November 1, 2007:

PAVI Film & Music Business Instructor Keith Parry’s ‘Scratch Records’ Company Celebrates 20th Anniversary.

Keith Parry says he didn't even have a two-year plan when he launched Scratch Records, but two decades later, the shop has become an indie-music institution. After a couple of years of postsecondary studies, Parry seized the opportunity to take over Continuum Records, which was going out of business. The then 20-year-old put his student loan money into starting Scratch, even living in the back room of the store's first location (at 317A Cambie Street).

In 1991, Scratch became a record label in its own right, and has grown into one of North America's most respected independent music distributors. Through it all, the store (now located at 726 Richards Street) has remained. Parry admits that music retailers face challenges in 2007, but he's confident that Scratch won't be shutting its doors any time soon. "Brick-and-mortar stores aren't just in competition with people who don't pay for music, they're also in competition with dozens–if not hundreds or thousands–of on-line retailers," Parry told the Straight . "If your store doesn't have something in stock, someone's going to go to Amazon, someone's going to go to Insound or eBay. So stores are going to have to do a good job with the music and provide a service that they're not going to get on-line, and provide a fun environment for people to keep coming."

Scratch Records celebrates its 20th anniversary with a series of shows, kicking off with sets by Black Mountain, Climax Golden Twins, and Mexican Power Authority at Richard's on Richards on Saturday (November 3). The party continues at Pat's Pub on November 9, with tunes by Thor, the Tranzmitors, Vancougar, French Paddleboat, and the Weathered Pines, and festivities wrap up the next night with Destroyer, Vote Robot, Pink Mountaintops, the Riff Randells, Dustin Cole, and Hilarity!! at Richard's on Richards.

See:
www.scratchrecords.com