By Michael Swanger scenescribe@mchsi.com
Officials at iTunes announced that the company is expanding its business model
to include a chain of stores, the first of which will open Friday, April 1
at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines next to the Dry-Shave kiosk. "Brick-and-mortar
retail has always been in the back of the minds of the company's founders," said
spokesperson Iben Gawn. "We wanted to provide music lovers with the convenience
to visit one of our stores to purchase music that is still available on what
people used to call 'compact discs.' " In addition to selling music, the
store will offer blacklight posters of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, incense
and record-cleaning supplies.
Social Network, Des Moines' online-only, indie-rock band, is using Facebook
as its sole outlet for performance and promotion. Since forming three weeks
ago, the quintet of college students/music fans has recorded and released
a series of singles in their dorm rooms using keyboards, a MacBook Pro and
GarageBand software; shared their extensive likes and dislikes of movies,
music and TV; and earned more than 1,787 select "friends" in the
process. In a statement posted on their Facebook wall, the band said, "We
like social networking because it allows us to interact with our fans without
having to see, hear or smell them."
Borders Group Inc., the second biggest U.S. bookstore chain that recently
filed for bankruptcy and is closing approximately 275 stores nationwide,
including one in West Des Moines, has reached an agreement with local, independent
record store Zzz Records to provide its music titles until it closes in May. "In
the past, Borders has focused on artists like James Blunt and Taylor Swift
to draw patrons. However, partly out of desperation, they have asked Zzz
to restock their entire inventory," said Nate Niceswanger, owner of
Zzz Records. Last week, Borders sold 193 copies of the latest Black Market
Fetus CD. Other bestsellers include the Johnny Reeferseed & the High
Rollers 7" box set and a cassette single by the areas best named-band
- Rhonda is a Dead Bitch.
Last month, the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition hosted its second annual "Backstage
Ball" fund-raiser where fans could schmooze with "local music legends" Don
and Madelyn Schoen, Fred and Charlotte Hubbell and Harry and Pamela Bass-Bookey
at a cost of $50 to $1,000 per ticket. However, for fans who couldn't afford
tickets to the event, yet are clamoring to meet old, rich, white, non-performers,
the DMMC will host a "Local Music Legends" autograph session from
4 to 4:13 p.m. at a free stage during the first day of the 80/35 festival.
Vouchers for an autograph cost $30 and are not tax deductible. Formal attire
is required.
Iowa State Fair officials announced last week that country singer Ronnie
Dunn will perform at the Grandstand on Aug. 18 ($35). Next week, Fair officials
are expected to unveil the lineup for a new, free-music stage to be located
inside the cattle barn that includes performances by Kajagoogoo, Warrant,
311, Kriss Kross, Dido and Big & Rich. APRIL FOOLS
FRONT ROW PHOTOS
| Brantallica at Beaverdale Estates | The Cownie Crows at Whitewater University |
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| Nancy and the Dropouts at Fleur Lanes | Marilyn Murphy at The Weather Beacon |
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| Bushels of Narcissism at Skate North APRIL FOOLS | |
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