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Searchlight: And The Winner Is... MEOW RECORDS!!!

Searchlight: And The Winner Is... MEOW RECORDS!!!

Posted by Grant Lawrence on Apr 18, 2008

The winner of CBC Radio 3's inaugural Searchlight contest for the #1 Record Store in Canada is...

MEOW RECORDS OF PRINCE GEORGE, BC!!!

Congratulations to owner Bryndis Ogmundson! Also to the five finalists, Back Alley Music - Charlottetown, PEI, Backstreet Records - Saint John, NB, Sound Connection - Edmonton, AB, Taz Records - Halifax, NS

Against stacked odds, Bryndis opened Meow Records in a basement location in downtown Prince George just 16 months ago. Since then, the store has survived a flood, formed an all-girl rollerderby team, counts Chad VanGaalen amongst its die-hard fans, and has quickly become an intregal and active cultural hub in the community.

It shocks us that Meow Records, the most remote record store location in our entire nominated list of 47 stores, managed to rally such incredible fan support over the past month to edge them in a very close competition to the #1 spot.

CBC Radio 3 can't wait to broadcast live from Meow Records, the #1 Record Store in Canada!

Update:

Interview with Meow owner, Bryndis Ogmundson:

The Radio 3 gang joins me in the booth for the announcement of the winner:


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  1. muffinmix
    01

    Convoy to MEOW!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by muffinmix
    From Vancouver. who is in?
  2. John Paolozzi
    02

    Re: Searchlight: And The Winner Is... MEOW RECORDS!!!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by John Paolozzi
    Maybe book a Greyhound? You have to stay at the PG Ho (aka The Prince George Hotel).
  3. jillenium00
    03

    Re: Searchlight: And The Winner Is... MEOW RECORDS!!!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by jillenium00
    Stay at Esther's Inn!...tropical oasis and a mean sunday buffet. ha ha. It's always been my favourite. I would suggest staying at my hostel, but it is not yet open...sigh.
    Not to deter anyone, but be prepared for the weather: wind chill -19
  4. TheNewNoiseThriller
    04

    YAY!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by TheNewNoiseThriller
    Jillian, don't detract people from coming here.

    But, on topic, CONGRATS TO MEOW!!!

    Bryndis, you deserve it!
  5. edgyrazor
    05

    YEEEEHAW

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by edgyrazor
    justin beach. arent you glad you voted meow now?! EH!

    YAY MEOW!!!
    we're gonna plan a parade.

  6. Back Alley
    06

    Congrats to Meow from Back Alley Music

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by Back Alley
    Way to go Meow! What a fun ride this was. Have a great celebration. Cheers to CBC Radio 3!!!
  7. muffinmix
    07

    REcord store day

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by muffinmix
    Wish I could be at red cat tomorrow...anyone know if Ditch Records in Victoria is planning anything?
  8. CWEarl
    08

    yeah!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by CWEarl
    Meow is #1! There are going to be a lot of drunks roaming the streets in PG tonight!
  9. Skotos
    09

    Total count

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by Skotos
    Has the total number of votes cast been divulged? Is that info available? It'd be kinda interesting to know? Also, if you could know how many users voted, since you could vote once a day. Just curious -apparently I'm a stats nerd.
  10. goudswak
    10

    Yes! PG rawks y'all

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by goudswak
    Way to go MEOW! Live bands in the store all day Tomorow! Come Celebrate
  11. thriftgypsy
    11

    Congrats to all

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by thriftgypsy
    Congrats to MEOW RECORDS, and to every single record store nominated.

    Grant, please have fun in Prince George, and be sure to visit Two Rivers Gallery while you are there. And the UNBC campus. And CFUR radio on campus, another great musical hub in the city.

    Cheers, Thriftgypsy
  12. Grant Lawrence
    12

    the vote count

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by Grant Lawrence
    We're going to keep the vote count private to respect the other four finalists, but needless to say we collected thousands, and it was very close all week long... Meow won it by just 26 votes!
  13. woollytuque
    13

    hug yr own record store anyway...

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by woollytuque
    http://www.durhamregion.typepad.com/will_mcguirk/
  14. enriqueferreol
    14

    Record Store Day at TAZ

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by enriqueferreol
    April 19, International Record Day at Taz

    Taz will pay the tax.

    In Store performances from 1pm to 5 pm
    Old Man Luedecke
    Tanya Davis
    Rumoured to be Alive
    Save September
    Laura Merrimen
    le Skiv

    Balloons!!!
  15. allaner
    15

    yay meow!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by allaner
    everyone at the cbc radio bureau here in PG is soooo proud of bryndis [she used to work here , you know]!

    grant -- it's OG-mund-son

    and do NOT stay at the PG hotel!

    hooray for meow!
  16. gumboot
    16

    purrrrrrrr!!!!GONGRATS FROM NEW BRUNSWICK

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by gumboot
    Backstreet Records in Saint John N.B. wishing you all the best with your win.
    Cheers
    Gordie Tufts
  17. TKO75
    17

    Congratulations!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by TKO75
    My disappointment that my store didn't win is certainly tempered by the fact that it was beaten by a store that truly sounds like the best store in Canada. It take a lot of “gumption” to run a small music store in PG; for that alone Meow may have deserved to win. But is also sounds like a great little store. Congratulations!
  18. WildWorks
    18

    On CBC.ca

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by WildWorks
    I am surprised to see it on CBC.ca
    http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2008/04/18/indiestore-contest-recordday.html
  19. GPots
    19

    GPots

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by GPots

    Will be showing Meow some love Saturday afternoon - good on ya Meow.
  20. muffinmix
    20

    Depressssing!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by muffinmix
    http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourview/2008/04/independents_preparing_for_nex.html

    Please comment on this cbc.ca question asking if "You will participate in Record Store".. none answers seem to understand what it is and some are even bashing the day saying its just a ploy to sell records. uhh? Ya! Of course they are trying to sell more records! I dont think these people really understand.
  21. MAK
    21

    Re: Searchlight: And The Winner Is... MEOW RECORDS!!!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by MAK
    i really like her Mom.
  22. edgyrazor
    22

    Re: Searchlight: And The Winner Is... MEOW RECORDS!!!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by edgyrazor
    mother ogmundson rocks indeed.
  23. Joel R
    23

    Re: Searchlight: And The Winner Is... MEOW RECORDS!!!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by Joel R
    haha we all saw it coming from day 1.
  24. bryndis
    24

    wow

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by bryndis
    now that i can type without shaking...

    thanks so much to radio 3, the people that voted for meow, and the amazing record stores across canada!
    have fun tomorrow!
  25. ohsweetie
    25

    i was SO right!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by ohsweetie
    i should have bet money! i knew we'd win! yay for small town canada and the maritimes for making so many stores into the top 5! everyone has been so fun and wonderful!

    i feel like i'm REALLY in the in club now!

    xoxo
  26. lalondo
    26

    MEOW!!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by lalondo
    Dude! Word to every indie record store in Canada. Love all around. And Bryndis, congrats!! Everybody come for a pilgrimage to Prince George, the palm trees are just starting to unthaw. You'll love it!
  27. biggie12341
    27

    uuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by biggie12341
    congrats you da cats meow if you know what i mean. i know ill be buying a record tomorrow since i work at a guitar shop that gets the over stock from taz! happy record store day dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  28. lalondo
    28

    MEOW!! (cont'd)

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by lalondo
    And Grant, don't forget to stop by CFUR Radio when you're here! We'll even take you to a (the?) good place for beers.
  29. Winterlong
    29

    Meow Now!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by Winterlong
    I'm totally purring.

    Bryndis, you run an amazing store.
  30. kristop
    30

    Re: Searchlight: And The Winner Is... MEOW RECORDS!!!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by kristop
    congrats meow! maybe one day i'll get out of my store long enough to come check out your fine shop. happy record store day to all the other shop owners!
  31. natchan
    31

    MEOW!!!

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by natchan
    yay meow and bryndis! you totally rock! happy record store day!!!
  32. rdickie
    32

    I'm lame

    Posted on Apr 18, 2008 by rdickie
    I've never been to any of the remaining stores so I voted for "meow" because it had the coolest name.
  33. jocalico
    33

    congrats to MEOW!!

    Posted on Apr 19, 2008 by jocalico
    Of course congrats to Bryndis and Meow!!
    Bryndis did a real gutsy thing in opening a new record store here in our downtown in the face of bigbox retailers and empty stores downtown. Bryndis has been a long time supporter of our Folkfest, our former summer festival and Coldsnap, the new 8 day winter musicfest, here in Prince George from the start...Bryndis helped to sponsor Chad Van Gaalen when he performed here for Folkfest, a time when money was crucial for her but she put her money where her mouth was so to speak.
    If people come up here DO NOT stay at the PG Hotel :) check out too the best bookstore in Canada, Books and Company!
    This award is great for all of us of course in PG...reflected glory for all!!
    Way to go Bryndis!!
    Jo Beattie
    Prince George Folkfest Society/Coldsnap AD
  34. boyforpele
    34

    when is the broadcast

    Posted on Apr 20, 2008 by boyforpele
    Does anyone know when the broadcast from the store will be? It would definitely be worth making the trip!
  35. suckamc
    35

    Re: Searchlight: And The Winner Is... MEOW RECORDS!!!

    Posted on Apr 21, 2008 by suckamc
    Congratulations MEOW! Thank you CBC for a really fun spotlight as well, it was great to learn about so many indie record stores.

    Martin
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