Music Nov 11, 2020
Change of tune: Japan's music fans move from CDs to streaming services
by Ritsuko Ando
The decline in CD sales signals the streaming market’s growth potential.
Music | Sound Off Mar 21, 2019
Tower Records goes all in on the vinyl trend with its new store, Tower Vinyl
by Patrick St. Michel
Last year proved to be a pivotal one for streaming music in Japan. According to a report by the Recording Industry Association of Japan, 2018 saw plays via platforms such as YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify overtake digital downloads. This would be a great piece ...
Olympics Aug 26, 2017
New honor for Olympic legend Mills
by Ed Odeven
Legendary distance runner Billy Mills, whose performance at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics catapulted him to global fame, is receiving a special honor close to home. Mills, who captured the gold with an amazing finish in the men's 10,000 meters in Tokyo, is among a quartet ...
Music | STRANGE BOUTIQUE Apr 29, 2014
Music curators deserve credit for keeping local scenes alive
by Ian Martin
The term "cultural curator" is one that tends to provoke reactions ranging from sneers to rage. It really is a horrible term in some ways, with problematic embedded associations. A curator is a person we associate with the world of art galleries and museums, and ...
Music | MONEY AND MUSIC Sep 11, 2013
Tower Japan boss says biggest challenge facing record stores is attracting young customers
by Steve McClure
A few weeks ago I was preparing to do a guest slot on InterFM’s “The Selector” program, which features music mavens sharing their favorite tracks. While I had a few tunes from the not-so-recent past in mind, I needed some newer stuff to round out ...
Business / Corporate Jun 22, 2013
Tower Records defiant in face of CD slump
by Jun Hongo
Declining sales of CDs over the past decade may indicate a grim future for music shops, but Ikuo Minewaki believes there is still a place for brick and mortar retail outlets. "CDs are no longer items that you can leave on the store shelf and ...
Business Jan 23, 2013
Concierge-style customer service experts work shop floors
by Asako Sawanishi
As competition to attract customers grows fierce among retailers, some have begun hiring a new breed of customer-service experts — consumer “concierges.”