Digitial revolution... and a persistence of recording companies to put out bland, mindless music, ad infinitum.
In Denver there's two good sized independent music shops. One of them, Twist and Shout - moved into a brand new building a couple years ago. Further, its owner is adamant that "online piracy" doesn't hurt sales, but increases them because of the number of people he's met that come in looking to buy albums from bands they found out about online.
Kind of surprised the RIAA hasn't assassinated him for that remark...
Here in Austin as one might expect there are a number of shops specializing in records and music.