Borders and Hell

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 3:00pm

So, I'm sitting in Borders reading a book, and, as usual- they are playing this really awful music (which is very distracting if you're trying to concentrate on a book)...and then it got quiet for a moment, and suddenly all you could hear (loudly, I might add) was "Swing your razor high, Sweeney, Hold it to the skies..."...what WIERD music to play in a book store. And, mind you, I'm not knocking Sweeney Todd - I love the show, even been in a wonderful production - but I just found it strangely unsettling.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 3:04pm

I loved Borders before, but now I love them even more! Was it the OCR or revival recording?

[Pippin]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 3:06pm

"Was it the OCR or revival recording?"


only on a broadway message board!!!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 3:06pm

I think it was the current revival - I only listened for a moment before tuning it out - I had to leave anyway and couldn't concentrate.

[RobbO]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 3:08pm

did you at least buy the book?

[erikaamato]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 3:08pm

Well, Borders does sell music, so I'm betting they were promoting the new revival recording. =)

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 3:09pm

I've been growing more and more disappointed in Borders. It seems as though their selection of books is limited and their choice of items in cast albums and classical music is really pathetic--at least in the Borders in Sayville, Long Island. Even their cafe doesn't seem to be as good as it used to be. What's going on?

I find myself ordering more from Amazon.Com these days.

[knows_too_much]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 3:14pm

What a strange song choice. I wonder what people thought who don't know the song in context? I'd imagine it would be a bit disconcerting to just here a song about killing people.

Posted: 4/13/06 at 3:17pm

It's funny, I work at Waldenbooks (which is owned by Borders). We used to play music at our store, but then the manager told us we could no longer play any. (People brought in their CD's etc). The reason given was that we were infringing on copyright by playing the CD's. So I wonder how other stores and such can play music like that and NOT be guilty of the same thing. Do they get clearances, licenses, permits, etc to play that stuff? I never really thought about it before (and obviously have WAY too much time on my hands) :)

[Pippin]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 3:26pm

dollypop- it is the same way here in Philly. the selection used to be so great, but has really gone downhill over the last few years. very dissapointed.

[Magdalene]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 3:27pm

I believe that they get clearances to play the stuff...Of course, being a music store as well, they get promos to play...

Posted: 4/13/06 at 3:50pm

Most stores, coffeehouses, etc. have to get clearance to play CDs or the radio in store. That is why Muzak exisits-- they pay royalties and obtain clearances for you. If you are playing CDs to promote them or to sell them (as in a record store) that is a special circumstance and you do not have to pay royalties.

Most Chains (Borders) program their in store play pretty tightly. Borders used to have a program record labels could buy into to get their cd played every day, for example. Some chains even produce CDs compiling some music and that is ALL that can be played in store-- or those CDs must be played a certain portion of the day.

[Holly Therese]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 3:59pm

Kind off topic but I heard Sweeney on my college radio station the other day and they never play broadway around here.

Posted: 4/13/06 at 4:09pm

I'm a Barnes and Noble fan. When I lived in Texas, I used to shop at Waldenbooks or Hastings, but I don't think either store played Sweeny Todd.

The market I go to plays some really weird stuff.. it's either Kelly Clarkson, or Disney. Last night they were playing "Davey Crocket".

[DG]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 4:13pm

Doesn't anybody else patronize independents?

The biggest thing I miss about Denver is The Tattered Cover - which is a REAL bookstore.

[NCGuy]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 4:24pm

Doesn't anybody else patronize independents?

The only independent bookstores we have left in my town are used book stores. When I moved here in the early nineties, there were several general independents (along with a few specialty bookstores), but Borders, Barnes & Noble, the Internet, and a lack of customer loyalty drove them all out of business.
Updated On: 4/13/06 at 04:24 PM

[DG]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 4:25pm

NC - wow, that's really sad - for many reasons.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 4:28pm

"The biggest thing I miss about Denver is The Tattered Cover - which is a REAL bookstore."

Preach, DG, preach. Nothing says "heaven" like a multi-level bookstore.

[NCGuy]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 4:29pm

DG, it’s really disheartening because I live in a college town (we have five schools here); what college town doesn’t have an independent bookstore?

Luckily we still have a few independent music stores left (who knows for how long, though?).

Anyway, sorry for the threadjack, redhotinny.

[DG]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 4:30pm

Rose - I seriously spent MANY full days and into the night in that place! They've got the cafe' right there for light refreshment - little nooks and crannies all over the place to snuggle into - and that fabulous resaurant on top that turns into the jazz club on Monday nights. I asked once if I could just live there, but they said no. Meanies.

Posted: 4/13/06 at 4:31pm

Doesn't most colleges have their own (over priced) bookstores?

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 4:32pm

DG - You beat me to it! Great minds baby - that's all I have to say. Here in SF we are big on independant shops, and thankfully there are many. Aside from ease of selection - I don't know why most people go to the chains.

I worked for Barnes and Noble several years ago and I never shop at them any longer. The thing with the music for them though is that they have purchased music to play on a monthly basis. The tapes that they play are shipped every month to the stores, usually two or three a month, the music is paid for by corporate and the rights to play them are granted for a certain period of time. When the play time is over - the manager is to destroy the tapes when the new ones arrive.

[singingwendy]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 4:36pm

I hate to say it, but the independant stores in my area are so small that they dont' stock much except classics and best sellers. My local Borders has a much better selection. Their CD selection isn't too bad, but only if you're looking for "standards" or "new releases", for more exotic things you need to go to Amazon.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 4:45pm

DG, I could spend all day and night there. Le sigh...

[justme2]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 4:48pm

If I understand redhot's original post....you are sitting in a public bookstore, trying to concentrate on a book and you were distracted by the CD playing in the background...and that annoyed you. Is my assumption correct?

If so....

This will probably be an unpopular opinion (again), but libraries exist for people to read books in. Bookstores exist for people to purchase books in, then leave, then read the books elsewhere. I hope it was a book you had at least bought from Borders.

I'm sorry I can't sympathize with your Borders CD selection vs concentration on reading issue, as I am always annoyed at people hanging out in the aisles of Borders (not the cafe area, mind you), reading the brand new books (and magazines) that are there for sale to customers, then replacing them on the shelves and going on their merry way. Leaving a now used book for sale at full price.