Mom and Pop Record Stores Enter Digital Revolution

In times of rapid change it is often small businesses that find ways to adapt. My partner used to say we were little mammals dancing under the feet of dinosaurs when we were doing this in health care.
This time it is small Mom and Pop record stores. Red Herring reports that they may be part of a major development in the digital revolution in music.

The music industry on Monday signaled its intention to move past its pricing impasse with Apple’s iTunes as Warner Music Group announced that it has made a deal with three retail groups to challenge the computer company’s position as the digital music retail market leader.
Warner Music, the bellwether of the music industry, said its retail marketing company WEA is working with the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), the Association of Independent Media Stores (AIMS), and the Music Monitor Network (MMN) to bring independent, brick-and-mortar retailers into the digital age.

These stores were already considered road kill on the information super highway by many in the industry. But they will now have the chance to play a role in the new age of music distribution.

WEA will offer the retail stores digital bundles, which will include additional content such as videos, bonus tracks, and interactive digital booklets. The company will also offer downloads of in-store performances, downloads from local artists, and coupon-based download promotions.