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Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Rise and Fall of Tower Records

For years, the yellow and red Tower Records logo was familiar to music lovers around the world. What started as an annex to a family drug store in Sacramento spread to 30 countries on five continents. Its iconic store was on the Sunset Strip. In 1999, Tower had sales of over $1 billion. Just seven years later, it filed for bankruptcy.

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By Madeleine Brand • Oct 15, 2015 • 1 min read

For years, the yellow and red Tower Records logo was familiar to music lovers around the world. What started as an annex to a family drug store in Sacramento spread to 30 countries on five continents. Its iconic store was on the Sunset Strip. In 1999, Tower had sales of over $1 billion. Just seven years later, it filed for bankruptcy.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Madeleine Brand

    Host, 'Press Play'

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Matt Holzman

    Producer, 'The Document'

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Anna Scott

    Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

  • KCRW placeholder

    Jolie Myers

    Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Colin Hanks

    actor, producer and director

    News
Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand