The local mom and pop record stores are continuing to struggle amidst the growing digital age of mp3 downloads, both legal and illegal. While annual Record Store Day is a start it will not save the indie store. Enter the Coalition of Independent Music Stores, a network of nationwide indie record stores that started Thinkindie.com earlier this month. With a rigorous vetting process, CIMS enlists stores that they consider to be “button pushers” in their local music scene. Each of those stores has their own homepage within the site where they can list their staff picks and upcoming in store performances.

So how does this support your local music store? Well, after you register with the website and give them your location, you are assigned to your local indie store and each time you buy an album CIMS “rewards” that store, I would assume that means monetarily.

So next time you are about to go to iTunes or Rhapsody to buy an album check Think Indie first and support your local music scene.

Dallas’ local representatives are CD World and Good Records.