Virgin Records is courting a re-marriage with Baby Boomers and "follow the money" seems to be an apt suggestion. Many retailers are trying to stop the bleeding and Virgin is leading the way with innovative displays designed to wrench every last dollar out of Boomers.
From The Arizona Republic: "This week, shoppers in the company's Virgin Megastore in San Francisco will find jars of English marmalade and Yellow Submarine lunch boxes alongside Beatles CDs, and jazz magazines next to Miles Davis tunes. Lucille Ball T-shirts and Cher memorabilia will appear in a new gay-lifestyle section, and scented bath oils and self-help books will be packaged with music for yoga enthusiasts."
"Twist & Shout, with its eclectic mix of products ranging from retro candy and Jimi Hendrix T-shirts to Bart Simpson characters and irreverent bumper stickers, has done for the past 16 years what Virgin is attempting to do."
"The baby boomers are the ones who made rock and roll a phenomenon in the first place," he said. "A lot of other places forgot that, and now they're having to work extra hard to repair the damage."
Damage? I've already got all the music I care about. I suppose the only thing left is to peddle t-shirts and lunchboxes. Hey music industry, how about some new music for the people (read Baby Boomers) who actually BUY music.
UPDATE: Here's a rather cutting review of of what to give your "Aging Hipster" this holiday season:
"...disenfranchised citizens of the post-Woodstock Nation grow conspicuously fat and bald, please forgive them for failing to move on. Surely, somebody realizes that graying boomers comprise a significant demographic, because on this Yuletide, enterprising retailers have unveiled a provocative line of gifts aimed at 40- and 50-somethings who cut their musical teeth on lots of Hendrix and perhaps a bit of herb. Or was it a little Hendrix and lots of herb?!"
And if that wasn't enough to get you singing an old familiar tune, Amazon has jumped into the fray with their own list of Baby Boomer favs:
Amazon Listmania. But frankly, "All On A Wintry Night: A Judy Collins Christmas" scares the living hell out of me.
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