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MAGAZINE, January 2002. VOL.9 ISSUE 1
ABOUT TOWN:
Taichung's CD Stores:
Providing Old,
New and New Age
Music to the Masses
By Tammy Huang and Cheryl Robbins
Translated by John Johnson and Sharon Yang
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Rose Records
7, Tzuen Shian (Tzun Hsien) St.
Tel: 04-2227-3505
Hours: 10 am-11 pm weekdays; 9 am-11 pm weekends and holidays
The non-stop music played at this store makes you feel as
if you are on a dance floor. The store stocks a variety of
Western music, including as hip-hop, techno, metal and rock.
It also houses hard-to-find alternative rock by Asian artists.
Everything is arranged alphabetically by music category. If
you are unable to find what you are looking for and are too
shy to ask the staff for help in person, leave a message and
a staff member will call you with the results of their search.
The store encourages students to study hard and rewards those
who receive high marks on their exams by offering them CDs.
You can receive a discount on CDs if you bring a receipt from
the nearby McDonald's. This store often has promotions and
activities, so make sure and stop by so that you don't miss
out!
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Ta Chung Records
431, Fu Shing (Fu Hsing) Rd. (near Feng Chia University)
Tel: 04-2452-1337
Hours: 10 am-12 midnight
112-1, San Mien (San Min) Rd.
Tel: 04-2226-3588
Hours: 10:30 am-10:30 pm
This franchise started as a small family store
in Tainan and now controls about 25 pervcent of the music
market in Taiwan. Each store has a large floor area, a wide
selection and low prices, which is why this chain is so popular
with music lovers. This is the best place to come to for Asian
pop, as it is often the exclusive distributor of new releases.
Ta Chung Records also differs from other CD stores in that
it organizes autograph sessions and performances by the latest
stars.
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Ta
Ti Chih Yin (Sounds of the World)
6F, 186, Fu Shing (Fu Hsing) Rd., sec. 4
No telephone number
Hours: 11 am-10 pm Sun-Fri; 10:30 am-10:30 pm Sat
This store generally appeals to the average shopper and is becoming
more and more popular for its increasingly diverse selection,
including CDs, VCDs, and DVDs. Ta Ti Chih Yin is cashing in
on the latest Korean craze, and is probably the best place in
the city to find Korean programs and music.
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Hai Shan (Sea and Mountain) Records
11F, 111, Taijung Gang (Taichung Kang) Rd., sec. 2
Tel: 04-2259-8961
Hours: 11 am-10 pm
12F, 299, Taijung Gang (Taichung Kang) Rd.,
sec. 1 (SOGO Department Store)
Tel: 04-2329-6906
Hours: 11 am-10 pm
11-1, San Mien (San Min) Rd., sec. 3 (10F,
C Building, Chung Yo Department Store)
Tel: 04-2221-0991
Hours: 11 am-10 pm
Although branch stores of Sea and Mountain Records tend to
be located in large department stores, they strive to provide
an atmosphere that is quiet and comfortable. All of the employees
are helpful and friendly, able to introduce a variety of CDs
in detail to help you choose what you need. For example, if
you are looking for soothing music to help you relax--such
as classical music or jazz--they can usually find the perfect
choice, or at least something to suit your taste. The selection
here is impressive, including classical music, jazz and non-mainstream
music, especially CDs that are hard to find in other stores.
Every two months, the stores offer discounts based on a musical
theme.
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Wind Records
1F, 400, Uen Shin (Wen Hsin) South 2nd Rd.
Tel: 04-2475-7616
Hours: 12 noon-8 pm Mon-Sat; 12 noon-6 pm Sun
Wind Records mostly produces and distributes New Age and environmental
music. It has opened three stores, one each in Taipei, Kaohsiung
and Taichung, to directly sell its CDs. The Taichung branch
opened in August, 2000, and is a small, comfortable wood-panelled
store where customers are encouraged to take their time to
browse, and can listen to any CD before making a purchase.
According to store manager Ivy Ho, all of the store's staff
receive on-going training so that they are able to explain
each CD in detail, including the production process and anecdotes
about the music and musicians. Most of this store's customers
are over 30 and have some familiarity with Wind Records. With
its friendly, no-pressure atmosphere, it is no wonder that
people tend to return to this store again and again to check
out new releases (averaging two to three per month) and to
find out about upcoming Wind Records events.
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