The music giant EMI is attempting to solve its financial difficulties by, um, selling its product to fewer places. Independent record stores have received calls from EMI, whose website lists Darius Rucker as a "Breakthrough Artist" (see photo), telling them that if they want to stock EMI merchandise they will have to turn to third parties. This added expense will keep EMI albums off more shelves at indie outlets, which tend to cater to fans fetishistic enough to actually want to purchase a physical object that contains music.

This counterintuitive move may make sense to those more familiar with the distribution costs of global companies, but it doubles down on the industry's already failing strategy of dictating buying habits and taste to consumers who are willing and able to find their own way. [TechDirt]

Update:

EMI Distribution Changes Smaller and Less Abrupt than First Reported