The number of independent record shops in the UK has fallen from around 2,000 a decade ago to 300 today. However, vinyl sales rose by 40% last year (Beady Eye had the most selling vinyl singles) and are at their highest level since 2005, according to official figures.
Pretty Green, which was founded by Mr Gallagher in 2009, will sell a range of classic albums – from Exile on Main Street by The Rolling Stones to The Seldom Seen Kid by Elbow – from 10 of its shops for a limited period from the end of this month.
Customers will be able to buy the albums by browsing record sleeves on display in Pretty Green’s shop windows and then ordering them via a mobile telephone app. The records will then be delivered to the customer by post.
Brian Rose, the managing director of Universal Music UK’s commercial division, which is behind the venture, said: “We are seeing continued passion as well as new enthusiasm for vinyl through our online store Uvinyl and the great support the format gets from those indie music shops which are still flourishing.
“But by harnessing the latest technology we hope this partnership with Pretty Green will lead to much wider opportunities for selling music on the high street.”
Nigel Grant, Pretty Green’s brand director, said that selling records complements the clothing company’s brand and ideals.
The app, called Simply Tap, has been developed by technology company Mobile Money Network.
John Milliken, the company’s managing director, said: “Our instant mobile checkout allows shoppers to buy what they want, when they want it. People walking past the Pretty Green store window will be able to instantly buy vinyl records 24 hours a day, seven days a week and have them delivered to their preferred address.”
He said that the Pretty Green shops are “the first in a series of ways” that Mobile Money Network is planning to help Universal Music to sell music.
The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street, Let it Bleed, Beggars Banquet
The Who - Who's Next, Quadrophenia
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Paul Weller - Sonik Kicks
The Jam - All Mod Cons
The Cure - Disintegration
Ian Brown - The Greatest
Paul McCartney - McCartney, McCartney II
(use Google Chrome as browser, so you don't have to leave the page)
The beat goes on
at a certain point: one of my Beatles posters made with thousands of photos & flowers













