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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Since You Asked: Barnett Bridge is supposed to be rusty Railroad Park groups object to homeless feeding plan Rogue River council considers marijuana tax Since You Asked: Some commercial lands still closed to hunters ... for now Emergency services Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Medford man pleads guilty to Ashland burglary, murder Fired employee allegedly fought with Crater Lake rangers Former hunting guide cited for allegedly poaching deer Fire consumes long-standing Butte Falls home Politics and Elections Dotterrer-Bates Senate race goes negative? 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Rogue River council considers marijuana tax ... Deer-killing disease won't taint meat for hunters ... Our View: 'Negative' is in the eye of the beholder ... Rogue River council considers marijuana tax ... Deer-killing disease won't taint meat for hunters ... End of the Line Advanced technology, economy conspire against Musichead When Eric von Radics started Musichead 17 years ago, CDs were all the rage. By DAMIAN MANN MailTribune.com By DAMIAN MANN Posted Nov. 20, 2010 @ 12:01 am Updated Nov 20, 2010 at 3:00 AM By DAMIAN MANN Posted Nov. 20, 2010 @ 12:01 am Updated Nov 20, 2010 at 3:00 AM » Social News When Eric von Radics started Musichead 17 years ago, CDs were all the rage. The 48-year-old musician still listens to a Sony Walkman, the predecessor to the iPod. Now, he gets young people coming into his store who mistakenly ask for CDs when they really want vinyl records. The digital age, coupled with a down economy, has struck a sour note for what was once a thriving business in downtown Medford. CDs, once touted as the best way to listen to music, have fallen on deaf ears for a younger generation used to getting music for free on the Internet. "The downloading was bad at first, but the economy just killed us," he said. Von Radics, who doesn't own an iPod, said he's going to sell off most of his inventory of CDs in the next few months at prices of $2 to $3, then shut the doors to Musichead. During the winter term, von Radics will teach group guitar and songwriting classes at Rogue Community College. Von Radics, who also gives private guitar lessons, is looking forward to the change. "It was hugely upsetting while I was deciding — while I was thinking about how to keep it going," he said. About six years ago, when iPods and other digital recorders took off, his business began a slow decline. He had to let go of employees as the years went by. "Last year, I was making a lot less than minimum wage," he said. Musichead first opened at 128 E. Main in 1993, then von Radics bought the building at 350 S. Riverside Ave. in 2001. At its peak, Musichead had a second storefront in Ashland and eight employees. The store also hosts bands from time to time. He got the idea for Musichead growing up in Alameda, Calif., flipping through records to find one that interested him at the Record Garden. "I was a Record Garden rat," he said. With a little help from his friends, he opened Musichead on a high note. "The first few years it grew pretty fast," he said. Doug Hill, a 40-year-old Medford musician who frequents Musichead, said it's sad to see a store shut its doors that helped inspire the local music scene. "These independent music stores have a charm to them and a kind of counter-culture feel," he said. "The whole culture of people talking about music was a really great thing." Hill said he still buys CDs because they offer a high-quality sound that is lacking in the downloadable format. Still, he does get music from iTunes, if he's not concerned about sound fidelity. Hill has known von Radics for about seven years. "He is a really talented musician," he said. Von Radics said knowing he has another job lined up at RCC takes a lot of the sting out of his big life change. He would like to get rid of his inventory as quick as he can so he can concentrate on his career as a teacher. "I hope it's a matter of months," he said. He's still left with a 5,000-square-foot retail space and a bank loan that requires the store to be owner-occupied. "I'm trying to hold onto it," he said. The store could eventually be used to teach music. In the meantime, von Radics will cut back on his six-day-a-week schedule at the store. He will likely open the store only two or three days a week while he's clearing out inventory. He said it's difficult competing with Internet prices for CDs. Some sites are charging just a penny, plus another $3 for shipping, he notes. "I'll just keep reducing the prices," he said. Even though it is sad to see the demise of his business, von Radics said it's been a longer ride than he ever expected. "I'm surprised at how long it lasted," he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476, or e-mail [email protected]. By DAMIAN MANN MailTribune.com By DAMIAN MANN Posted Nov. 20, 2010 @ 12:01 am Updated Nov 20, 2010 at 3:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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