And another one bites the dust…
The news from music retailers just gets grimmer by the day. Facing year-over-year declines in sales of recorded music, resellers large and small face tremendous pressures remaining viable.
Now comes news of another company shuttering in the bluegrass world. After 25 years as a specialty mail order and online bluegrass record store, Music Shed has announced that they will shut down on December 21.
The company was started by Tom Riggs in 1986, who also founded Pinecastle Records in 1989. Riggs has a long history of support for bluegrass music starting with his time in the Orlando, FL area. Both companies launched in Florida before Riggs moved them both to Polk County, NC in 2004.
The label was closed suddenly in February 2010 when Riggs’ health made it impossible to continue its operation. They reopened under new ownership as Pinecastle Music in August of last year.
Music Shed has been managed by Tom’s son, Cort Riggs, for some time. When the family closed Pinecastle last year, all indications were that the retail business would continue on, as it has without interruption.
A message on their toll free order line now says that no new orders will be accepted, and that all backorders are being cancelled. Any deposits or monies on account will be mailed to customers.
Cort tells us that the Shed may continue on with new owners, and that he expects to remain a fixture at shows and festivals in bluegrass country.
“While we are sad to see this chapter of our life close, Miss Janet and I are excited about our upcoming adventures outside of the music business.
We are negotiating to sell our inventory and mailing list and wish the new owners continued success!
We would like to thank all of our customers for 25 great years and hope to catch up with our many friends at shows and festivals in the near future!”
A clearance sale at their physical location in Columbus, NC is in effect until 12/21.
