The internet takes another victim...my mother

[D-Rod]

My mother is having to close her polka record store. Because of it's uniqueness it made big news. It was a major article in the business section of the paper in the linked Associated Press story, it was on 2 local TV stations and one TV station in Central New York and she even got a call from Washington, DC and was interviewed for an hour by NPR. It turned into about a 3 minute spot.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story...d=11366586


http://www.buffalonews.com/145/story/106149.html?imw=Y

Ruda’s Records is closing after 57 years of business

Don Ruda opened the store in 1950 to share his love of music with others

By Christopher Michel
Updated: 06/25/07 7:16 AM

Ruda’s Records isn’t just another record store. It’s a place where the latest polka record can be bought and Polish heritage is celebrated.

But after 57 years of business, Ruda’s Records will close its doors on Saturday.

Opened in 1950, by Don and Virginia Ruda, Ruda’s Records became a Buffalo mainstay. Don Ruda opened the store not only to sell records, but to share his love of music with others.

“My husband loved polka music and loved promoting it. He was the kind of guy who could play almost any tune on the accordion by ear. One of the reasons he opened the store in 1950 was so he could teach others how to play musical instruments,” Virginia Ruda said.

Over the years, Ruda’s Records had several locations in the heart of the Polonia district of Buffalo. Its most popular location was on Broadway.

“During our time at our Broadway store, we had a large variety of records available. My husband always handled the polka music and I always handled the rock ’n’ roll.We always had the Billboard Top 40 records available,” Ruda said.

In 1993, the Rudas decided to downsize and focus on only selling Polish items, moving from Broadway to William Street in Cheektowaga.

Despite years of declining business, the decision to close was not easy for Ruda.

“People aren’t coming in anymore. With computers, now more people are buying their music off the Internet or burning each other’s music. Business at my store has been going down because of that,” Ruda said.

Even polka musicians are feeling the pinch from music sharing. Some polka bands that would sell thousands of CDs are now selling only a third of what the once did, Ruda said.

All music genres are being affected.........

.....The store welcomed many legends of polka music, like Frankie Yankovic and Li’l Wally Jagiello.

For Sturr, winner of 16 Grammy Awards and known as “The Polka King,” Ruda’s Records will always hold a place in his heart.

“I am disappointed the store is closing. For us in the polka music business, it’s a historical place,” said Sturr. “Many polka musicians would drive from all over to have their records sold at the store. They sold my records when I was getting my start 30 years ago.”

[sscutchen]

I heard the interview on NPR!

[mattkime]

clearly polka music is a casualty of the internet - its as culturally relevant as it was when the store first opened.

[cbelt3]

mttk- There is still a strong subculture that enjoys polka music. Look to my area, with the Polka Hall of Fame, and tons and tons of little old Eastern European / North European ethnic enclaves.

However......

I look to my Aunt's experience, where her Berkely CA based business started by local artisans was completely destroyed by illegal Chinese knock-offs of their art pottery pieces. They went out of business three years ago, despite 'protection' from the US copyright laws.

[pinkoos]

I heard the story on NPR as well.

[JoeH]

[quote cbelt3]mttk- There is still a strong subculture that enjoys polka music. Look to my area, with the Polka Hall of Fame, and tons and tons of little old Eastern European / North European ethnic enclaves.

However......

I look to my Aunt's experience, where her Berkely CA based business started by local artisans was completely destroyed by illegal Chinese knock-offs of their art pottery pieces. They went out of business three years ago, despite 'protection' from the US copyright laws.
I live in Western Mass where there is a big Polish American community. Polka was a big thing still up until the '90's in this area. But as the older generation is dieing off, the youngest are not taking it up in numbers to replace them. Barring a revival of interest in polka music, I don't see it surviving in this area as any economic passtime beyond the hobby level in another decade.

[Jp!]

[quote mattkime]clearly polka music is a casualty of the internet - its as culturally relevant as it was when the store first opened.
I partially agree with this sarcastic thought.

But, I also tire of people blaming:
Internet (in general)
eBay
Craigslist
talk radio
government
SUVs

ad infinitum

It's all PEOPLE, regardless of how you package it.

[OWC Jamie]

Shirley you could find a way to blame Wal-Mart.


(isn't the store full of yellow polka dots ?)

[michaelb]

It was a good and interesting piece on NPR and I liked your mother's stories about the kinds of questions that people would call her and ask.

I am not at all an expert in the music industry and economy and would never listen to or buy polka myself, but I could see the "internet" as being good for obscure music like Polka. I wouldn't have access to that music if I was forced to shop in local stores. The cost of production and distribution of music online has to be so much cheaper and simpler then pressing vinyl or a CD. 20 years from now I can see subgenres like Polka still flourishing on the web.

[Bixby]

What stopped her from expanding her brick and mortar shop to the internet? It could have become *the* place to find polka and polish stuff online.