GUELPH POLITICAST #34 - Bryan Munn, Royal Cat Records

Next Saturday is Record Store Day, an annual occasion for people that still like to buy their music in person, on a physical medium, at a brick and mortar location. It sounds weird, but it still happens, and it happens in Guelph everyday at Royal Cat Records, one of the small independent record stores that Record Store Day aims to celebrate on a yearly basis. 

A decade ago, selling vinyl records was almost as niche as selling priceless masterpieces or vintage movie posters of the 30s and 40s, but in the year 2016, vinyl is a vital a part of the music industry. Most people still download their music, but the demand for vinyl has gone up in a way so unanticipated that chain record stores have dusted off their record racks, and vinyl presses are running all the time to make new records be they re-issues of classic albums, or new offerings from the likes of Taylor Swift or Adele.  

So on the occasion of Record Store Day, I sought our Bryan Munn, the owner and operator of Royal Cat Records which is open seven days a week in basement of 10 Carden St. In our conversation we talked about the origins of Royal Cat Records, what his clientele looks like, what they're looking for, and the challenges and rewards of owning a record store in this day and age. We also talk about how Record Store Day may be getting, gasp, too commercial. 

Here's this week's edition of the Guelph Politicast.

To learn more about Royal Cat Records, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, go to their website, or visit the store in person seven days a week in Downtown Guelph. 

 The theme music for Guelph Politicast is provided by Crazy Pills and their song "Break It Down" courtesy of Free Music Archive.

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Stay tuned for future editions of the Guelph Politicast!