Amoeba Music > Who We Are

	Since 1990, Amoeba Music has welcomed independent music lovers of all kinds to our unique, vibrant stores in Berkeley, San Francisco and Hollywood. We stock every kind of music and movies -- from the top 40 to the best in underground rock and hip-hop, soul, electronica, new and classic jazz, world music, roots music and experimental music. We also have the biggest, most diverse and affordable selection of DVDs and vinyl LPs found anywhere. Since we're a trading post for new and used discs, our stock changes daily, and just about anything you're looking for can be found here. We're more than just a record store -- we're a 21st century music outlet, a website, a popular live performance venue, and together with our customers we're a meeting place for California's most colorful community of progressive and creative minds. Our staff is an all-star team of music retail veterans, with a collective depth of knowledge that is virtually unparalleled in the business. Many of us are musicians, or make music our lives in one way or another, and we take seriously the importance of our customers' relationship to music. We put customer service first and foremost -- our mission is to bring people and music together and to make everyone feel at home. Amoeba Music began at a time when the huge chain stores were mercilessly swallowing up independent stores and local chain stores, depriving communities across the country of a personal relationship with their music outlets, and destroying the opportunity to discover a whole world of music beyond what corporate retailers wanted them to see. Amoeba arose out of that community of music lovers that wanted a better place for music than a corporate chain store -- one with the widest possible selection, better service, and more respect for people's ideas and lives. Together with you, we are that community of independent artists and listeners that wanted something more, and with you we've been able to take root and thrive in California's most amazing cities. We're humbled by and thankful for the continuing support and success we've found in trying to create a store and a venue that's worthy of great music. Our newest stores in San Francisco and Hollywood are big-city sized but have that same independent Berkeley spirit. These easy-to-get-to locations in the classic Haight-Ashbury and Sunset Strip locales feature vast, unbeatable selection, and are constantly hosting incredible free live performances and musical events. If you love music, let us be your ultimate source for inspiration! Back To Top >
	BERKELEY Historic Telegraph Avenue runs just south the University of California. This walkable neighborhood is famous for its radical activism and open-mindedness -- you'll love the bookstores (Moe's, Shakespeare & Co., Shambala), the many cafes (Mediteraneum, Intermezzo, Strada), the vintage clothing stores, People's Park, and THE PEOPLE! What a wonderful mix of humanity you'll find, with such diversity, style and spontaneity. Berkeley and the San Francisco Bay Area is THE PLACE TO BE for music lovers. We have the best radio stations, music performance spaces, and music audiences in the U.S. Come visit and see for yourself why thousands of people visit each week! SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco is one of the most magical and forward-thinking cities in the world. The tree-lined Victorian streets of the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood have some of the greatest independent book stores, vintage clothing stores, cafes, psychedelic emporiums and weirdo curiosity shops ANYWHERE... and people watching doesn't get much better! Not to mention the vast, enticing greenery of nearby Golden Gate Park. Ever since the Summer of Love in '67, the Haight has been the epicenter for cutting-edge cultural change. For many decades it's continued to be a mecca for free-thinkers and musicians. Come see where the "San Francisco Sound" was born and continues to thrive! LOS ANGELES If there truly is a gravitational center to Los Angeles, it's on Sunset Boulevard in newly revitalized Downtown Hollywood. We're right in the middle of the wild and funky Entertainment District with its many great theaters, restaurants, nightclubs, and cool shops, and the Media District, literally packed with hundreds of music, film, and video studios -- an incredible mix of activity! Next door to us is the landmark 1961 Cineramadome, a one-of-a-kind movie theatre in a huge geodesic dome. It's now a part of L.A.'s cutting-edge multiplex, the Arclight theaters. We're blocks away from the historic walking neighborhood of Hollywood and Vine, where you can follow the gold stars down the Walk of Fame commemorating legendary entertainers. The Cahuenga corridor of hip clubs and bars is where young Hollywood (and the rest of L.A.) comes to party -- the Sunset Room, the Beauty Bar, Cinespace, the Burgundy Room, the Hotel Cafe and more. Just a few blocks east are the Hollywood Palladium, the Henry Fonda, and the Vanguard. We're also just steps away from the greatest Farmer's Market in Los Angeles every Sunday morning, a lively communal event that's not to be missed. Earth-minded and music-loving Angelenos often make a ritual Sunday trip to the Farmer's Market followed by a visit to our store! Back To Top >
	WE’VE ALREADY RAISED OVER $150,000… Amoeba Music has been doing all we can to help raise funds for Gulf Coast Relief. We’re collecting donations at all three of our stores and holding weekly in-store auctions in the Hollywood and San Francisco stores. The auctions, hosted by Amoeba's own Brently Heilbron, happen EVERY Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. in Hollywood and feature memorabilia, collectables, concert tickets, promotional items and much more. There are so many organizations and charities doing a tremendous amount of work to help those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Amoeba has been working with the following organizations focusing on rebuilding the community, assisting the thousands of musicians who have lost everything as well as sheltering and nurturing the many orphaned animals throughout the Gulf Coast region. New Orleans Musician’s Clinic The Tipitina’s Foundation The American Red Cross Oxfam America The Humane Society In order to help increase funds, we’ve been matching all individual donations and auction bids up to $1,000. To date, we have raised over $150,000 which has been sent to these 6 organizations: New Orleans Musicians Clinic NOMC is a non-profit occupational medicine and wellness partnership offering comprehensive health care to the musicians of New Orleans. They are determined to keep Louisiana music alive and to relocate New Orleans musicians into the Lafayette / Acadiana community where they can remain a life force! Tipitina's Foundation Started by the landmark New Orleans music venue, the Tipitina’s Foundation’s mission is to help save and rebuild the community of New Orleans. They are currently finding musicians housing, gigs and instruments while raising funds through donations and nationwide benefit concerts. OXFAM America For the first time in its 35-year history, OXFAM has launched a relief effort within the United States to help the residents of the Gulf Coast region. They have been distributing food, supplies, and electric generators to some of the hardest-hit areas, and are also providing emergency grants to local organizations in the region. American Red Cross To help with disaster recovery, The Red Cross assists thousands of victims with financial assistance, food, shelter, referrals as well as physical and mental health services. Less than a month after Katrina, Hurricane Rita lashed the Gulf coast and left massive devastation in its wake. The American Red Cross serves the victims of Hurricane Rita as it has done with Hurricane Katrina, but must rely on the ongoing support of the American public. Humane Society of America The Humane Society’s Disaster Animal Response Teams have rescued thousands of animals in Louisiana and Mississippi - with many more still stranded and in need of care and new homes. AIDS / LIFECYCLE AIDS / LifeCycle is co-produced by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and is designed to advance their shared interests to end the pandemic and human suffering caused by AIDS. In 2006, Amoeba supported one of our own: Amoebite and HIV positive pedaler, Craig Hermes. Through donation boxes in all of our stores, exposure on our web site and through our e-newsletter we helped Craig in raising the funds he needed to enroll in the ride. In doing so, he became the first-ever dual-city fundraiser cycling 600 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles over 7 days. AIDS IS NOT OVER. 2006 marks a grim anniversary -- 25 years since the first reported case of what later came to be known as AIDS. In California alone there are more than 47,000 people living with AIDS, and an estimated 94,000 to 130,500 living with HIV. Nationally, more than half of all new infections occur in communities of color and affect people under the age of 25. TSUMAMI DISASTER 2004 - SUPPORT THROUGH CARE When the devastation hit Southeast Asia in December of 2004, Amoeba immediately responded by uniting with one of the most effective non-profit organizations in the world, CARE. Within days of the disaster, Amoeba contacted CARE and through donation buckets in our stores and links to the CARE donation web page, we helped to bring in over $15,000, which went directly to a fund helping more than a quarter of a million people who lost their lives and millions more lost their homes. Southeast Asia is still recovering from the massive tsunami, and CARE is still there supporting those that need them. In India, they’re rebuilding water systems and working to repair and upgrade schools. In Indonesia CARE is still providing food and shelter for 350,000 displaced survivors. In Sri Lanka, CARE continues to help villagers make shores safer. Assistance also continues in Thailand and Somalia where small-business loans will make it possible to reestablish livelihoods. Families have sturdy temporary shelters to use until permanent ones are constructed. SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS: Sweet Relief - provides financial and medical assistance Rhythm & Blues Foundation Internos - provides musical instruments and lessons to children in Los Angeles who need them Hollygrove - a non-profit organization that has served nearly 20,000 abused and neglected children in its 125-year history Los Angeles Free Clinic R.A.I.N.N. - organization helping rape and incest victims Hollywood Arts Council Amesty International Gay & Lesbian Task Force American Parkinson's Disease Association Los Angeles Children’s Hospital Five Acres - toys for children during Xmas 2004 Gay Pride Los Angeles / Gay Pride San Francisco DAX PIERSON FUND Dax Pierson (Amoeba Berkeley buyer and keyboardist for Anticon music collective, Subtle) was left partially paralyzed after a severe freeway accident in February. A huge thanks to all the Amoeba Angels (our beloved customers and friends) who have contributed money to Dax's Recovery Fund and supported Dax on his courageous journey. Over $100,000 was raised for Dax's recovery and more money is still needed! If you'd like to help, please stop by any Amoeba location and pick up one of Dax's signature PINK BANDANAS for a $10 donation or one of the NEW DAX logo T-SHIRTS for a $20 donation. A special benefit CD, "Irreplaceable Hand" (featuring tracks by Odd Nosdam, Matmos, Nurse With Wound, A.C. Way, High Vulture, Thomas Carnacki, Galena, irr.app.(ext.), Barely Human Dance theatre, Sleep On It, Moe!Staiano, Petit Mal, & Lucifer Meltdown) is for sale at every Amoeba store, with all proceeds going directly to Dax's recovery. Dax is now settled in home-sweet-home Berkeley and actively working on music from his fully-equipped home studio. He has a new computer and music software and has been composing beautiful instrumental arrangements! He's been attending mixing sessions with Subtle, and even playing a bit on harmonica. Some of the money that was raised was used to buy him a special wheelchair and a van so he can get around. He’s excited to be back home again. Dax is still working for Amoeba--writing reviews and keeping up with music. Music is the fuel that keeps him going each day! Back To Top >
	We donate a portion of our profits each year to the Rainforest Action Network. To date we have helped save over 1,000,000 acres of tropical rainforest. Please contact the Rainforest Action Network or another organization involved in helping to save our earth from selfish exploitation! Rainforest Action Network (RAN) works to protect the Earth's rainforests and support the rights of their inhabitants through education, grassroots organizing, and non-violent direct action. RAN accomplishes its mission through dynamic, hard-hitting campaigns that work to bring corporate and governmental policies into alignment with popular support for rainforest conservation. RAN works in alliance with environmental and human rights groups around the world, including indigenous forest communities and non-governmental organizations in rainforest countries. Back To Top >