With the traditional record industry in the doldrums, some interesting new players have decided to take a punt on the business of selling music. Coffee chain Starbucks is one such new arrival. They have been selling various CDs from Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell along with their skinny lattes and frappuccinos for a number of years.
Many, though, will be surprised to learn that Sonic Youth are set to join those caffeinated ranks when they release the Hits Are for Squares compilation for the chain in 2008.
The album features musicians, actors, writers and fashion designers such as Jeff Tweedy, Dave Eggers, Eddie Vedder, David Cross, Beck and Marc Jacobs selecting their favourite Sonic Youth tracks.
Thurston Moore admits that some eyebrows were raised about the move. "Some people have a problem with it, but I think that going up against political correctness like that will always be a punk rock gesture. We did it because I like the notion of Sonic Youth records being in a place where they're not supposed to exist." After all, reasons Moore, where else do you go to buy CDs? "Tower closed down and Starbucks is thriving, so you have to do this if you want people to be able to get your records. These are the guys who are selling CDs."