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VARIOUS RECORDS:
THE VINYL IN AUCTIONS!
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With the dematerialization of music, the vinyl format looks set to become a piece of art with the inevitable speculations that come with. IDMW correspondant in Japan, Yuu Oz introduces us with Various Records, a shop offering a new approach exclusively geared towards auctions…
Let's start with a few words as an introduction to who you are...
Well, I'm Maq, working for Various Records. Various Records is a department of Insense Music Works Inc. Such as record label Common Ground Recordings that DJ Ichiro presides. We set up auctions with starting prices fixed at 300 Yens which are about US $ 2.80 or € 1.80 that every bidder can reasonably deal with.
Why such a name?
We sell so many kinds of music within the so called dance music category that we felt it was hard to come with a generic name…
So what kind of records and services can we find at Various Records then?
Knowing how many people come up with high starting costs, we’ve decided to come the opposite way as earlier said. We want our customer to fully enjoy the pleasure of bidding and if no one seeks the same record than you, then fine, it’s your lucky day.
We also add audio clip to all our references on sale. So that customers can meet records that they seek without knowing their exact details, and that's also a good opportunity for them to discover some unknown tunes.
How do you get your records?
Our overseas staff has a look at records and sends them a few times in a year + we have popular DJ’s as customers, so we always show rich content.
The reasons why you sell on auctions?
We want to offer the pleasure of putting hard to find records to the disposal of everybody all over the country. The market price is most likely shown when checkin’ the sites of the specialized record shops, so no need to say how customers are rarely offered records at reasonable prices. In addition to this let’s point out the fact that less and less people come to record shops, which makes the auctionning process pretty much suitable as far as we’re concerned…
What are the delightful and, as a reverse, the difficult aspects of running a business like yours?
Definitely positive is the fact that we can be aware of people’s expectations while havin’ a look at their watch list, so that we can compile records which will supposedly reach their expectations and select the right audio clips.
On the other hand, a week before an auction ends, the way it happens on yahoo.jp may sometimes seems long, added to the fact that we’re starting at a low cost basis. So no need to say how those who do not check regularly their search list may remain unsuccessful on their will to pick up a record they’ve been seeking for a long time.
Both disco (especially the Loft’s) and house (more likely the Chicago early days) are the subjects of heavy battles between bidders, reachin’ sometimes an unsuspected price. One specific reason?
I’d say it’s pretty much what happened recently regarding the Italo disco. These records are hard to find, but also let’s not forget how many people – mainly the younger generations – come to discover them nowadays and think like they gotta have them. Nothing exceptional in regards to this though. It also means that there’s a continuous movement with DJ’s such as David Mancuso and Larry Levan recognized as real prespcriptors along the years.
We appreciate the fact that a lot of people are influenced by a whole array of different kinds of music, although remaining firmly linked with yesterday’s classics.
What remains the big attraction of vinyl?
No doubt the sound quality, although things have slightly changed recently. But also the jackets resulting in more comfort for the customers due to their bigger size as compared to CD’s
How do you see its future?
I guess we all know about the score… I mean with all those digital releases made available before the vinyl, it looks like the latest is on an ending process. And it’s just one of the numerous reasons, in addition to the fact that digital sound is far much better than it was, not to mention the convenience in terms of weight and the list goes on…
Our company has recently invited Victor Rosado. He’s among those who’ve transfered their music data basis to digital at an early stage – almost 10 years ago – during a period where it was quite rare to see DJ’s playing CD’s. Most likely because they hated that format. 10 years later, we’re at the opposite. Funny then to see how how this man who’d been brought up with vinyls had such a visionary perception back then.
Your view of the laptop DJ trend…
Nothing but the adaptation to the current times, following the one that saw DJ’s coming from vinyls to CD’s although I hardly see myself DJing with a PC because PC doesn’t have existence there as an object. This said, I’m pretty sure that the situation will soon evolve.
Future prospects?
We have a plan to sell not only vinyls, but also DJ equipment, accessories, T-shirts, CD’s and DVD’s. Actually, we’ve recently started the 300 Yen immediate payment process and we fell proud havin’ many of our customers satisfied with this.
[Various Records Yahoo! Auction Store]
[Common Ground Recordings]
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