DECATUR, GA -- A Decatur record store might get a visit from a very famous country star Wednesday. Sugarland band member Kristian Bush may come to the store to make good on long time relationship.
Band members Bush and Jennifer Nettles have their musical roots in Decatur. They started out performing at small independent businesses like Eddies Attic. They're first records were sold at Decatur CD. "I remember getting their first record and selling it quite well," said Decatur CD owner Warren Hudson.
The band is now one of the country music industries top acts. And with that success, comes more ways to make money. Walmart has obtained exclusive rights to sell the bands new CD/DVD, "Live on the Inside".
Hudson's record store is one of the few independent record stores left in the Atlanta area. "We've looked at their success with kind of a cheerleader mentality," Hudson said.
So imagine his frustration when customers came into his store looking for the bands new release and he didn't have it. Hudson says he had to tell his customers they could only get the DVD at Walmart. "I can't blame the band for taking the payday at all," Hudson said. "We just want to sell what the customers want to buy."
Hudson writes a blog on the record store's website. He wrote an open letter to Sugarland. In the blog Hudson wrote "You guys have been around roughly as long as Decatur CD, and we've been supporters of your music from day one. The point is that by shutting the door on independent record stores, you're in effect shutting the door on your hometown."
At his store on Tuesday Hudson said "We're not gonna hurt Walmart's business." He made a proposal to the band in his blog. "Since we can't get your new release through our usual means, how about you bring it by the store?"
But Hudson never expected what happened. Within hours, band member Kristian Bush commented on the blog: "You are right, and thanks for the suggestion. I am in Houston for a show right now but will come by the store when I get home on Wednesday and bring you a few boxes of discs. We can peel off the Wal-mart stickers together while we catch up."
http://www.11alive.com
Photo credit:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2008/08/08/2008100255.jpg
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