NYC's J&R Music World's expanding classical department

[Febnyc]

The sprawling empire of J&R Music World in downtown Manhattan, at one time in the late 1970s and through the 80s, had a separate three-story building devoted to classical recordings. First LPs and then, of course, CDs. J&R's prices were the best in town and just about anything could be found.

For the past number of years, however, the classical department has been shrinking - until it occupied about 500-750 square feet, perhaps, in the back of a floor full of pop and rock discs.

Now, J&R is expanding their classical inventory. On a visit yesterday I discovered that they've about tripled the area with a concomitant increase in stock. One of the long-tenured J&R denizens told me that, with the passing of Tower and others, J&R is the only survivor and they are hoping to capitalize on their unique situation. There are all the eclectic labels and composers which are hard to find in the flesh, so to speak. I was pleased at the breadth of the selection.

Anyway, for New Yorkers and visitors to the Big Apple, this is welcome news. J&R is back in the classical business, apparently full speed ahead.

[Gurn Blanston]

They do mail order too, don't they Frank? I was last in New York in 1968 to catch a Yankee game and get my car towed...

Great to hear that a classical department somewhere is expanding.



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Now playing: Neue Hofkapelle München / Hammer - Wendling Concerto in G for Flute WoO 1st mvmt

[Febnyc]

Gurn: Indeed, they do. I hit on a sale last week and bought a few $17.00 discs for $10.99 each. It's worthwhile to register at their site and receive email notices of the sales. J&R's online service is quite good, also.

And, yes, it sure is nice to see a flourishing classical CD store - a real store, that is.

PS - come back to NYC - you're due a trip after 40 years - and I promise to find a safe parking spot for your car.

[Gurn Blanston]

Gurn: Indeed, they do. I hit on a sale last week and bought a few $17.00 discs for $10.99 each. It's worthwhile to register at their site and receive email notices of the sales. J&R's online service is quite good, also.

And, yes, it sure is nice to see a flourishing classical CD store - a real store, that is.

PS - come back to NYC - you're due a trip after 40 years - and I promise to find a safe parking spot for your car.

That sounds like a plan (both, actually). I'll check out their website. I love sales!

And if the opportunity arises to visit NYC (I have lots of friends there I'd like to see), I'll drop you a line and you can direct me to a safe parking haven and we'll have lunch.



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Now playing: New York Philomusica - K 251 Divertimento #11 in D 5th mvmt - Menuetto - Tema con variazioni

[Febnyc]

Consider it a date!

[Ken]

I love J&R when I'm visiting New York City, but I'm disappointed that they won't ship to Canada. At any rate, I'm glad to hear that they're doing well and expanding their storefront.

[Febnyc]

I love J&R when I'm visiting New York City, but I'm disappointed that they won't ship to Canada. At any rate, I'm glad to hear that they're doing well and expanding their storefront.

Ken:

It appears that J&R does ship to Canada, or am I mistaken?

Here is a quote from their website info page:

Shipping Options and Policies

Areas We Ship To
At the present time, we only ship to the Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, Puerto Rico, and Canada. J&R proudly ships to our Armed Forces APO/FPO customers.

[Ralph]

Interestingly, B&N at Lincoln Center is expanding its classical department too and construction was moving forward last week with a target date of next week for completion.

Frank: I'd love to meet you at J&R. Dim sum is right down the street!!

[Modernistfan]

It is interesting that all of these brick-and-mortar stores are expanding their classical departments, and quickly. The same thing is happening in Boston where Newbury Comics drastically expanded their classical section in both their Newbury Street store in Back Bay, Boston, and also, apparently to what I have heard, in the Natick store in the suburbs. What is happening is that these stores, which, at least for J&R and Newbury Comics, are not huge chains, Maybe these stores are seeing what many classical managers at Tower were telling me before that chain closed--that classical sales were not only holding up, but increasing at the same time pop sales were tanking big-time.

[Chalkperson]

I think a major point is that the younger generation is downloading en masse, and that those of us who buy Classical Music still buy CD's mainly because we are not i-Pod users 24/7 and also because we need those informative booklets and absolutely require Libretto's in our Opera purchases...I live across the street from J+R and there are a huge number of Classical CD's released each week, we are almost spoiled for choice...

[arglebargle]

Dare one give voice to the thought... perhaps there is some element of musical maturation occurring with some (few) of the young'ins starting to move from pop to classical? It wouldn't take much to make a difference. Would a 0.1% shift from the pop market result in a 100% increase in the classical market?

[Modernistfan]

I think a significant number of younger people, maybe now in their 30s or so, are shifting over. The pop universe has become more and more banal and commercial. There are a few bands with something to say, such as U2, but those are few and far between. By that time, they can resist peer pressure a little better and are not so afraid of being tagged as "uncool," the kiss of death for the younger crowd.

If the major labels just did a bit of marketing and promotion, the sales in the United States would increase sharply. Unfortunately, the majors are still hypnotized by their mantras of "CDs are dead" and "classical music is uncool" to actually look at the sales figures.

There is something out of whack when the biggest stars in the pop world are still probably the Rolling Stones, fronted by a 62-year-old Mick Jagger, while the Los Angeles Philharmonic announces a 26-year-old music director in Gustavo Dudamel, and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in England also announces a new music director of the same age, Arvid Nelsons. Which musical form is stale and dying??

[Leo Bloom]

Yes it does and it was moving that way even before Tower's untimely and sad demise. It was expanded from one room in 2002 to 3 large rooms in the last 6 months. It has a fabulous stock and exremely knowledgeable personal. The prices maybe be best in the nation and there is always a label on sale there.It is certainly worth going to the store or looking at their website.

[Chalkperson]

Yes it does and it was moving that way even before Tower's untimely and sad demise. It was expanded from one room in 2002 to 3 large rooms in the last 6 months. It has a fabulous stock and exremely knowledgeable personal. The prices maybe be best in the nation and there is always a label on sale there.It is certainly worth going to the store or looking at their website.

Hey Leo, you took the words right out of my mouth..I love J+R...

[maskedman]

Welcome to our future.....