by Margaret Burns
MTV College Stringer
January 30, 1998

When you talk to Rick Wilkerson, owner of Missing Link Records, it's immediately obvious that you're talking to someone who knows the Indy music scene. Missing Link has been a fixture on Broad Ripple Avenue since 1994, but just recently moved in with Rick's Records, which is not owned by Wilkerson, over on East 54th Street. Rick said that when Missing Link first opened, artists and customers would beg him to stock independent stuff, but that "every year it just got a little worse." 

Artists on the Indy music scene have been critical of clubs that are reducing their live music schedule, but Rick said that there are a few reasons for the trend. "What's happening here [is] there used to be 'Rock the Ripple' a few times a year, but the bands went somewhere else. US THREE moved to Bloomington; Paul Mayhern, who was a revered performer on the local scene, moved to Bloomington and is now at Echo Park as a great producer." 

Another important factor according to Rick is that "the bars have tried it [scheduling local bands], but they weren't making any money. Not enough fans, who knows why? But when 30 people show up, that's not good business. Now there's a trend away from bars to more alternative venues."

In terms of his store and its selection, Rick said that the decision to move in with Rick's Records has been good. "The two stores stock totally different genres, so it's really a store within a store. We have the finest vinyl selection around, and a lot of DJ's come in here for records." 

Missing Link has still maintained its focus on local and original material, despite a somewhat waning interest. "We try to identify bands that we think are interesting, and of course we also honor customer requests." Manager Todd Hinchon agrees. "We're a small enough store to where we can take a chance on something and stock one or two of a CD."

From a musician's perspective, Rick says there is a lot bubbling under the surface of the music scene in Indy, and he thinks that "something big" will happen this year, but he's just not sure he can pin down what it will be. It's "just a feeling," he says. On the horizon, he says, "Look out for THE MAGICAL ATTRACTION OF BOOTY, a very cool funk-inspired group."