Tyler Dumas

San Marcos may soon have the sad distinction of being one of the few college towns in America that doesn't have a record store.  Bobcat Update's Tyler Dumas has more on the story.

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For a lot of folks these days…music simply isn't packaged this way.  With the rise of streaming services, most music purchases are in the digital format…or it's not purchased at all. But for those who want to hold something in their hands or just like their music at 33 & 1/3 R-P-M's, an independent record store may seem a magical place.
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With digital streaming dominating the market, local, independent record stores are finding it harder to keep their doors open.  Superfly's Lonestar Music Emporium in San Marcos is facing that very problem. Superfly's roots are down the road in Gruene, Texas, but it has called San Marcos home since 2012.
The move took place to University Drive in San Marcos occurred after Sundance Records closed shop after more than 30 years in the city.  Superfly's is part of a larger organization called Lonestar Music. Its primary focus is on roots-based  music or what is now termed Americana. But the store carries a wide array of music. Owner Zach Jennings bought the company in 2009.
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Though he acknowledges that people aren't buying music like they used to, he finds it odd that a college town with so many ties to music can't seem to support a record store.
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He says the store's location on University Drive, and towing practices in the area have influenced Superfly's business.
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In a letter posted to Facebook in mid-February, Jennings broke the news of the possible closure…and at the time it seemed like a very real possibility.  He's now more optimistic because he believes changing locations will provide a solution, though nothing is certain.
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Superfly's lease is up in April.  And then…well…we'll see if San Marcos still has a record store.  So go check them out while they are still here.  If you buy an album and listen to it from start to finish, it might just change the way you think about music.  For Bobcat Update, I'm Tyler Dumas.