Dramatic changes in the music market is forcing a much-loved Perthshire record shop to close after more than three decades in business.
The Music Box, which has been part of Blairgowrie since the late 1980s, is preparing to shut for good after struggling through increasingly tough trading times.
The Allan Street store is one of only a handful in the country to specialise in traditional Scottish, Irish and Country music.
Owner Tommy Newcomen said a downturn in visitors to the town and increasing competition from online services had forced his hand.
“The last three years have been a real struggle, to be honest,” he said.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but I don’t think I was left with much choice.”
The Music Box was established in a shop on Leslie Street before moving to bigger premises in the town’s Wellmeadow.
Over the years, the shop has moved seven times around Blairgowrie.
“We’ve had a great 31 years in the town,” he said. “I can take away a lot of great memories and I’ve made a lot of great friends.
“But in the last few years, we’ve seen a lot of our main suppliers in Scotland packing up shop or going out of business.
“We’ve also found that CDs don’t get re-pressed the same way they used to. It’s now the case that once they have the initial run of 500 or so, they just don’t press any more discs.”
He added: “Its also been tough competing against the internet. We’ve seen people in the shop, checking out our stock and then looking up the records online.
“Our front window has become a bit of a showroom, sadly.
“Even though we’ve been selling our stock much cheaper than you get on the internet, people are still preferring to go to places like Amazon and buy from there for some reason.”
Tommy hasn’t named a date for closure, but said the shop will shut some time in the next three months.
In a statement posted online, he thanked customers for their loyal support.
“Over the last 31 years we have been delighted to try and provide a good service for the local community, in and around Blairgowrie,” he posted. “We have made many many new friends, through the shop, and have enjoyed adding to the visitor numbers and tourist trade in the town.”
