The Music Business Association (Music Biz) will present its prestigious Independent Spirit Award to the Radakovitz Family, owners of the iconic Sacramento, CA-based record store chain Dimple Records, during the Music Biz 2018 conference’s Awards Breakfast — sponsored by the Country Music Association — on Wednesday, May 16, at the Omni Nashville Hotel.
“Over the last three-plus decades, the Radakovitz Family and Dimple Records have shown tremendous dedication to the independent music community, ensuring that their stores are not only retail spaces, but also gathering spots for the local music scene,” said James Donio, President of Music Biz. “They perfectly embody the core values of innovative thinking, entrepreneurship, and success that stand at the heart of the Independent Spirit Award, and we are thrilled to present them with this honor.”
After beginning his career at Canterbury Records in Sacramento, John Radakovitz formed River City Record Wholesalers in 1974, a rack jobbing business that also maintained a small store where other record retailers could buy products. Dilyn Radakovitz — who married John in 1967 and together are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary this year — joined the company as a clerk, bookkeeper, and more. In 1983, they decided to capitalize on the record industry’s apex by expanding the store to form Dimple Records, which has since grown to seven retail locations: including two record stores and two Books & Vinyl stores in Sacramento, CA, along with locations in Citrus Heights, CA; Roseville, CA; and Folsom, CA. Today, Dilyn and John continue to run the stores alongside their sons, Oliver and Andrew.
Over the years, Dimple has hosted live in-store performances from a diverse group of acts that includes Smashing Pumpkins, Papa Roach, Tesla, E-40, Chubby Checker, Matisyahu, Slayer, Venom, Too Short, J-Stalin, Twiztid, Hollywood Undead, DJ Drama, Ghostface Killah, George Clinton, Method Man, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Paul Wall, Neyo, Wale, Joe Satriani, and many more. The store also places a strong emphasis on community by promoting local artists, labels and studios; selling tickets in-store for shows at local venues; running charity events for food drives, toy drives, The Red Cross, prison outreach, The Atomic Angels, and other groups; and giving discounts to schools to help them raise funds to keep music and sports programs in their curriculum.
Dilyn currently serves as the Treasurer of the retail coalition, The Department of Record Stores (DORS), which is a co-organizer of the global Record Store Day event with the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) and the Association of Independent Media Stores (AIMS); and also sits on the Music Biz Board of Directors, where she is in her second three-year term.
“This is quite an honor, and we thank Music Biz for recognizing Dimple,” said Dilyn Radakovitz. “Ever since we opened our first store, we have strived to build up and support our Sacramento community, while also advocating for the best interests of independent music retailers throughout the country. It is gratifying to have all of that hard work acknowledged.”
“Back when we first started Dimple Records, I never would’ve believed that we’d be receiving an Award like this,” said John Radakovitz. “I’m glad that we’ve been able to make a positive impact on our hometown and beyond, and we look forward to keeping that going as we bring Dimple into the future.”
The Radakovitz’s and Dimple will join the ranks of previous Independent Spirit Award winners: Terry Currier of Music Millennium; Glenn Dicker and Tor Hansen of Redeye USA; John Kunz of Waterloo Records & Video; Jonathan Poneman of Sub Pop Records; the Record Store Day Organizers; Brett Gurewitz of Epitaph Records; Joe and Rachelle Friedman of J&R Music & Computer World; Tom Silverman of Tommy Boy Entertainment; and Don VanCleave, formerly of the Coalition of Independent Music Stores and currently of The Artist Organization.
Music Biz 2018 is the music industry’s premier event, giving the commerce and content sectors a place to meet with trading partners, network with new companies, and learn about new trends and products impacting the music business. This year’s event will feature the presentation of the Presidential Award for Outstanding Executive Achievement to Cary Sherman, CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); and a Breakthrough Artist Award to Republic Records singer/songwriter Julia Michaels, with much more to be announced.
Those who would like to propose ideas for presentations, panels, case studies, or interviews can do so via the event’s official Call for Presentations, which is open now through November 10. Registration for Music Biz 2018 is open now at http://musicbiz2018.