [Cheltenham]
– Monkey Business Music
– Muir Music [Manchester]
– Music Exchange [Stockport]
– Music Ground [Doncaster, London, Leeds]
– Music Unlimited [Exeter]
– Musical Instrument Exchange [Lancaster]
– Musical Exchanges
– Musicroom [Edinburgh, Exeter, Lincoln, Salisbury, Stratford and York]
– Nevada Music
– Nield and Hardy [Stockport]
– One Stop
– Palm Audio
– PMT [16 locations at one point]
– Prince Music [Oldham]
– Production Rooms [Leeds]
– Raymond Wallbank Music [Lytham St Annes]
– Red Dog Music
– Reno’s Music [Manchester]
– Reverb
– Reynolds [Manchester]
– Rhodes
– Rhythm House [Stockport]
– Rock City
– Rock Island [Oldham]
– Rock Stop
– Rushworths
– Scheerers Music [Leeds]
– Session
– Sheehan’s Music [Leicester]
– Shorrock and Shorrock [Rochdale]
– Sound Control [[26 locations at one point]
– Sound of Music [Kendal]
– Soundhouse [Cheltenham]
– Soundland [Manchester]
– Sounds Acoustic [Manchester]
– Sounds Live
– South Eastern Entertainment
– Spectre Sound [Bingley]
– Spectrum Sound [Bury]
– Supatone Music [Norwich]
– St George’s Music [Norwich]
– Stan Milston Music [Lancaster]
– Stock and Chapman [Manchester]
– Strung Out Guitars [Glasgow]
– Swanns [Manchester]
– Thatched Cottage!
– The Monkey House Music Shop [Manchester]
– The Music Hut [North Walsham]
– The Acoustic Music Co [Brighton]
– The Tone Station [Plymouth]
– The Wee Guitar Company [Glasgow]
– Tim Gentle Music [Kendal]
– Tony Savile [Manchester]
– Tone World [Manchester]
– Tower Music [Blackpool]
– Tractor Sound [Rochdale]
– Twangs [Rochdale]
– Turnkey [London]
– TWGC [Glasgow]
– Williams Music [Chain of shops in the North East]
– Woods Music
– Woodruffs Music [Birmingham]
– Yardley’s Music [Birmingham]