July 21, 2025 • 48 mins
Behind every thriving cultural institution lies a story of passion, resilience, and community. For Paige Brodsky, now marking 36 years at Streetlight Records, that story unfolds through decades of music industry transformation that would have shuttered lesser establishments.
"We're the cockroaches of the business world," Brodsky explains with a smile, describing the remarkable adaptability that has kept independent record stores alive through seismic technological shifts. From vinyl's dominance to cassettes, CDs, digital downloads, and streaming, Streetlight Records—now celebrating its 50th anniversary—has transformed each potential threat into an opportunity for connection.
What emerges from Brodsky's journey is a profound lesson in creating community through shared passion. When young fans gather for pre-release listening parties, strangers become friends through their love of an artist. When customers browse vinyl records—some without even owning turntables—they're participating in a multisensory ritual that digital platforms simply cannot replicate. The colored vinyl, gatefold artwork, and warm analog sound represent more than nostalgia; they're artifacts that connect people across generations.
Perhaps most remarkable is Streetlight's ability to respond to its specific communities, with distinct musical preferences between their San Jose and Santa Cruz locations. This local connection, combined with the national network of independent record store owners sharing strategies and support, creates a resilience that corporate chains never achieved.
Join us at Streetlight Records' 50th anniversary celebration on Saturday, July 26th at both locations, featuring DJs, giveaways, and a special book signing of "South Bay Flashback" about San Jose's psychedelic underground. Whether you're a vinyl aficionado or simply curious about how some businesses stay vibrant for half a century, you'll discover how passion makes work feel like anything but.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hello everyone and welcome to NorCal Narratives on
KPCR 92.9 FM from Los Gatos andKMRT 101.9 FM out of Santa Cruz.
Today we're going to spotlightvoices from across Northern
California who are rethinkingwork, art, learning and
(00:23):
community.
I think about all four of thosethings.
I am excited to be in thestudio with someone who's been
at the heart of what I thinkreally is an enduring cultural
institution for more than threedecades.
Paige Brodsky from StreetlightRecords has helped shape the
cultural life of this regionthrough music, connection and a
(00:45):
love of all things, vinyl.
Paige, I couldn't be moreexcited to welcome you to this
show.
Welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I'm thrilled to be here 30 years at a record store
and we're going to talk aboutthat in multiple ways.
It's just.
I think about my memories as achild and going to record stores
as a teenager and thinking itwas very cool to live our lives
through those artists.
When you were little, you musthave developed some sense of
(01:15):
enjoying.
Controlling the music, spinningthe music yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
What's your?
Speaker 1 (01:20):
early memories of spinning vinyl.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I very earliest memory was when I was in junior
high.
A friend of ours was movingaway and we decided to have a
little going away party for himand we bought him some 45s from
the record store.
What a nice gift that was, Iremember one of them was England
(01:45):
Dan, and John Ford Coley WillNever have to Say Goodbye Again,
which was an ironic gift.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
But it wasn't an intentional gift it was.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
That's the only one I can remember by name, but there
were probably like four or five.
Four or five differentseven-inch singles that we gave
our friend and we had a littleparty.
How thoughtful.
And then I remember for myeighth grade graduation from
(02:14):
junior high, I had a requestlist for some LPs that I wanted
for graduation from my, I think,my grandparents and my parents,
and I think there were like sixalbums on that list.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
So I remember you wanted the gift of music, I
wanted the gift of music and youhad given the gift of music.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yes, yes, but even before that I remember begging
my mom to order the Monkeescompilation off the TV from an
ad.
I loved watching the Monkeesevery day when I came home from
school and I still love theMonkees every day when I came
home from school and I stillloved the Monkees.
And I landed myself with apartner who also loves the
(02:53):
Monkees and is a musician so hecan play the Monkees.
I love it.
But, yes, records, even from anearly age, just had a really
important place in my life.
Music is universal Math andmusic the universal languages.
Oh, and it is yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
I won't go there with you, but I think we understand
that it's the only thing.
Perfect Math is perfect.
Yeah, if you can go with thatRight.
And music is born of math.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Exactly, and.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
I took nine difficult years of piano lessons.
I took nine years of piano.
I love it.
I love it.
Yeah, so we understand.
It is a language.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yes, it's math and it's a language and I don't play
anymore.
I am really happy that I knowhow to read music.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I think in fact, my initial memory with music was my
cousin Lisa had a little likeBarbie.
It was just a square bop,probably 14, 15 inches by 14, 15
inches, maybe 6 inches tall,but that was a record player,
yes, and we would sit in herroom and we would play Sean
Cassidy and what's the thing.
And she got the satin jacketfor Christmas and I didn't, oh,
(04:04):
but that's okay, my parents gotme that.
Same year was probably the yearthat I got a cassette tape
recorder.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
And I would record.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
So that's the beginning of this right.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Which is probably life changing.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Yes, I hated my voice so I wouldn't use.
For many years I wouldn't usemy voice publicly because I
didn't like and I haven't reallymet anybody who likes the sound
of their own voice.
No, I wouldn't use my voicepublicly because I didn't like
and I haven't really met anybodywho likes the sound of their
own voice?
No, I haven't either.
As a kid I didn't know that,and so records were with my
cousin Lisa that's great.
And Sean Cassidy and where I'mleading into that with your 30
(04:37):
year career, I think you'veprobably done some promotion as
well.
Yes, related to the recordstore.
Yes, so I'm curious.
Sean Cassidy is what I go backto with my childhood.
Is there anyone that you've metthrough doing productions or
promotions at the record storethat was life-changing for you?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Life-changing.
I will say that one of mycurrent musical heroes, one of
my musical heroes of all timeOne of my current musical heroes
, one of my musical heroes ofall time but he is currently
still making music is guitaristand songwriter Dave Alvin, who
was with the Blasters back inthe 80s and he does rootsy, some
countryish, some bluesish.
(05:17):
So he has a psychedelic projectnow called Third Mind and the
record company contacted us afew months ago and said the new
album's coming out soon.
They're playing at Moe's Alleyin Santa Cruz.
Do you guys want to have theband autograph copies of the
album for you to sell?
And I was like, yes, please,yes, please.
(05:38):
And I had actually met DaveAllen a couple times, but this
was great because I got to seethe soundcheck and it talked
with the to see the soundcheckand talk with the whole band and
got a picture with the band andthat's my most recent memory
and he's one of life's greattreasures.
He's just an amazing songwriterand part of what I love about
(05:58):
him is his humility and how muchrespect he has for the
musicians that came before.
Yeah, and he really goes out ofhis way to express that.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
And.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
I just love that.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
How amazing that you get to see humanity.
He's a musician and you get tosee his humanity and his grace.
You said psychedelic projects.
Now is that a new industrything?
I've never heard this Well forhim.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
It's a project in that it's not.
All of the other band membersare from different bands, so
they're not able to get togetherall the time.
So it's why they callthemselves a project, more so
than a band.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Okay, I appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
But he is known as bluesy rootsy.
And this is they cover aGrateful Dead song, but you
wouldn't know it was a GratefulDead song.
They just completely make thesedifferent arrangements and the
woman that sings with them hasthis very ethereal voice and it
(06:58):
just has just more of apsychedelic feel to it, which is
a departure.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
I love it and you've explained very well.
Psychedelic is, to it, okay,which is a departure.
So I love it and you'veexplained very well.
Psychedelic is the feel.
It's not the instrument ofcreation, because I'm sure
there's some of that happensaround the world.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
But that's true, although I will say it generally
involves an electric guitar butyes, not always.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Okay, okay, very cool , tell me the artist's name
again that you saw, at Moe'sDave Alvin.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Dave Alvin.
Okay, people will have to checkthat out.
Yeah, and the band slashproject is called Third Mind.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Third, not Third Eye Third.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Mind.
So I've got to think about that, got to think about that.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
We were talking before we started the show about
how vintage is cool and peoplecollect these things.
Even you said when they don'thave turntable, which is amazing
.
But I'm curious about yourcollection.
It must be extensive, becauseyou've had 30 years of being in
this industry.
What's the one record that youcould never, ever, give up?
(08:01):
Only one I love it, I love it,I love it, I love it.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Oh, that's hard.
I don't even know if I couldanswer that.
I'm making you choose betweenthe babies?
Yes, exactly, and it changesfrom day to day or week to week.
Yeah, and there are patternsand things that are in high
rotation on the turntable for afew weeks, and then you remember
a record that you forgot about,so I'll tell you today my
(08:31):
record of the day today.
That you could not give up, thatI yes, you would have a hard
time prying it out of my handsis a reissue that just came out
recently.
The band is called the RainParade and they were part of a
scene in Southern California inthe like mid to late 80s, early
(08:51):
90s, called the PaisleyUnderground, which involves some
roots musicians.
But this was more and I don'twant to say psychedelic, but a
little more, a little more poppythan rootsy.
And for Record Store Day Ithink it was this past year they
reissued an album of theirscalled Crashing Dream and they
(09:15):
issued it in a two LP form.
So the second LP is all bonusmaterial live material and demos
.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Oh, what an interesting kind of location.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
I love the color blue and the cover is like a.
I guess it's a picture of aswimming pool or maybe a shallow
part of an ocean.
But it's just a beautiful coverand they did a nice job with
the remastering, the reissue.
But tomorrow I would tell yousomething totally different.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Yeah, okay, and I don't know yet what it would be.
Because you truly love musictoo, I feel the need to confess
I prize silence, so I don'tconsider myself a music person.
Oh interesting.
Music has moved me at differentpoints in my life and I could
talk about being a teenager atthe Cookville Mall, at the
record store in Cookville Mall,just hanging out.
(10:08):
But as an adult, like my daddy,wanted the TV on all the time,
drove my mama nuts but I neverhad the TV on.
I don't drive with the radio on.
I need peace and quiet in thisbrain of mine and I find that to
be the case too.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Oftentimes I'll be thinking about what record I'm
going to play when.
I get home, yeah, and I'll behome and I'll be puttering
around the kitchen or livingroom and it'll be a half hour
and I'll realize, oh, youhaven't put anything on yet.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Yeah, I guess I needed the quiet.
Yes, yeah, yeah, I do love liveshows, though, and I have this
small addiction to cover bands.
I know it's cheap and cheerful,but there's something about
being able to just sing as loudas you want, because you know
every word, because you know thewords, because it's part of
your soundtrack and it hooksback into the whole nostalgia
thing, yes, we all, and I'veeven battled with this idea of
(10:59):
can you have the feeling ofnostalgia for a time that you
did not even experience becauseyou weren't alive yet?
And yes, you can, but somethingabsolutely I think that's this
whole recent craze with vintage.
Is people craving somethingthey only, I'll say,
academically know of, but theyappreciate the values that were
(11:20):
happening and, yeah, I thinkthere's a lot of truth to that.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Yeah, and part of it, I think, is imagining being
alive in that time.
That you weren't alive forBenny Goodman's concert at
Carnegie Hall in 1939 that madeall these waves.
Oh, to be in that audience longbefore I was born.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
I'm a sucker for these clips on Instagram when
they have the Kennedy Awards formusic and when you see somebody
sitting up in the balconieswearing their big medal bestowed
upon them by the president.
But you see some newer creatoron the stage delivering this
remarkable version theirsignature song, and always the
(12:03):
tears are flowing because thatwas such an impactful time in
their lives.
And now someone new is findinga different way to give voice to
that vision and keeping theirart relevant.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Yes, yeah, in the modern time.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Yeah, so you've seen decades of trends.
What?
Do you like, on the retail side, you get to not just have your
own experience with music, butyou get to be part of other
people's experience, which isthe favorite part of my job.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
I love that, and lately I would say the last year
or two record labels havestarted doing listening parties
at independent record stores, sothey're for a particular
release and it'll either be anearly listening party, so it's a
chance for the fans to come inand listen to the album before
(12:55):
it's available anywhere, beforeit's available on Spotify.
It's not streaming, yet theysend us a protected streaming
link that only we have access toand some special prizes and
free goodies and stuff like that.
But the beautiful thing aboutthat is these fans maybe some of
(13:16):
them know each other throughmeetup groups or Facebook groups
or through common things thatthey follow on Instagram, but
they haven't met in real lifeyet and a lot of them haven't
even met on the Internet, yet.
Still a community, yeah, andsometimes it's a community of
300 young women in the store whoare all there to hear the new
(13:38):
Melanie Martinez record and geta copy of, with an alternate
cover that's only available atthese parties, and to watch
these fans meet each other andmake what could end up being
lifelong friendships over analbum.
It's astonishing and it'sheartwarming, and it's one of
(14:00):
the main reasons why I still dowhat I do.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Because people are at the center.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Making music, going music, sharing music.
I love it.
What's been the difference inthe way, like compared to 30
years ago, that you see peoplediscovering music?
You were talking about themonkeys and what you referenced
was seeing them on TV.
Remember American Bandstand Ofcourse you do.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Yes, I love American Bandstand, and those aren't
avenues these days.
Soul Train that occurs.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Oh God, soul, train, train.
I hear that choo-choo sound.
I can remember running throughmy house, my train.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Soul.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Train and some of the people that will hear this are
going to have to go look up SoulTrain.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
So how do people discover music these days, which
means they have all that greatfun ahead of them.
Yes, they do that vintageawesome fun and the crazy
outfits and the crazy now, oh,and Midnight Special, which I
was not allowed to stay up towatch, but luckily they have
episodes on YouTube and I have anice DVD box set.
(15:01):
It's a nice compilation.
How did they discover it?
These days, so much of it isstreaming and also through
friends, which used to be theold fashioned way, but it was
your friend would find out aboutsomething, they'd buy the
record, go over to your friend'shouse and you'd listen to the
record, and these days a lot ofthat happens online social media
(15:22):
or chat groups, different fanbase groups that are out there,
but I still think at the heartof it, you're still finding out
about new music from people.
It could be from people.
It could be back in mychildhood.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
It was you reading the liner notes on the album and
you're seeing who the artist isgiving credit to.
Thank you to who mattered tothat person.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Yes, and then the next task was you go find a
record from that artist.
I will say I did hear.
I didn't hear the interview,but I know there was going to be
one on NPR recently of someonewho wrote a book about Spotify
and the Spotify algorithms andhow Spotify was originally
supposed to be the greatequalizer.
Yep, your music was on Spotify.
(16:10):
Anybody can find it and that'strue, wow.
But Spotify does develop theirown playlist.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
You use the word algorithms.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
We all know what that means Engineered, but it's
still.
It is still.
It's an important way thatpeople are finding out about new
music and another way that wehear from our customers is
Sirius XM Radio.
And another way that we hearfrom our customers is Sirius XM
Radio.
One of the great things aboutthat is that it shows you the
artist and the name of theartist and the name of the song,
so they have that informationwhen they come in.
(16:39):
I'm looking for such and suchan artist, the album that has
this song, Whereas in threedecades ago at the record store
somebody would have heard it onthe radio but they didn't catch
the name of the artist.
But they didn't catch the nameof the artist and they didn't
catch the name of the singer,but they'd come in and sing it
to you.
Yes, oh, now, that had to be fun, yes, but it was frustrating if
we didn't know the answer, butit was so exciting.
(17:01):
Then, 10 years ago, we hadShazam.
Remember the app Shazam, whichsome people are still using yeah
, yeah, and that's a fun gamefor some people to try and trip
up Shazam.
Somebody did it just yesterdayin the store.
They were Shazaming aninstrumental guitar piece that
was playing and Shazam didn'tknow it and they were so
disappointed.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Speaking of fun games , that's a great segue to do a
quick station identifier.
Okay, because KPCR 92.9 FM andKMRT 101.9 FM out of Santa Cruz
have been proud creators of theSignal Society, and Streetlight
is involved in that program andthis announcement that I have is
(17:42):
to thank the Santa CruzWarriors.
That's my tie-in to the game.
So the Santa Cruz Warriors arealso sponsors of the Signal
Society and KPCR Radio, so wewant to give a big shout out to
thank them.
If you're interested, membersreceive access to special ticket
promotions so you can find thaton kpcrorg and if you hit slash
(18:03):
and join, you can become partof the Signal Society.
So thank you for thatopportunity.
Circling back to radio stationsand 30 years ago, cookville
Mall and Streetlight still existtoday in multiple locations.
What do you think?
What do you think kept you guysalive?
What helped you endure?
Speaker 2 (18:24):
the move to streaming .
Speaker 1 (18:33):
So many things, and I will mention that, as a
business, we are celebrating our50th anniversary this year.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Now I knew you had been there 30 years.
I didn't think how long has thebusiness?
Been around and, interestinglyso, I've been there actually 36
years at this point, and when Ifirst started working at
Streetlight, it was two smallstores up in San Francisco.
They were neighborhood stores.
And I had just moved to SanFrancisco.
It was 1989.
And I was excited.
(18:56):
I'm like, oh, I'm good, Iapplied for a job at this.
What I saw as an institutionStreetlight's been around
forever and in retrospect I see,oh, they had been around for 14
years and now we've been aroundfor 36 more.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Yeah, and 14 years would have been forever to a 20
something year old.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Yes, and it was, yes it was yeah, there have been so
many changes.
When I first started working, Ihad one job before Streetlight
at a record store for about ayear in South Carolina at
Peaches, which was a chain inthe Southeast back then, and LPs
were the format of choice, yes,but then cassettes were
(19:34):
introduced, yeah.
So home recording became athing.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
But also the commercial cassettes.
Oh, are you going to skip the8-track?
Really, are you not going togive the 8-track?
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Well, I do love the 8-track and when I was growing
up before I had LPs my parentshad 8-track tapes and Before I
had LPs, my parents had 8-tracktapes and I still don't really
understand how they worked.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Physically, mechanically, I don't have any
idea I know, I just know thatbig cartridge played Cher
Gypsy's Trampsy.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Oh my God, I would dance around the house to that
tape.
In my house it was Carole Kingtapestry.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Oh, yes, yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Of course.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
I mean I interrupted your train of thought.
No, that's okay.
That's okay From eight track.
Give it to you to LPs you sendin cassettes.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
And then CDs were coming on the scene right around
the time that I started workingin a record store and people
were uncertain if thistechnology was going to fly.
And it did, and it flew for along time and, as a result,
record stores both chain storesand independent record stores
(20:35):
were flying high like we wereselling so many cds yeah, new
and used.
And then napster came aroundand downloaded they're back.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
I had heard of mash.
I used to have Nashville.
I'm an AI strategist and Iconsult with a lot of founders,
and so they've come into myattention lately.
The guy is a very experiencedmusic industry CEO and he's in
Nashville hiring for VPs ofproduct management and they're
under the Napster name.
I was fascinated.
(21:07):
Yeah, I went into a rat hole onit and researched for a couple
of hours, because Napster isalmost a four letter word.
It was, and musicians writeroyalties and payments, and so
it's interesting that they arecoming back with a legitimate
way to license and pay artistsand then provide music.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
I will be curious to hear more about that.
They've got a website.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
You can look it up.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
But, Napster came along and kind of really
impacted the industry in anegative way, right, the whole
peer-to-peer file sharing thinghappened.
And then Apple Music, which wasiTunes at that time, which made
the download available for sale, and the portability of it, the
ease of it.
It was very attractive topeople.
(21:52):
I had a little nano that my dadhad for christmas, yeah could
carry hundreds of songs right,that was what was that thing one
by one inch or teeny tiny yeah,yeah and oddly enough, I'm not.
I'm a little bit of a tech.
Good tech no, no tech challengeoh and sorry, I, I just expect.
No, I'm on the other end of thespectrum.
(22:13):
You're vintage, yeah, I know,but I would like to say that
it's because my heart has beenwith vinyl the whole time, which
it has been, but it's alsobecause I don't like to learn
new technologies take the timeto do so.
It's not my thing, yeah.
And all these years later itcircles back around.
And now I see iTunes, which isnow Apple Music, and streaming
(22:37):
and Spotify as avenues to learnabout music so that you can make
an informed and educateddecision about what you want to
spend your money on.
Yes, I hate it.
I hate the idea of the artistsnot making making almost no
money off of streaming, but inthe share that the artist gets
from physical products the saleof an LP or a.
(23:00):
CD is much more the way to makea living, ok, and when they sell
their own merchandise at liveshows like T-Stickers, all of
that.
But it has been interesting tosee it come back around and
there were lean years whendownloading from iTunes a big
thing like we got hit prettyhard and we had some tough times
(23:20):
.
But I would say one of thethings that helps and this is
true in any business, I'm sureis if you're an independent
business and you can be nimbleas a result it's assuming that
you're open to change, you arewilling to restructure what
you're doing, your prioritiesare and possibly even what
(23:41):
products you sell then you canmake Candles with Sean Cassidy
on the end maybe.
So here's the thing we do sellprayer candles and we do have
the ability to request anybodywe want on them.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
I do think Sean Castee is like a CPA.
I saw that five years ago.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
I saw a picture of him not that long ago, and he's
still pretty cute, isn't he?
Speaker 1 (24:05):
really cutie.
But he went on to lessmusically inclined things, I
believe.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Yes, more stable things.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
But you guys stayed around at Streetlight have
stayed around 50 years.
So you've seen all thesedifferent cycles of industry and
you said you knew how to benimble.
But I'm going to suggest thatsomehow you know how to keep
people coming to your store.
You create community.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
You create demand.
It is so about community.
It is all about community.
You create demand.
It is so about community.
It is all about community it is.
It's a safe place for people.
Yeah, you can be into whatever.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Do you guys serve coffee?
Because I've got this vision.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
I know I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
I haven't been into your store, but I've admitted.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
I'm not a music person, no, but my, and the
biggest hurdle for that ishaving to deal health
regulations and inspections.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
But I just see this, I'll say bookstore.
I see this bookstore vibe ofhaving the coffee and the
records that people can meet andI can put you in touch with
somebody that wants to do that.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
So anyway, yeah, so community is where it's at when
there's a place that you knowyou can go you can wear whatever
you want, you can be yourself,you can like whatever kind of
music you want, and you're notgoing to get judged, barry.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Manilow.
Do you have Barry Manilow?
Speaker 2 (25:23):
Yes, we do have Barry Manilow.
Oh, my goodness, one of my goodfriends just went and saw him
the other night on his finaltour.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
Oh, is he on a final tour?
He's on a final tour.
A friend of mine lives down inPalm Springs, about a mile and a
half from his compound, oh yeah, and says that occasionally
he's spotted at the grocerystore.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
And I guess he wrote a bunch of radio and TV jingles
advertising jingles.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Oh, I didn't know this.
He's a pretty clever musician.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Whatever music you like, you come in.
It's not like the movie HighFidelity, where you get yelled
at for liking something that'sgot popular recognition.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Nobody's going to look down on me if I'm looking
for a Barry Manley.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
No, we're going to help you find it.
This is what we tell peopleevery time we hire and we train
people, which, I'm happy to say,is not often we have very low
turnover is that when you'rehelping a customer and they're
asking for something, you evenif it's something you can't
stand remember that the musicthey want makes them feel the
(26:28):
way your favorite artist makesyou feel.
Okay, that's how we're allconnected, like it's just as
meaningful for that person asyour favorite artist is for you.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
I'm thinking about Barry Manilow.
It's my memories right?
I mentioned my cousin Lisa.
Lisa had an older sister,debbie, who's actually just
passed away in the last fewmonths, but her old Debbie was
into her 60s because of the age.
Debbie was like a senior inhigh school.
When we were six years old andDebbie was a freak over being a
man-lover, she would play him 24.
(26:59):
You can imagine the times thiswas in the 70s.
In the mid-70s, and so that'sI'm coming back to my memories.
You talked about something thatmade me wonder.
I saw something on the podcastyou did with Record Store Day.
You talked about how you wereseeing different communities
rise up between the San Jose andthe Santa Cruz stores Different
(27:19):
vibes.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Very different.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
So how, as the business leader for marketing,
how do you see those trends andwhat do you do to do things
differently, to serve thosecommunities and still keep them
coming back because they'redifferent?
Speaker 2 (27:34):
you can't just do a one-size-fits-all no, and that's
one of the things about beingnimble is like there is, in some
cases the same person is thenew product buyer for both
stores, depending on what recordlabel.
But they very much payattention to the differences in
the demographics, difference inthe vibe Reggae is big in Santa
(27:57):
Cruz, yeah, not as big in SanJose, okay, classic rock and
hard rock are bigger in San Josethan it is in Santa Cruz.
Okay, 20th century classicalmusic has more of a following in
Santa Cruz than it does in SanJose.
It's just Unexpected, it's.
There are certain things thattrends that we see in both
stores as well, like the big popartists Charlie XCX and Chapel
(28:20):
Roan and Claro and Gracie Abrams, Taylor Swift, Like those are
going to be popular at bothstores.
The subcultures are a littlebit different in each store.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Do you have to engage differently to support the
community that's built around?
Speaker 2 (28:37):
it.
I think you have to do yourbuying differently.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
You have to do your new product buying differently.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
And sometimes Facebook might be a little more
powerful in San Jose andInstagram might be a little more
powerful in Santa Cruz.
I'm not actually even sure ifthat's true, but there can be
differences like that.
Even sure if that's true, butthere can be differences like
that.
And another thing about SantaCruz that impacts the community,
but also the staff at the store, is it seems like a number of
(29:05):
people live in Santa Cruz for alittle while.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Oh, that's, interesting I wouldn't know that
.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Yeah, and then move somewhere else.
So you do have to.
You have to pay close attentionto what the customers are
asking for, and luckily we do.
We're able to special orderthings for people at no extra
charge and then you know by thethird time you're special
ordering the same album is atrend.
It's time to get it in thestore permanently.
Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Yeah, I love it.
I'm going to go here with you.
Okay, you said you weren'tnecessarily a big fan of
technology, but I don't thinkany of us can escape AI.
If you guys could see her, shelooks like so despondent when I
say AI her shoulders shrugged,looking down at the ground.
(29:52):
But I wonder if you guysbecause you're an indie record
store with currently twooutposts Are you guys using AI
in how you either?
I know we've been talking aboutcommunity, but even in your
operations I'm curious because Ideal with larger enterprises.
I see so much opportunity forhow you guys source that
(30:16):
information.
You just mentioned how manypeople have requested this
record special custom order andthere's ways for AI to be
engaged in your business toprovide those insights for you.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
We haven't or I haven't used.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
AI yet.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
But I will say that the one time that I seriously
considered doing it and I thinkthis is going to be true of all
businesses is help in helpingwith compliance of regulations
as a business.
Yeah, particularly inCalifornia more stringent
regulations.
Yes, so the time that Iconsidered doing it was when we
(30:56):
had to write a workplaceviolence prevention plan and I
thought yeah, you should have.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
That would have been like oh, I'm just juicy.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
I will say the California Chamber of Commerce
came to our rescue and mine isthe CFO of the California
Chamber of Commerce.
There you go.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
Worth any.
They have a great I don't wantto call it a compliance team,
but their customer service teamsreally do at a state level of
fantastic service in terms ofsupporting small and mid-sized
businesses and advocating for usyeah, advocating for us in the
political sphere and with thebroader community, and I will
(31:32):
say that I totally lost mythought there.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Okay, maybe it'll come back at some point.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
I'm just I'm going to , I'm not, this is not a
question, I'm just going to pushyou a little.
I think AI is the magic elixirand it might be opening
Pandora's box, but for smallbusinesses to get on to the
efficiencies and the breadththat AI can bring them, I think
that's our next interesting wavewith the use of generative AI.
(31:59):
And even I'm not going to getinto the different kinds of AI,
because that would be reallyyou'd be like stop, tony, stop.
But the ways you manage yourinventory and the ways you
manage customer interaction andsecurity, all those things can
just be simplified for you, andI think that people like me, are
going to be turning our focusto stores like Streetlight to
(32:22):
say how do we help you guysdeliver better service?
And it's not about having fewerpeople, it's bringing up your
people to engage human to human.
So you're not back there, rightin the back room, writing that
plan for workplace violence.
Let me tell you.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
that was not fun, that was not your highest and
best use.
No.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
I'm always looking for my Habu.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
What's my highest and best use, highest and best use,
but also the flip side of thatis what one of my friends calls
the job hobby, like the thingthat you like to go do at your
job once you've gotten all theother stuff that you didn't want
to do.
Write that plan, or make thosephone calls or answer those
emails.
Yeah, and I do think, yeah, ai,certainly on the administrative
(33:04):
end of the business, coulddefinitely potentially have uses
, have tremendous use and allowyou and free you to enjoy music
with people as a part of yourjob, which is what it's all
about.
Yeah, Do more of the parts ofmy job that I love the most I
had to ask you about AI.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
but let's go back to nostalgia.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Yes so nostalgia.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
There's something about vintage LPs.
Just even if it's a brand newLP by Taylor Swift, they still
feel vintage, they feel so good.
I snapped with an early one Herposture, the whole.
I saw her posture, the wholeenergy around her sunk and now I
said vintage and she's justbright and lit up.
(33:45):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
I love taking the record out of the sleeve and
then careful, I feel the sameway about.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
Apple devices, unwrapping them, it's a whole
process of unwrapping.
But that's why I love people,because we're all so different
and yet we're all the same.
Yes, yes.
The feelings that it inspiresin us are very similar.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
We just get there through different ways.
But one of the great things,one of many.
There are so many great thingsabout vinyl and one of them is
the analog sound if you'replaying it, particularly if
you're playing it through a tubeamp, which I do not have.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
But you get a little.
Partner needs to be listeningto this.
Oh no, wants a tube amp.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
No, see, here's the thing at our house we have his
and hers turntables.
Oh, oh my.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
He has a tube amp.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
And you don't, and I don't not yet.
But there are some downsideswith the tube amp.
If you leave it on it getsreally hot and then the tubes
wear out.
That's cool.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Yeah, so you're in the middle of Silicon Valley,
which is known for tech pros.
In its worst place, it's knownfor tech pros.
What do you think adherespeople to vintage?
What about?
So?
People collect.
People collect records andmemorabilia.
You have people that come inlooking for specific and they're
(35:09):
young.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Some of them are really young.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
So what do you think creates this about the LP?
And LP, for those out there whomight be listening, is the
vinyl records.
If you're concerned about whatit is, lps are the vinyl record.
Yeah, what do those people?
Speaker 2 (35:27):
Really speak to and I need to pick some burdens about
this for the people who arecollecting that don't own
turntables.
I don't quite get that theycollect turntables too.
No, they don't own turntables,but they're collecting the vinyl
.
Oh, I don't quite get that theycollect turntables.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
No, they don't own turntables.
Oh, they don't own, but theycollect records.
Yeah, is it like wine?
Do they have value?
Do they think there's some kindof financial potential?
Speaker 2 (35:46):
I mean there is.
There is potentially afinancial upside, but I don't
think that's what's driving them.
I think that, being a fan ofthe artist and wanting each
format that it comes out on,I'll buy that Charlie XCX LP,
but I'm also going to buy it oncassette, even though I don't
have a cassette player.
So that's part of it, okay.
And I would like to think thatpart of it is that they're
(36:09):
thinking that they will have aturntable at some point in time.
Okay, because I do knowthere'll be like a group of
young women and like teenagefour teenage women come into the
store and they're shoppingaround and each one buys a
(36:30):
record and they're going over toone person's house to listen to
them afterwards, because that'sthe girl that has the turntable
.
I also think in every era itseems like we are nostalgic for
an earlier time that, in ourminds anyway, seems like it was
a simpler time.
Speaker 1 (36:44):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
And I think that records are a part of that.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
They're reflective of .
Speaker 2 (36:50):
But there's also the art side of it, an LP front
cover, back cover.
If it's a gatefold sleeve, yougot two more.
What's a gatefold sleeve?
Gatefold, two more.
What's a gatefold Gatefold youopen like a book.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
Oh, so it's got even more information, or?
Speaker 2 (37:04):
pictures or song lyric printed on the inside of
that and there's, you can reallylike dig in and learn about an
artist, and it's an importantpart of the creation.
Packaging is oftentimes for anartist as important as the music
that they're putting on the LP.
I love it, and you put it alltogether and it is a work of art
(37:25):
.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
I remember in Lisa and her older sister Debbie,
their collection there were somered albums like red LPs, like
the vinyl itself, and those werevery special.
They were like the, don't Touchthat One when we were six years
old and Debbie was 18.
What's with the colored,because most records are black
(37:46):
these days.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
So many releases are on colored vinyl and we'll have
the artist's website will haveone color.
The indie record stores willhave another color and sometimes
that makes it more collectibleit does.
And sometimes they're opaqueand sometimes they're
translucent, and sometimesthey're splatter vinyl and
(38:09):
sometimes they're likecreamsicle, like orange and
white swirls.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
Okay, so I think I'm pretty like normal, yeah, and
there think I'm pretty likenormal, yeah, and there's a
whole generation of us that hasno idea that you can buy these
vinyl like this Beautiful.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
My boyfriend has one, an Elton John, I think, it's
Mad Men Across the Water, andit's called Propeller.
It's basically lines that comeout from the center a blue area
next to a white area next to ablue area and when it's spinning
on the turntable it looks likea propeller.
It's great, it's just so fun towatch.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
You're making me want to be a music person and
because it's the full experience.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
It is.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
It's not just the audio that's coming across and
that I see now, People whofollow this, who do this.
Streaming is not enough becauseit's so one dimensional it is.
It gives you access to research, access to get exposed to a
broad range.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
It is a great research tool.
I have come from originallybeing in a place where I
resented downloading andstreaming to seeing it as a tool
.
Cool yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
And just to replug on AI.
I think AI is just a tool.
We are going to be more analogand enjoy our analog time and
stop grinding out on tasks likeviolence in the workplace plans.
I promise, I promise I see thehorizon and it's going to, but
(39:46):
ai is not going.
This thing that we're railingagainst now, I see, is exactly
when people, when musicians andartists and people who loved
music railed against streaming.
I think in a short time we willsee it as it's a tool to help
us do more of what makes ushuman that experience.
You did a podcast I mentionedwith Record Store Day and you
(40:06):
called record stores thecockroaches of the business
world.
How clever the cockroaches ofthe business world.
Speaker 2 (40:16):
So yes, because I remember hearing once upon a
time that the only creature onEarth I have no idea if this is
true or not, but the onlycreature on Earth that will
survive the nuclear holocaustwill be the cockroach.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
Resilient and hard to kill.
Hard to kill Is the way we seecockroaches.
Speaker 2 (40:31):
Yes and dogged determination, and we're part of
a larger group of indie recordstores from across the country.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
So there is some connection there A lot, a lot of
connection.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
So the Record Store Day is actually an organization.
That was formed by threedifferent indie record store
coalitions we all know eachother.
We're getting together in NewOrleans next week for our annual
convention, because what couldbe better than New Orleans in?
Speaker 1 (40:58):
late July and early August, when my mama and daddy
were alive.
I took them to New Orleans andwe just like.
I'm from Nashville, so you takemusic for granted because it's
everywhere.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
It's around you, yeah .
Speaker 1 (41:11):
And they took, but it was a different kind of music
in New Orleans, so great placefor you guys to go.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
Oh, it's just yeah, so great.
So we share ideas with eachother, we share statistics with
each other.
There have been times, likeduring the pandemic, when we
hosted Record Store Day, one ofour sister stores up in Idaho
decided to do this like by anappointment only.
(41:36):
So I just called them and I'mlike can I use your system and
can I copy it word for word?
And they're like yeah, go ahead, take it.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
So I love the sharing .
Yeah, it's community.
Right, it's community.
We all want the same outcomesRight.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:50):
And if you're not competitors, why not share?
Why not make each otherstronger?
And it's great when I havemaybe a legal question or a
payroll question or something.
I have this whole group ofpeople that I can get
information from.
Speaker 1 (42:05):
Yeah, it's great, I love it.
Don't know how to frame thelast question, but you've been
in this industry over 30 years36.
You said yeah, you are vibrant,you are bold.
You've got 30 more years 36.
You said yeah, you are vibrant,you are bold, you've got 30
more years in you.
How do you see the next 30years with music for you?
Speaker 2 (42:28):
I see myself finally listening to some of the records
that I bought and haven'tlistened to you, you know
because that happened.
Yeah, it's hard to know.
I will say that the resurgencein vinyl seems like it's not
temporary.
It's been steadily.
Sales have been steadilyincreasing every year for 13
(42:50):
years now.
There's no end in sight.
It's phenomenal growth eachyear.
I really hope that I am stillinvolved in music somehow.
Perhaps owning a store at somepoint I got to say my heart is
in this, so I want my heart tobe in whatever I do.
(43:13):
I cannot imagine having a jobwhere A I needed to have a
certain wardrobe to wear to thejob.
The worst it gets at the recordstore is hey, can you not have
a swear word on your t-shirt?
Okay, thanks, that's it fordress code.
But also to not have passionfor the thing that you're
spending eight hours a day, fivedays a week doing.
(43:34):
It just seems like it would besoul crushing, and part of it is
the passion for music.
But the other part of it is mycoworkers and what a team they
are and what a family we have,what you enjoy.
Yes, what we enjoy and what wethink is important.
And the same is true of ourcustomers.
They're coming into our storebecause they've been brought
(43:55):
there by their love for music.
Speaker 1 (43:58):
It's instant community for us, it's instant
connection for us, and I can'timagine having a job or making a
living in some way that doesn'thave that outside of this
industry, because you have theremarkable privilege of being
(44:19):
able to combine your work andyour passion, what you're
interested in, what yougenuinely love.
It's true, not everyone getsthat opportunity, so you really
have lived a privileged life.
Speaker 2 (44:32):
I, yes, I consider myself very fortunate.
Speaker 1 (44:35):
I love it.
I love it, paige, it was such.
It was a privilege.
I'll keep landing on that one,but it was an honor to meet you
and to see someone who's hadsuch a different career than
I've had and have so much energystill around it and doing the
thing.
But the common thread is thatwe serve people.
Speaker 2 (44:55):
It's all about community and connecting with
others, and thank you so muchfor this opportunity.
It's been so great and it'sbeen wonderful.
Speaker 1 (45:02):
Tell people really quickly where to find you.
I know it's San Jose and SantaCruz, yes, and maybe what's the
best time of day to go.
If people want to be aroundother people, what's the optimum
time to go and where do they goto part of your community?
Speaker 2 (45:17):
Yeah, so both stores one store in Santa Cruz on South
Bascom, one store, I'm sorry,in San Jose on South Bascom, in
Santa Cruz, on the south end ofPacific Avenue, and both stores
are open 11 to 7 every day.
Nice, saturdays are the big day.
Okay, lots going on Saturdaysand in particular we have our
50th anniversary celebrationcoming up in a few weeks.
Speaker 1 (45:39):
Is it a planned public event?
Yes, it is Okay tell us aboutit.
Speaker 2 (45:43):
So it's going to be on Saturday, july 26th, okay,
all day from 11 to 7.
We're going to have DJsspinning records at both stores.
We're going to have enter towin prize packages.
We're going to have goodie bagsfree with purchase until we run
out of those, yeah, oh, and atour San Jose store we're going
to have a book signing.
(46:04):
There's a new book out calledSouth Bay Flashback, which is
about the untold psychedelicunderground of San Jose.
Speaker 1 (46:11):
Of San Jose, because we think about San Francisco for
that.
But there was a lot going on inSan Jose.
Speaker 2 (46:16):
Fascinating and the author.
Both authors, Bill Gardino andBrian Conroy, are going to be
signing their book at the SanJose store from noon until two.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (46:26):
KPCR is one of the sponsors you may be as well of a
Beatles, rolling Stones musicalperformance that evening, oh,
that very night.
Speaker 2 (46:37):
In Campbell, okay, in Campbell.
Speaker 1 (46:40):
So I'm thinking that, for people wanting to have the
full musical experience, comesee you at Streetlight on Bascom
in the afternoon, explore thatbook, grab some dinner and then
show up.
I've forgotten where it is inCampbell.
We'll make sure it's on ourwebsite, but it's a cover band
performance and it's like aStones versus the Beatles kind
(47:02):
of mashup.
Yeah, I think, that'd be agreat day of music.
Speaker 2 (47:06):
It sounds like a perfect day to me.
Where do I sign up?
Speaker 1 (47:09):
I will get you a ticket as soon as we finish this
Excellent Paige Brodsky fromStreetlight Records.
You have been an absolute joy.
Speaker 2 (47:18):
Thank you, it's been so much fun.
Speaker 1 (47:19):
You've shared so much wisdom and perspective and a
history of what it's like towork your passion.
So thank you for that and thankyou Really appreciate it.
This has been fun.
Orcal Narratives, where webring you the people and the
stories that remind us of whatwe create.
(47:39):
When we care about somethingthat we're building, we care
about what matters.
You've been listening to KPCRLP 92.9 in Los Gatos and KMRT,
lp 101.9 in Santa Cruz.
Until next time, we will seeyou soon.
Take care everyone.
Goodbye.
Hello everyone and welcome to NorCal Narratives on
KPCR 92.9 FM from Los Gatos andKMRT 101.9 FM out of Santa Cruz.
Today we're going to spotlightvoices from across Northern
California who are rethinkingwork, art, learning and
(00:23):
community.
I think about all four of thosethings.
I am excited to be in thestudio with someone who's been
at the heart of what I thinkreally is an enduring cultural
institution for more than threedecades.
Paige Brodsky from StreetlightRecords has helped shape the
cultural life of this regionthrough music, connection and a
(00:45):
love of all things, vinyl.
Paige, I couldn't be moreexcited to welcome you to this
show.
Welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I'm thrilled to be here 30 years at a record store
and we're going to talk aboutthat in multiple ways.
It's just.
I think about my memories as achild and going to record stores
as a teenager and thinking itwas very cool to live our lives
through those artists.
When you were little, you musthave developed some sense of
(01:15):
enjoying.
Controlling the music, spinningthe music yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
What's your?
Speaker 1 (01:20):
early memories of spinning vinyl.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I very earliest memory was when I was in junior
high.
A friend of ours was movingaway and we decided to have a
little going away party for himand we bought him some 45s from
the record store.
What a nice gift that was, Iremember one of them was England
(01:45):
Dan, and John Ford Coley WillNever have to Say Goodbye Again,
which was an ironic gift.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
But it wasn't an intentional gift it was.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
That's the only one I can remember by name, but there
were probably like four or five.
Four or five differentseven-inch singles that we gave
our friend and we had a littleparty.
How thoughtful.
And then I remember for myeighth grade graduation from
(02:14):
junior high, I had a requestlist for some LPs that I wanted
for graduation from my, I think,my grandparents and my parents,
and I think there were like sixalbums on that list.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
So I remember you wanted the gift of music, I
wanted the gift of music and youhad given the gift of music.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yes, yes, but even before that I remember begging
my mom to order the Monkeescompilation off the TV from an
ad.
I loved watching the Monkeesevery day when I came home from
school and I still love theMonkees every day when I came
home from school and I stillloved the Monkees.
And I landed myself with apartner who also loves the
(02:53):
Monkees and is a musician so hecan play the Monkees.
I love it.
But, yes, records, even from anearly age, just had a really
important place in my life.
Music is universal Math andmusic the universal languages.
Oh, and it is yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
I won't go there with you, but I think we understand
that it's the only thing.
Perfect Math is perfect.
Yeah, if you can go with thatRight.
And music is born of math.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Exactly, and.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
I took nine difficult years of piano lessons.
I took nine years of piano.
I love it.
I love it.
Yeah, so we understand.
It is a language.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yes, it's math and it's a language and I don't play
anymore.
I am really happy that I knowhow to read music.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I think in fact, my initial memory with music was my
cousin Lisa had a little likeBarbie.
It was just a square bop,probably 14, 15 inches by 14, 15
inches, maybe 6 inches tall,but that was a record player,
yes, and we would sit in herroom and we would play Sean
Cassidy and what's the thing.
And she got the satin jacketfor Christmas and I didn't, oh,
(04:04):
but that's okay, my parents gotme that.
Same year was probably the yearthat I got a cassette tape
recorder.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
And I would record.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
So that's the beginning of this right.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Which is probably life changing.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Yes, I hated my voice so I wouldn't use.
For many years I wouldn't usemy voice publicly because I
didn't like and I haven't reallymet anybody who likes the sound
of their own voice.
No, I wouldn't use my voicepublicly because I didn't like
and I haven't really met anybodywho likes the sound of their
own voice?
No, I haven't either.
As a kid I didn't know that,and so records were with my
cousin Lisa that's great.
And Sean Cassidy and where I'mleading into that with your 30
(04:37):
year career, I think you'veprobably done some promotion as
well.
Yes, related to the recordstore.
Yes, so I'm curious.
Sean Cassidy is what I go backto with my childhood.
Is there anyone that you've metthrough doing productions or
promotions at the record storethat was life-changing for you?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Life-changing.
I will say that one of mycurrent musical heroes, one of
my musical heroes of all timeOne of my current musical heroes
, one of my musical heroes ofall time but he is currently
still making music is guitaristand songwriter Dave Alvin, who
was with the Blasters back inthe 80s and he does rootsy, some
countryish, some bluesish.
(05:17):
So he has a psychedelic projectnow called Third Mind and the
record company contacted us afew months ago and said the new
album's coming out soon.
They're playing at Moe's Alleyin Santa Cruz.
Do you guys want to have theband autograph copies of the
album for you to sell?
And I was like, yes, please,yes, please.
(05:38):
And I had actually met DaveAllen a couple times, but this
was great because I got to seethe soundcheck and it talked
with the to see the soundcheckand talk with the whole band and
got a picture with the band andthat's my most recent memory
and he's one of life's greattreasures.
He's just an amazing songwriterand part of what I love about
(05:58):
him is his humility and how muchrespect he has for the
musicians that came before.
Yeah, and he really goes out ofhis way to express that.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
And.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
I just love that.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
How amazing that you get to see humanity.
He's a musician and you get tosee his humanity and his grace.
You said psychedelic projects.
Now is that a new industrything?
I've never heard this Well forhim.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
It's a project in that it's not.
All of the other band membersare from different bands, so
they're not able to get togetherall the time.
So it's why they callthemselves a project, more so
than a band.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Okay, I appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
But he is known as bluesy rootsy.
And this is they cover aGrateful Dead song, but you
wouldn't know it was a GratefulDead song.
They just completely make thesedifferent arrangements and the
woman that sings with them hasthis very ethereal voice and it
(06:58):
just has just more of apsychedelic feel to it, which is
a departure.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
I love it and you've explained very well.
Psychedelic is, to it, okay,which is a departure.
So I love it and you'veexplained very well.
Psychedelic is the feel.
It's not the instrument ofcreation, because I'm sure
there's some of that happensaround the world.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
But that's true, although I will say it generally
involves an electric guitar butyes, not always.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Okay, okay, very cool , tell me the artist's name
again that you saw, at Moe'sDave Alvin.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Dave Alvin.
Okay, people will have to checkthat out.
Yeah, and the band slashproject is called Third Mind.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Third, not Third Eye Third.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Mind.
So I've got to think about that, got to think about that.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
We were talking before we started the show about
how vintage is cool and peoplecollect these things.
Even you said when they don'thave turntable, which is amazing
.
But I'm curious about yourcollection.
It must be extensive, becauseyou've had 30 years of being in
this industry.
What's the one record that youcould never, ever, give up?
(08:01):
Only one I love it, I love it,I love it, I love it.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Oh, that's hard.
I don't even know if I couldanswer that.
I'm making you choose betweenthe babies?
Yes, exactly, and it changesfrom day to day or week to week.
Yeah, and there are patternsand things that are in high
rotation on the turntable for afew weeks, and then you remember
a record that you forgot about,so I'll tell you today my
(08:31):
record of the day today.
That you could not give up, thatI yes, you would have a hard
time prying it out of my handsis a reissue that just came out
recently.
The band is called the RainParade and they were part of a
scene in Southern California inthe like mid to late 80s, early
(08:51):
90s, called the PaisleyUnderground, which involves some
roots musicians.
But this was more and I don'twant to say psychedelic, but a
little more, a little more poppythan rootsy.
And for Record Store Day Ithink it was this past year they
reissued an album of theirscalled Crashing Dream and they
(09:15):
issued it in a two LP form.
So the second LP is all bonusmaterial live material and demos
.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Oh, what an interesting kind of location.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
I love the color blue and the cover is like a.
I guess it's a picture of aswimming pool or maybe a shallow
part of an ocean.
But it's just a beautiful coverand they did a nice job with
the remastering, the reissue.
But tomorrow I would tell yousomething totally different.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Yeah, okay, and I don't know yet what it would be.
Because you truly love musictoo, I feel the need to confess
I prize silence, so I don'tconsider myself a music person.
Oh interesting.
Music has moved me at differentpoints in my life and I could
talk about being a teenager atthe Cookville Mall, at the
record store in Cookville Mall,just hanging out.
(10:08):
But as an adult, like my daddy,wanted the TV on all the time,
drove my mama nuts but I neverhad the TV on.
I don't drive with the radio on.
I need peace and quiet in thisbrain of mine and I find that to
be the case too.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Oftentimes I'll be thinking about what record I'm
going to play when.
I get home, yeah, and I'll behome and I'll be puttering
around the kitchen or livingroom and it'll be a half hour
and I'll realize, oh, youhaven't put anything on yet.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Yeah, I guess I needed the quiet.
Yes, yeah, yeah, I do love liveshows, though, and I have this
small addiction to cover bands.
I know it's cheap and cheerful,but there's something about
being able to just sing as loudas you want, because you know
every word, because you know thewords, because it's part of
your soundtrack and it hooksback into the whole nostalgia
thing, yes, we all, and I'veeven battled with this idea of
(10:59):
can you have the feeling ofnostalgia for a time that you
did not even experience becauseyou weren't alive yet?
And yes, you can, but somethingabsolutely I think that's this
whole recent craze with vintage.
Is people craving somethingthey only, I'll say,
academically know of, but theyappreciate the values that were
(11:20):
happening and, yeah, I thinkthere's a lot of truth to that.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Yeah, and part of it, I think, is imagining being
alive in that time.
That you weren't alive forBenny Goodman's concert at
Carnegie Hall in 1939 that madeall these waves.
Oh, to be in that audience longbefore I was born.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
I'm a sucker for these clips on Instagram when
they have the Kennedy Awards formusic and when you see somebody
sitting up in the balconieswearing their big medal bestowed
upon them by the president.
But you see some newer creatoron the stage delivering this
remarkable version theirsignature song, and always the
(12:03):
tears are flowing because thatwas such an impactful time in
their lives.
And now someone new is findinga different way to give voice to
that vision and keeping theirart relevant.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Yes, yeah, in the modern time.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Yeah, so you've seen decades of trends.
What?
Do you like, on the retail side, you get to not just have your
own experience with music, butyou get to be part of other
people's experience, which isthe favorite part of my job.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
I love that, and lately I would say the last year
or two record labels havestarted doing listening parties
at independent record stores, sothey're for a particular
release and it'll either be anearly listening party, so it's a
chance for the fans to come inand listen to the album before
(12:55):
it's available anywhere, beforeit's available on Spotify.
It's not streaming, yet theysend us a protected streaming
link that only we have access toand some special prizes and
free goodies and stuff like that.
But the beautiful thing aboutthat is these fans maybe some of
(13:16):
them know each other throughmeetup groups or Facebook groups
or through common things thatthey follow on Instagram, but
they haven't met in real lifeyet and a lot of them haven't
even met on the Internet, yet.
Still a community, yeah, andsometimes it's a community of
300 young women in the store whoare all there to hear the new
(13:38):
Melanie Martinez record and geta copy of, with an alternate
cover that's only available atthese parties, and to watch
these fans meet each other andmake what could end up being
lifelong friendships over analbum.
It's astonishing and it'sheartwarming, and it's one of
(14:00):
the main reasons why I still dowhat I do.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Because people are at the center.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Making music, going music, sharing music.
I love it.
What's been the difference inthe way, like compared to 30
years ago, that you see peoplediscovering music?
You were talking about themonkeys and what you referenced
was seeing them on TV.
Remember American Bandstand Ofcourse you do.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Yes, I love American Bandstand, and those aren't
avenues these days.
Soul Train that occurs.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Oh God, soul, train, train.
I hear that choo-choo sound.
I can remember running throughmy house, my train.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Soul.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Train and some of the people that will hear this are
going to have to go look up SoulTrain.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
So how do people discover music these days, which
means they have all that greatfun ahead of them.
Yes, they do that vintageawesome fun and the crazy
outfits and the crazy now, oh,and Midnight Special, which I
was not allowed to stay up towatch, but luckily they have
episodes on YouTube and I have anice DVD box set.
(15:01):
It's a nice compilation.
How did they discover it?
These days, so much of it isstreaming and also through
friends, which used to be theold fashioned way, but it was
your friend would find out aboutsomething, they'd buy the
record, go over to your friend'shouse and you'd listen to the
record, and these days a lot ofthat happens online social media
(15:22):
or chat groups, different fanbase groups that are out there,
but I still think at the heartof it, you're still finding out
about new music from people.
It could be from people.
It could be back in mychildhood.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
It was you reading the liner notes on the album and
you're seeing who the artist isgiving credit to.
Thank you to who mattered tothat person.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Yes, and then the next task was you go find a
record from that artist.
I will say I did hear.
I didn't hear the interview,but I know there was going to be
one on NPR recently of someonewho wrote a book about Spotify
and the Spotify algorithms andhow Spotify was originally
supposed to be the greatequalizer.
Yep, your music was on Spotify.
(16:10):
Anybody can find it and that'strue, wow.
But Spotify does develop theirown playlist.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
You use the word algorithms.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
We all know what that means Engineered, but it's
still.
It is still.
It's an important way thatpeople are finding out about new
music and another way that wehear from our customers is
Sirius XM Radio.
And another way that we hearfrom our customers is Sirius XM
Radio.
One of the great things aboutthat is that it shows you the
artist and the name of theartist and the name of the song,
so they have that informationwhen they come in.
(16:39):
I'm looking for such and suchan artist, the album that has
this song, Whereas in threedecades ago at the record store
somebody would have heard it onthe radio but they didn't catch
the name of the artist.
But they didn't catch the nameof the artist and they didn't
catch the name of the singer,but they'd come in and sing it
to you.
Yes, oh, now, that had to be fun, yes, but it was frustrating if
we didn't know the answer, butit was so exciting.
(17:01):
Then, 10 years ago, we hadShazam.
Remember the app Shazam, whichsome people are still using yeah
, yeah, and that's a fun gamefor some people to try and trip
up Shazam.
Somebody did it just yesterdayin the store.
They were Shazaming aninstrumental guitar piece that
was playing and Shazam didn'tknow it and they were so
disappointed.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Speaking of fun games , that's a great segue to do a
quick station identifier.
Okay, because KPCR 92.9 FM andKMRT 101.9 FM out of Santa Cruz
have been proud creators of theSignal Society, and Streetlight
is involved in that program andthis announcement that I have is
(17:42):
to thank the Santa CruzWarriors.
That's my tie-in to the game.
So the Santa Cruz Warriors arealso sponsors of the Signal
Society and KPCR Radio, so wewant to give a big shout out to
thank them.
If you're interested, membersreceive access to special ticket
promotions so you can find thaton kpcrorg and if you hit slash
(18:03):
and join, you can become partof the Signal Society.
So thank you for thatopportunity.
Circling back to radio stationsand 30 years ago, cookville
Mall and Streetlight still existtoday in multiple locations.
What do you think?
What do you think kept you guysalive?
What helped you endure?
Speaker 2 (18:24):
the move to streaming .
Speaker 1 (18:33):
So many things, and I will mention that, as a
business, we are celebrating our50th anniversary this year.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Now I knew you had been there 30 years.
I didn't think how long has thebusiness?
Been around and, interestinglyso, I've been there actually 36
years at this point, and when Ifirst started working at
Streetlight, it was two smallstores up in San Francisco.
They were neighborhood stores.
And I had just moved to SanFrancisco.
It was 1989.
And I was excited.
(18:56):
I'm like, oh, I'm good, Iapplied for a job at this.
What I saw as an institutionStreetlight's been around
forever and in retrospect I see,oh, they had been around for 14
years and now we've been aroundfor 36 more.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Yeah, and 14 years would have been forever to a 20
something year old.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Yes, and it was, yes it was yeah, there have been so
many changes.
When I first started working, Ihad one job before Streetlight
at a record store for about ayear in South Carolina at
Peaches, which was a chain inthe Southeast back then, and LPs
were the format of choice, yes,but then cassettes were
(19:34):
introduced, yeah.
So home recording became athing.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
But also the commercial cassettes.
Oh, are you going to skip the8-track?
Really, are you not going togive the 8-track?
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Well, I do love the 8-track and when I was growing
up before I had LPs my parentshad 8-track tapes and Before I
had LPs, my parents had 8-tracktapes and I still don't really
understand how they worked.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Physically, mechanically, I don't have any
idea I know, I just know thatbig cartridge played Cher
Gypsy's Trampsy.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Oh my God, I would dance around the house to that
tape.
In my house it was Carole Kingtapestry.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Oh, yes, yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Of course.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
I mean I interrupted your train of thought.
No, that's okay.
That's okay From eight track.
Give it to you to LPs you sendin cassettes.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
And then CDs were coming on the scene right around
the time that I started workingin a record store and people
were uncertain if thistechnology was going to fly.
And it did, and it flew for along time and, as a result,
record stores both chain storesand independent record stores
(20:35):
were flying high like we wereselling so many cds yeah, new
and used.
And then napster came aroundand downloaded they're back.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
I had heard of mash.
I used to have Nashville.
I'm an AI strategist and Iconsult with a lot of founders,
and so they've come into myattention lately.
The guy is a very experiencedmusic industry CEO and he's in
Nashville hiring for VPs ofproduct management and they're
under the Napster name.
I was fascinated.
(21:07):
Yeah, I went into a rat hole onit and researched for a couple
of hours, because Napster isalmost a four letter word.
It was, and musicians writeroyalties and payments, and so
it's interesting that they arecoming back with a legitimate
way to license and pay artistsand then provide music.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
I will be curious to hear more about that.
They've got a website.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
You can look it up.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
But, Napster came along and kind of really
impacted the industry in anegative way, right, the whole
peer-to-peer file sharing thinghappened.
And then Apple Music, which wasiTunes at that time, which made
the download available for sale, and the portability of it, the
ease of it.
It was very attractive topeople.
(21:52):
I had a little nano that my dadhad for christmas, yeah could
carry hundreds of songs right,that was what was that thing one
by one inch or teeny tiny yeah,yeah and oddly enough, I'm not.
I'm a little bit of a tech.
Good tech no, no tech challengeoh and sorry, I, I just expect.
No, I'm on the other end of thespectrum.
(22:13):
You're vintage, yeah, I know,but I would like to say that
it's because my heart has beenwith vinyl the whole time, which
it has been, but it's alsobecause I don't like to learn
new technologies take the timeto do so.
It's not my thing, yeah.
And all these years later itcircles back around.
And now I see iTunes, which isnow Apple Music, and streaming
(22:37):
and Spotify as avenues to learnabout music so that you can make
an informed and educateddecision about what you want to
spend your money on.
Yes, I hate it.
I hate the idea of the artistsnot making making almost no
money off of streaming, but inthe share that the artist gets
from physical products the saleof an LP or a.
(23:00):
CD is much more the way to makea living, ok, and when they sell
their own merchandise at liveshows like T-Stickers, all of
that.
But it has been interesting tosee it come back around and
there were lean years whendownloading from iTunes a big
thing like we got hit prettyhard and we had some tough times
(23:20):
.
But I would say one of thethings that helps and this is
true in any business, I'm sureis if you're an independent
business and you can be nimbleas a result it's assuming that
you're open to change, you arewilling to restructure what
you're doing, your prioritiesare and possibly even what
(23:41):
products you sell then you canmake Candles with Sean Cassidy
on the end maybe.
So here's the thing we do sellprayer candles and we do have
the ability to request anybodywe want on them.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
I do think Sean Castee is like a CPA.
I saw that five years ago.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
I saw a picture of him not that long ago, and he's
still pretty cute, isn't he?
Speaker 1 (24:05):
really cutie.
But he went on to lessmusically inclined things, I
believe.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Yes, more stable things.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
But you guys stayed around at Streetlight have
stayed around 50 years.
So you've seen all thesedifferent cycles of industry and
you said you knew how to benimble.
But I'm going to suggest thatsomehow you know how to keep
people coming to your store.
You create community.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
You create demand.
It is so about community.
It is all about community.
You create demand.
It is so about community.
It is all about community it is.
It's a safe place for people.
Yeah, you can be into whatever.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Do you guys serve coffee?
Because I've got this vision.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
I know I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
I haven't been into your store, but I've admitted.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
I'm not a music person, no, but my, and the
biggest hurdle for that ishaving to deal health
regulations and inspections.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
But I just see this, I'll say bookstore.
I see this bookstore vibe ofhaving the coffee and the
records that people can meet andI can put you in touch with
somebody that wants to do that.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
So anyway, yeah, so community is where it's at when
there's a place that you knowyou can go you can wear whatever
you want, you can be yourself,you can like whatever kind of
music you want, and you're notgoing to get judged, barry.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Manilow.
Do you have Barry Manilow?
Speaker 2 (25:23):
Yes, we do have Barry Manilow.
Oh, my goodness, one of my goodfriends just went and saw him
the other night on his finaltour.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
Oh, is he on a final tour?
He's on a final tour.
A friend of mine lives down inPalm Springs, about a mile and a
half from his compound, oh yeah, and says that occasionally
he's spotted at the grocerystore.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
And I guess he wrote a bunch of radio and TV jingles
advertising jingles.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Oh, I didn't know this.
He's a pretty clever musician.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Whatever music you like, you come in.
It's not like the movie HighFidelity, where you get yelled
at for liking something that'sgot popular recognition.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Nobody's going to look down on me if I'm looking
for a Barry Manley.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
No, we're going to help you find it.
This is what we tell peopleevery time we hire and we train
people, which, I'm happy to say,is not often we have very low
turnover is that when you'rehelping a customer and they're
asking for something, you evenif it's something you can't
stand remember that the musicthey want makes them feel the
(26:28):
way your favorite artist makesyou feel.
Okay, that's how we're allconnected, like it's just as
meaningful for that person asyour favorite artist is for you.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
I'm thinking about Barry Manilow.
It's my memories right?
I mentioned my cousin Lisa.
Lisa had an older sister,debbie, who's actually just
passed away in the last fewmonths, but her old Debbie was
into her 60s because of the age.
Debbie was like a senior inhigh school.
When we were six years old andDebbie was a freak over being a
man-lover, she would play him 24.
(26:59):
You can imagine the times thiswas in the 70s.
In the mid-70s, and so that'sI'm coming back to my memories.
You talked about something thatmade me wonder.
I saw something on the podcastyou did with Record Store Day.
You talked about how you wereseeing different communities
rise up between the San Jose andthe Santa Cruz stores Different
(27:19):
vibes.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Very different.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
So how, as the business leader for marketing,
how do you see those trends andwhat do you do to do things
differently, to serve thosecommunities and still keep them
coming back because they'redifferent?
Speaker 2 (27:34):
you can't just do a one-size-fits-all no, and that's
one of the things about beingnimble is like there is, in some
cases the same person is thenew product buyer for both
stores, depending on what recordlabel.
But they very much payattention to the differences in
the demographics, difference inthe vibe Reggae is big in Santa
(27:57):
Cruz, yeah, not as big in SanJose, okay, classic rock and
hard rock are bigger in San Josethan it is in Santa Cruz.
Okay, 20th century classicalmusic has more of a following in
Santa Cruz than it does in SanJose.
It's just Unexpected, it's.
There are certain things thattrends that we see in both
stores as well, like the big popartists Charlie XCX and Chapel
(28:20):
Roan and Claro and Gracie Abrams, Taylor Swift, Like those are
going to be popular at bothstores.
The subcultures are a littlebit different in each store.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Do you have to engage differently to support the
community that's built around?
Speaker 2 (28:37):
it.
I think you have to do yourbuying differently.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
You have to do your new product buying differently.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
And sometimes Facebook might be a little more
powerful in San Jose andInstagram might be a little more
powerful in Santa Cruz.
I'm not actually even sure ifthat's true, but there can be
differences like that.
Even sure if that's true, butthere can be differences like
that.
And another thing about SantaCruz that impacts the community,
but also the staff at the store, is it seems like a number of
(29:05):
people live in Santa Cruz for alittle while.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Oh, that's, interesting I wouldn't know that
.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Yeah, and then move somewhere else.
So you do have to.
You have to pay close attentionto what the customers are
asking for, and luckily we do.
We're able to special orderthings for people at no extra
charge and then you know by thethird time you're special
ordering the same album is atrend.
It's time to get it in thestore permanently.
Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Yeah, I love it.
I'm going to go here with you.
Okay, you said you weren'tnecessarily a big fan of
technology, but I don't thinkany of us can escape AI.
If you guys could see her, shelooks like so despondent when I
say AI her shoulders shrugged,looking down at the ground.
(29:52):
But I wonder if you guysbecause you're an indie record
store with currently twooutposts Are you guys using AI
in how you either?
I know we've been talking aboutcommunity, but even in your
operations I'm curious because Ideal with larger enterprises.
I see so much opportunity forhow you guys source that
(30:16):
information.
You just mentioned how manypeople have requested this
record special custom order andthere's ways for AI to be
engaged in your business toprovide those insights for you.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
We haven't or I haven't used.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
AI yet.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
But I will say that the one time that I seriously
considered doing it and I thinkthis is going to be true of all
businesses is help in helpingwith compliance of regulations
as a business.
Yeah, particularly inCalifornia more stringent
regulations.
Yes, so the time that Iconsidered doing it was when we
(30:56):
had to write a workplaceviolence prevention plan and I
thought yeah, you should have.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
That would have been like oh, I'm just juicy.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
I will say the California Chamber of Commerce
came to our rescue and mine isthe CFO of the California
Chamber of Commerce.
There you go.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
Worth any.
They have a great I don't wantto call it a compliance team,
but their customer service teamsreally do at a state level of
fantastic service in terms ofsupporting small and mid-sized
businesses and advocating for usyeah, advocating for us in the
political sphere and with thebroader community, and I will
(31:32):
say that I totally lost mythought there.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Okay, maybe it'll come back at some point.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
I'm just I'm going to , I'm not, this is not a
question, I'm just going to pushyou a little.
I think AI is the magic elixirand it might be opening
Pandora's box, but for smallbusinesses to get on to the
efficiencies and the breadththat AI can bring them, I think
that's our next interesting wavewith the use of generative AI.
(31:59):
And even I'm not going to getinto the different kinds of AI,
because that would be reallyyou'd be like stop, tony, stop.
But the ways you manage yourinventory and the ways you
manage customer interaction andsecurity, all those things can
just be simplified for you, andI think that people like me, are
going to be turning our focusto stores like Streetlight to
(32:22):
say how do we help you guysdeliver better service?
And it's not about having fewerpeople, it's bringing up your
people to engage human to human.
So you're not back there, rightin the back room, writing that
plan for workplace violence.
Let me tell you.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
that was not fun, that was not your highest and
best use.
No.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
I'm always looking for my Habu.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
What's my highest and best use, highest and best use,
but also the flip side of thatis what one of my friends calls
the job hobby, like the thingthat you like to go do at your
job once you've gotten all theother stuff that you didn't want
to do.
Write that plan, or make thosephone calls or answer those
emails.
Yeah, and I do think, yeah, ai,certainly on the administrative
(33:04):
end of the business, coulddefinitely potentially have uses
, have tremendous use and allowyou and free you to enjoy music
with people as a part of yourjob, which is what it's all
about.
Yeah, Do more of the parts ofmy job that I love the most I
had to ask you about AI.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
but let's go back to nostalgia.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Yes so nostalgia.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
There's something about vintage LPs.
Just even if it's a brand newLP by Taylor Swift, they still
feel vintage, they feel so good.
I snapped with an early one Herposture, the whole.
I saw her posture, the wholeenergy around her sunk and now I
said vintage and she's justbright and lit up.
(33:45):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
I love taking the record out of the sleeve and
then careful, I feel the sameway about.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
Apple devices, unwrapping them, it's a whole
process of unwrapping.
But that's why I love people,because we're all so different
and yet we're all the same.
Yes, yes.
The feelings that it inspiresin us are very similar.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
We just get there through different ways.
But one of the great things,one of many.
There are so many great thingsabout vinyl and one of them is
the analog sound if you'replaying it, particularly if
you're playing it through a tubeamp, which I do not have.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
But you get a little.
Partner needs to be listeningto this.
Oh no, wants a tube amp.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
No, see, here's the thing at our house we have his
and hers turntables.
Oh, oh my.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
He has a tube amp.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
And you don't, and I don't not yet.
But there are some downsideswith the tube amp.
If you leave it on it getsreally hot and then the tubes
wear out.
That's cool.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Yeah, so you're in the middle of Silicon Valley,
which is known for tech pros.
In its worst place, it's knownfor tech pros.
What do you think adherespeople to vintage?
What about?
So?
People collect.
People collect records andmemorabilia.
You have people that come inlooking for specific and they're
(35:09):
young.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Some of them are really young.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
So what do you think creates this about the LP?
And LP, for those out there whomight be listening, is the
vinyl records.
If you're concerned about whatit is, lps are the vinyl record.
Yeah, what do those people?
Speaker 2 (35:27):
Really speak to and I need to pick some burdens about
this for the people who arecollecting that don't own
turntables.
I don't quite get that theycollect turntables too.
No, they don't own turntables,but they're collecting the vinyl
.
Oh, I don't quite get that theycollect turntables.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
No, they don't own turntables.
Oh, they don't own, but theycollect records.
Yeah, is it like wine?
Do they have value?
Do they think there's some kindof financial potential?
Speaker 2 (35:46):
I mean there is.
There is potentially afinancial upside, but I don't
think that's what's driving them.
I think that, being a fan ofthe artist and wanting each
format that it comes out on,I'll buy that Charlie XCX LP,
but I'm also going to buy it oncassette, even though I don't
have a cassette player.
So that's part of it, okay.
And I would like to think thatpart of it is that they're
(36:09):
thinking that they will have aturntable at some point in time.
Okay, because I do knowthere'll be like a group of
young women and like teenagefour teenage women come into the
store and they're shoppingaround and each one buys a
(36:30):
record and they're going over toone person's house to listen to
them afterwards, because that'sthe girl that has the turntable
.
I also think in every era itseems like we are nostalgic for
an earlier time that, in ourminds anyway, seems like it was
a simpler time.
Speaker 1 (36:44):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
And I think that records are a part of that.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
They're reflective of .
Speaker 2 (36:50):
But there's also the art side of it, an LP front
cover, back cover.
If it's a gatefold sleeve, yougot two more.
What's a gatefold sleeve?
Gatefold, two more.
What's a gatefold Gatefold youopen like a book.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
Oh, so it's got even more information, or?
Speaker 2 (37:04):
pictures or song lyric printed on the inside of
that and there's, you can reallylike dig in and learn about an
artist, and it's an importantpart of the creation.
Packaging is oftentimes for anartist as important as the music
that they're putting on the LP.
I love it, and you put it alltogether and it is a work of art
(37:25):
.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
I remember in Lisa and her older sister Debbie,
their collection there were somered albums like red LPs, like
the vinyl itself, and those werevery special.
They were like the, don't Touchthat One when we were six years
old and Debbie was 18.
What's with the colored,because most records are black
(37:46):
these days.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
So many releases are on colored vinyl and we'll have
the artist's website will haveone color.
The indie record stores willhave another color and sometimes
that makes it more collectibleit does.
And sometimes they're opaqueand sometimes they're
translucent, and sometimesthey're splatter vinyl and
(38:09):
sometimes they're likecreamsicle, like orange and
white swirls.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
Okay, so I think I'm pretty like normal, yeah, and
there think I'm pretty likenormal, yeah, and there's a
whole generation of us that hasno idea that you can buy these
vinyl like this Beautiful.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
My boyfriend has one, an Elton John, I think, it's
Mad Men Across the Water, andit's called Propeller.
It's basically lines that comeout from the center a blue area
next to a white area next to ablue area and when it's spinning
on the turntable it looks likea propeller.
It's great, it's just so fun towatch.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
You're making me want to be a music person and
because it's the full experience.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
It is.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
It's not just the audio that's coming across and
that I see now, People whofollow this, who do this.
Streaming is not enough becauseit's so one dimensional it is.
It gives you access to research, access to get exposed to a
broad range.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
It is a great research tool.
I have come from originallybeing in a place where I
resented downloading andstreaming to seeing it as a tool
.
Cool yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
And just to replug on AI.
I think AI is just a tool.
We are going to be more analogand enjoy our analog time and
stop grinding out on tasks likeviolence in the workplace plans.
I promise, I promise I see thehorizon and it's going to, but
(39:46):
ai is not going.
This thing that we're railingagainst now, I see, is exactly
when people, when musicians andartists and people who loved
music railed against streaming.
I think in a short time we willsee it as it's a tool to help
us do more of what makes ushuman that experience.
You did a podcast I mentionedwith Record Store Day and you
(40:06):
called record stores thecockroaches of the business
world.
How clever the cockroaches ofthe business world.
Speaker 2 (40:16):
So yes, because I remember hearing once upon a
time that the only creature onEarth I have no idea if this is
true or not, but the onlycreature on Earth that will
survive the nuclear holocaustwill be the cockroach.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
Resilient and hard to kill.
Hard to kill Is the way we seecockroaches.
Speaker 2 (40:31):
Yes and dogged determination, and we're part of
a larger group of indie recordstores from across the country.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
So there is some connection there A lot, a lot of
connection.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
So the Record Store Day is actually an organization.
That was formed by threedifferent indie record store
coalitions we all know eachother.
We're getting together in NewOrleans next week for our annual
convention, because what couldbe better than New Orleans in?
Speaker 1 (40:58):
late July and early August, when my mama and daddy
were alive.
I took them to New Orleans andwe just like.
I'm from Nashville, so you takemusic for granted because it's
everywhere.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
It's around you, yeah .
Speaker 1 (41:11):
And they took, but it was a different kind of music
in New Orleans, so great placefor you guys to go.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
Oh, it's just yeah, so great.
So we share ideas with eachother, we share statistics with
each other.
There have been times, likeduring the pandemic, when we
hosted Record Store Day, one ofour sister stores up in Idaho
decided to do this like by anappointment only.
(41:36):
So I just called them and I'mlike can I use your system and
can I copy it word for word?
And they're like yeah, go ahead, take it.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
So I love the sharing .
Yeah, it's community.
Right, it's community.
We all want the same outcomesRight.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:50):
And if you're not competitors, why not share?
Why not make each otherstronger?
And it's great when I havemaybe a legal question or a
payroll question or something.
I have this whole group ofpeople that I can get
information from.
Speaker 1 (42:05):
Yeah, it's great, I love it.
Don't know how to frame thelast question, but you've been
in this industry over 30 years36.
You said yeah, you are vibrant,you are bold.
You've got 30 more years 36.
You said yeah, you are vibrant,you are bold, you've got 30
more years in you.
How do you see the next 30years with music for you?
Speaker 2 (42:28):
I see myself finally listening to some of the records
that I bought and haven'tlistened to you, you know
because that happened.
Yeah, it's hard to know.
I will say that the resurgencein vinyl seems like it's not
temporary.
It's been steadily.
Sales have been steadilyincreasing every year for 13
(42:50):
years now.
There's no end in sight.
It's phenomenal growth eachyear.
I really hope that I am stillinvolved in music somehow.
Perhaps owning a store at somepoint I got to say my heart is
in this, so I want my heart tobe in whatever I do.
(43:13):
I cannot imagine having a jobwhere A I needed to have a
certain wardrobe to wear to thejob.
The worst it gets at the recordstore is hey, can you not have
a swear word on your t-shirt?
Okay, thanks, that's it fordress code.
But also to not have passionfor the thing that you're
spending eight hours a day, fivedays a week doing.
(43:34):
It just seems like it would besoul crushing, and part of it is
the passion for music.
But the other part of it is mycoworkers and what a team they
are and what a family we have,what you enjoy.
Yes, what we enjoy and what wethink is important.
And the same is true of ourcustomers.
They're coming into our storebecause they've been brought
(43:55):
there by their love for music.
Speaker 1 (43:58):
It's instant community for us, it's instant
connection for us, and I can'timagine having a job or making a
living in some way that doesn'thave that outside of this
industry, because you have theremarkable privilege of being
(44:19):
able to combine your work andyour passion, what you're
interested in, what yougenuinely love.
It's true, not everyone getsthat opportunity, so you really
have lived a privileged life.
Speaker 2 (44:32):
I, yes, I consider myself very fortunate.
Speaker 1 (44:35):
I love it.
I love it, paige, it was such.
It was a privilege.
I'll keep landing on that one,but it was an honor to meet you
and to see someone who's hadsuch a different career than
I've had and have so much energystill around it and doing the
thing.
But the common thread is thatwe serve people.
Speaker 2 (44:55):
It's all about community and connecting with
others, and thank you so muchfor this opportunity.
It's been so great and it'sbeen wonderful.
Speaker 1 (45:02):
Tell people really quickly where to find you.
I know it's San Jose and SantaCruz, yes, and maybe what's the
best time of day to go.
If people want to be aroundother people, what's the optimum
time to go and where do they goto part of your community?
Speaker 2 (45:17):
Yeah, so both stores one store in Santa Cruz on South
Bascom, one store, I'm sorry,in San Jose on South Bascom, in
Santa Cruz, on the south end ofPacific Avenue, and both stores
are open 11 to 7 every day.
Nice, saturdays are the big day.
Okay, lots going on Saturdaysand in particular we have our
50th anniversary celebrationcoming up in a few weeks.
Speaker 1 (45:39):
Is it a planned public event?
Yes, it is Okay tell us aboutit.
Speaker 2 (45:43):
So it's going to be on Saturday, july 26th, okay,
all day from 11 to 7.
We're going to have DJsspinning records at both stores.
We're going to have enter towin prize packages.
We're going to have goodie bagsfree with purchase until we run
out of those, yeah, oh, and atour San Jose store we're going
to have a book signing.
(46:04):
There's a new book out calledSouth Bay Flashback, which is
about the untold psychedelicunderground of San Jose.
Speaker 1 (46:11):
Of San Jose, because we think about San Francisco for
that.
But there was a lot going on inSan Jose.
Speaker 2 (46:16):
Fascinating and the author.
Both authors, Bill Gardino andBrian Conroy, are going to be
signing their book at the SanJose store from noon until two.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (46:26):
KPCR is one of the sponsors you may be as well of a
Beatles, rolling Stones musicalperformance that evening, oh,
that very night.
Speaker 2 (46:37):
In Campbell, okay, in Campbell.
Speaker 1 (46:40):
So I'm thinking that, for people wanting to have the
full musical experience, comesee you at Streetlight on Bascom
in the afternoon, explore thatbook, grab some dinner and then
show up.
I've forgotten where it is inCampbell.
We'll make sure it's on ourwebsite, but it's a cover band
performance and it's like aStones versus the Beatles kind
(47:02):
of mashup.
Yeah, I think, that'd be agreat day of music.
Speaker 2 (47:06):
It sounds like a perfect day to me.
Where do I sign up?
Speaker 1 (47:09):
I will get you a ticket as soon as we finish this
Excellent Paige Brodsky fromStreetlight Records.
You have been an absolute joy.
Speaker 2 (47:18):
Thank you, it's been so much fun.
Speaker 1 (47:19):
You've shared so much wisdom and perspective and a
history of what it's like towork your passion.
So thank you for that and thankyou Really appreciate it.
This has been fun.
Orcal Narratives, where webring you the people and the
stories that remind us of whatwe create.
(47:39):
When we care about somethingthat we're building, we care
about what matters.
You've been listening to KPCRLP 92.9 in Los Gatos and KMRT,
lp 101.9 in Santa Cruz.
Until next time, we will seeyou soon.
Take care everyone.
Goodbye.
Host
Tonya J. Long
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