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Live on CBC Radio 3: Searchlight! The Top Five Record Stores Revealed

Live on CBC Radio 3: Searchlight! The Top Five Record Stores Revealed

Posted by Grant Lawrence on Apr 14, 2008

Coming up today on Grant Lawrence Live, 3PM ET / noon PT on CBC Radio 3's web radio:

Today's Guests: Chad VanGaalen, In-Flight Safety

Today we continue our CBC Radio 3 series called Searchlight. We're seeking out the best that Canada has to offer musically - and we've launched our series in celebration of Canada's independent record retailers!

Nearly a month ago we collected your nominations for the best record stores in Canada. Thousands voted on the 47 nominated stores, which brought us to our Top 20 two weeks ago. Last week it was the Top 10 and today, we reveal the results of a ridiculously tight voting race, many stores seperated by just a handful of votes... and so, here are...

THE TOP FIVE STORES...

And so the voting continues NOW in our final heat! You can vote once a day, every day! This is the final stretch! You will have this work week to vote until finally, on this Friday April 18th, the day before International Record Store Day, we'll announce our Searchlight #1 independent record store in Canada.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE TOP FIVE?

CBC Radio 3 will broadcast live from the winning store, which will also receive a winning trophy and plaque, get rigged with Sirius satellite radio stereo system, and will have a special in-store appearance from their favourite local artist that we will also broadcast live. Help your favourite store win! Print out this poster and bring it down to their shop to spread the word.

We won't let you go without asking you our...

Poll Question Of The Day: WHICH STORE DO YOU THINK WILL WIN?

All the stores in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Winnipeg are out. Are you as surprised as we are? What do you think this top 5 says about music fans in the cities in the top 5? Maritimes represent! But... Prince George?!? Please post your comments on our blog or email them to feedback@cbcradio3.com and we'll discuss them throughout today's show!

Also on the show, we'll find out who musicians such as Chad VanGaalen and In-Flight Safety are boosting in the FINAL FIVE!!!

Chad VanGaalen: Meow Records

In-Flight Safety: Taz Records

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  1. muffinmix
    01

    meoow?

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by muffinmix
    No red cat? :(
  2. TKO75
    02

    Go Sound Connection!

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by TKO75
    Wow. Top Five. That is really cool.
  3. tb3
    03

    I think this was fixed by the int0rw3b kiddies!

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by tb3
    Yay! Both that I have been paid to vote for, have made it!
  4. ohsweetie
    04

    first!!!

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by ohsweetie
    rural represent! sounds like animal farm to me!
  5. AlexOfAnders
    05

    Vancouver out

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by AlexOfAnders
    Damn, I was hoping Red Cat would hold in there but just seems like you just can't beat out the east coast charm. Prince george and Edmonton aside.

    From what I've heard on the blog, I think Meow is gonna take it or whichever store has the Mayor campaigning for them (I forgot which that was)
  6. muffinmix
    06

    Re: Live on CBC Radio 3: Searchlight! The Top Five Record Stores Revealed

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by muffinmix
    this is flawed. tech savvy individuals have an advantage. lol, here come the bitter record store managers.
  7. Justin Beach
    07

    For Love and Yogurt

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by Justin Beach
    Still backing Meow (though my heart is still with Soundscapes).
  8. tb3
    08

    Pole Question

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by tb3
    I predict that no matter who wins, there will be sour grapes from the people who really don't get the spirit of both this competition as well as how it's decided.
  9. djfriartuck
    09

    Meow

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by djfriartuck
    I have been to ALOT of recordstores in both Canada and the US, and the staff at Meow have been the friendliest and most helpful. I have also been able to find records there that I could never find else where. Deserve to be #1
  10. marissab
    10

    Re: Live on CBC Radio 3: Searchlight! The Top Five Record Stores Revealed

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by marissab
    I think it just shows how much people appreciate something when they've known a lack. A few years ago, the only place to get music in PG was the super sketch pawn shops (ewww), HMV (ewww), or the internet. I don't think anyone who supports independent music is comfortable with that. So then along comes Meow. OF COURSE people are going to be crazy supportive, and even a little creepily over-the-top possessive. I would bet the other top 5 stores come from towns with comparable stories.
  11. bryndis
    11

    a tad sad

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by bryndis
    i was sad that red cat and listen were knocked off. i bet that was a close one.
    hopefully i can sway those bc voters to continue supporting meow...*flutters eyelashes*
  12. damageinc
    12

    THANX GRANT!!

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by damageinc
    Thanx for doing this contest Grant!!! We had a ton of fun being involved. Thanx to everyone who voted for us over the last couple of weeks, and GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE FINALISTS!!!

    Darin @ Vertigo Records in Ottawa.
  13. criminal records
    13

    Congrats!

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by criminal records
    Congrats to all the top 5 stores from all of us here at Criminal Records. It was amazing to be named the best record store in Toronto, especially with all the incredible record stores in this great city. To everyone who knows us, we are just getting started. We have big plans and look forward to being your neighbourhood record store for years to come! My only regret, is at this point we can't be putting our votes behind Soundscapes as they really do deserve to be on this list.
    Cheers-From all of us at Criminal Records
  14. jsnimmo
    14

    Surprised...

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by jsnimmo
    Holy crap!

    At first I was a bit skeptical of this contest because I figured the finalists would have ended up looking like a list of stores from the top five urban centres... Way to go small town Canada!

    I wonder if there was just voter apathy from the big cities or if there really are that many Radio3 listeners in PG?

    Jeff
  15. jillenium00
    15

    Meow for the win

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by jillenium00
    Wow, first national vote that hasn't been dominated by Onterrible. I wish our election results looked more like this.
    And I say Onterrible in fun. I'm sure it's not THAT bad.
  16. Justin Beach
    16

    Onterrible is a good place to be

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by Justin Beach
    at least Toronto is. Can't think of anyplace in the world I'd rather be these days - though Montreal is very cool too and Vancouver is...West, I think what may have hurt the big cities is the number - when you have multiple stores from a city the vote gets split up and people's loyalty to a store may not automatically transfer to another store from their city.
  17. Justin Beach
    17

    I think Meow has it wrapped up

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by Justin Beach
    based on the comments anyway. I'll keep voting for them even though the Onterrible and not that bad comments lacked love and yogurt.
  18. feck
    18

    Beast From The East

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by feck
    Go Gord Go !
    Vote Backstreet in Saint John

    John "The Birdman"

    RAFR
  19. jillenium00
    19

    Disclaimer

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by jillenium00
    My views do not represent those of the record store. We just happen to exist in the same town.
  20. bobattaz
    20

    Thanks to our supporters!

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by bobattaz
    Three cheers for the Maritimes. Anyone who has visited Back Alley, Backstreet or Taz knows our love of music.

    Good luck on the next round.

    Taz Records
  21. Justin Beach
    21

    Disclaimer II

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by Justin Beach
    My views aren't even necessarily my own.
  22. atomix
    22

    It's all good

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by atomix
    No store or loyal customer should be upset or bitter about the results as we have all gained much needed and valuable national exposure.FOR FREE!!!

    I have had new customers coming in,specificly mentioning this was how they discovered us and some of these people live within walking distance of the store.

    It does say a bit as far as how well the local grapevine and advertising around here work,but also means that we need to try harder to serve Radio 3 listeners as well.

    Thank you again Grant & Crew.
  23. AlexOfAnders
    23

    big city vs small city

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by AlexOfAnders
    I think a few big city votes might have gotten split but it seems to me that the the stores in the bigger cities tend to have bigger attitudes.

    Not all mind you, but a lot do. A store where the employees looks down on their customers or are generally unhelpful if they don't like your tastes should get many votes, so it's my guess they did. Just cause the store is busy doesn't mean people love the experience, it might just be on their doorstep.
  24. muffinmix
    24

    Active R3 citzenship vs accurate "searchlight" results?

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by muffinmix
    Im a major supporter of democracy and so anytime I have the ability to vote on anything I will do so. What has occurred in this "searchlight" competition, namely that Red Cat is out, has left me pondering my options. Should I do as what an Albertan would do and vote regionally? I have no knowledge of the record store that are left so rather than distort this important first-of-a-kind record store popularity contest, I may have to refrain from voting.
    I am calling on everyone to do as I do if they have no knowledge of these stores.
    Congrats on the Atlantic Canada indie stores!
  25. CWEarl
    25

    Vote Now! Vote Meow!

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by CWEarl
    About the theory that record stores in bigger cites suffering from a split in votes: the math just doesn't work. Ask yourself how many millions of people live a driving-distance from the Toronto or Vancouver stores. Now consider Prince George's total population of about 80,000.

    Nope, the absence of the biggies in the top five must be due to something else. For instance, it seems to me that the stores in smaller cities know that they can't treat their customers like assholes if they want to stay in business (Red Cat and Listen notwithstanding - their failure to make the top 5 is truly a mystery and somewhat of a tragedy).

    In the end, perhaps this poll is of the most use to the bigger stores in bigger cities that didn't make the cut *cough-Zulu*. Maybe they'll take this opportunity to really think about what happened and why.
  26. jomo
    26

    congrats

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by jomo
    A quick congrats to all who made it to the top five. And also, I want to say how very classy Vertigo and Criminal are. Their comments posted here are those of good competitors, and no sign of sour grapes. Very classy, it speaks to the kind of people they are and how they run their business and I applaud them.

    Nice to see a place in the west surviving a vote, will it be like all our elections and go to the east in the end, no I doubt it.
  27. cameron
    27

    Go Maritimes!!

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by cameron
    I find it awesome that 3 of the top 5 are in the maritime. Go Backstreet! maritime
  28. Magrathea
    28

    Yahooooo!

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by Magrathea
    meow meow meow meow... purrrr...
  29. etufts
    29

    Go Backstreet!

    Posted on Apr 14, 2008 by etufts
    I am so excited to see Backstreet in the top five! This store has so much charm once walk in, it's hard to leave. By far, my favorite! Go Maritimes!
  30. GPots
    30

    Meow: It's Just Gotsta

    Posted on Apr 17, 2008 by GPots
    I hail from the Maritimes and if I learned anything from my time in rural Nova Scotia it is that you come to appreciate and cherish small miracles.

    I moved to Prince George 4 months ago and popped in for a look. Not only were the staff really friendly and helpful to a PG newcomer - pointing out places to catch gigs or great places to eat, but they set a great tone for the entire space. If left with Eric's Trip, Noverillo and a orig vinyl copy of Slow's Against the Glass in my bag. Meow is an oasis in a hard, sometimes unforgiving Northern frontier.

    Testify!
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