“It’s become impossible to operate sustainably as a predominantly brick and mortar musical instrument retailer in the UK”: Scotland’s Kenny’s Music is the latest guitar shop chain to close its doors – despite strong sales figures

A rack of Gretsch guitars in a guitar store, with a line of budget amps on the floor.

It has been another grim week for the music retail sector as Scottish guitar store chain Kenny’s Music has closed its doors for good, with its managing director offering a bleak outlook for the sector, arguing that is now “impossible” to operate as a brick-and-mortar gear retailer in the UK.

Kenny’s Music operated stores in Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dunfermline, and sold gear online. Its store in Dunfermline had only reopened in 2022. It was no analog holdout either; its ground game on social media was strong. Check out the Kenny’s Music Instagram page; they knew how to market gear.