I n recent weeks, it feels like news of MI business closures has been landing in our inbox on a regular basis. Denver-based Rupp’s Drums, which graced our cover last fall for its 40th anniversary, announced its closure on July 18. Cassell’s Music, the San Fer- nando, California-based 78-year-old retailer made famous by “Wayne’s World,” closed permanently in July. On the supply side, John Hornsby Skewes, a U.K.-based distributor and the manufacturer behind brands like Vintage and Fret-King guitars, recently an- PERSPECTIVE I BY KATIE KAILUS INDUSTRY SHRINKING ISN’T ALL BAD
nounced it was shutting down after 60 years in business. And a few days before going to press on this issue, we learned St. Louis Music would be picking up global distribution for guitar brands Recording King and The Loar after rumors swirled online that The Music Link, its previous distributor, would be shutting down. All of these closures feel a little bit more uncomfortable during a time when tariffs and industry shrinkage have kept retailers — and suppliers — on their toes. One U.K.-based guitar website, Guitar Mammoth, is doing something about the rise in guitar store closures by launching the Save Our Guitar Shops campaign to encourage musicians to shop at their local guitar stores.
“There’s a worrying trend of people buying online,” website founder Drew Haselhurst told us in an interview, which runs on page 21. “I get it — it’s con- venient. But when it comes to guitars, you really have to play the instrument to know if it’s right for you. Plus, building a relationship with your local shop creates trust you just don’t get from a website. I expect there’s also a lot of pres- sure from online retail that’s driving the margins and making it increasingly less profitable. And then [there’s] the cost of living crisis that’s happening around the world with inflation, so rents are going up.” In addition to our interview with Haselhurst, you can find his letter to the editor, encouraging brick-and-mortar guitar retailers to join the campaign, on page 10. But is market shrinkage really all bad? Not necessarily. While fewer stores means less shopping options, a leaner market often pushes brands and retailers to sharpen their product lines, ser- vice offerings, and customer experience, which ultimately benefits consumers overall. And as some brands and stores trail off, fewer industry players can lead to deeper brand-retailer partnerships, better support and more intentional growth strategies. (See Hilary Brown’s column on MI market disruption for a few ideas on page 29.) The closures of Cassell’s Music and Rupp’s Drums will undoubtedly leave a gap in their local music communities. But industry shifts like these often signal a natural recalibration rather than permanent decline. While change can be challenging, it also creates space for smarter, more focused growth. And as our industry evolves, Music Inc. remains your trusted source for fresh ideas, inspiration and strategies to help your business thrive. MI
8 I MUSIC INC. I SEPTEMBER 2025
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