After all, the same six conglomerates that own the major label record companies own the major print, radio and television resources. They can virtually ensure a record's success by getting virtually simultaneous airplay at stations they own all over the country, get coverage to support a band's live concerts in the major print media, and estimate, with remarkable accuracy, what sales will be generated. The major labels can also afford the extremely high prices to 'air' selections from new releases at listening booths stationed in major music super stores, and the indies, for the most part, cannot. What music the public hears has been traditionally controlled by the very wide marketing arms of the record labels. These selections are usually not chosen by the retailer, but by the record company or distributor that pays the store for the privilege.
Some stores have sound systems that play music continuously throughout the day.
With few exceptions, the selections are the same as those available at listening booths, and are paid for by recording labels. Retailers often charge for space to stack recordings on the floor or in some prominent location near the entrance and for all space to display posters. For the first time, the consumer can listen to, download and buy music of their choice. The number of visitors to these sites exceeds tens of millions, making it abundantly clear that they want to exercise that choice. It is as though the Berlin Wall that divided the major from the independent label industry has come down and the public is rushing across.