Bull Moose Music


Bull Moose is an independent retailer and record store chain based in Portland, Maine, USA. The chain has operated since 1989 and has nine locations in Maine and three in New Hampshire. It has been featured in various newspapers throughout Maine and New Hampshire. It was founded by Brett Wickard in Brunswick, Maine in 1989, though he did not file it as a Business Corporation until 1995. Bull Moose was started with $37,000. Chris Brown was hired in 1991 as a clerk and later became the creator of Record Store Day, and the company's Vice President.
Wickard and Brown often appear on local news channel WCSH to discuss the latest media trends. They were covered by Bloomberg for using unique predictive algorithms to drive media sales. The retailer defies rumors of a dying physical media industry with its increased sales, sparking interest from media outlets in how Bull Moose manages to make a profit in tough times for other record stores such as Tower Records. The Portland Press-Herald has also covered Bull Moose Music and Wickard's business journey several times.

Record Store Day

Bull Moose promotes local involvement and independent retailers, and is known in Maine as a business that creates community. The retailer is often cited in Maine as "the best record store." In 2007 when Brown was head of Bull Moose marketing, an email chain with Michael Kurtz, head of the Department of Record Stores, sparked the idea for Record Store Day. Each year the co-founders at the Department of Record Stores works to collaborate with multiple artists for exclusive releases made especially for Record Store Day. The releases for 2017 included works from David Bowie, Prince, St. Vincent, and more. The Department of Record Stores keeps a list of participating independent record stores.

LEGO">Lego">LEGO Fire Walk

The Bull Moose Facebook account posted an image of a LEGO Fire Walk they created at the South Portland, ME based store to promote sales of The LEGO Movie on June 19, 2014. It was shared by famous Star Trek actor George Takei, and subsequently went viral. It was also covered by local news.

Music Events

Bull Moose is locally known for their in-store music events with musicians like The Decemberists, Mumford and Sons, and Wilco.
Bull Moose has hosted the following artists:
ArtistDate of Performance or SigningBull Moose LocationNoteworthy Information
The Dresden DollsLive Performance on February 6, 2005Scarborough, ME
Regina SpektorLive Performance on June 5, 2005Scarborough, MESpektor released a live EP of her performance in August 2005.
Click FiveLive Performance in early 2006Scarborough, MEClick Five released a live EP of their performance in March 2006.
Rocco DelucaAutograph Signing on July 16, 2006Scarborough, MEKiefer Sutherland attended to promote Deluca.
Amanda Palmer Autograph Signing on September 17, 2008Portland, ME
DisturbedAutograph Signing on April 18, 2009Portland, ME
Ani DiFrancoLive Performance on April 17, 2009Scarborough, MEAni DiFranco performed at 1pm
Killswitch EngageAutograph Signing on April 17, 2009Scarborough, MEKillswitch Engage signed autographs at 4pm
The DecemberistsLive Performance on January 30, 2011Scarborough, METhe Decemberists released a live EP of their performance in March 2011.
Mumford & SonsLive Performance on August 3, 2012Scarborough, MEMumford & Sons released a live EP of their performance in April 2013
Imagine DragonsLive Performance on September 10, 2012Scarborough, ME
John Densmore Autograph Signing on April 20, 2013Scarborough, METhis was a launch for Densmore's book, The Doors: Unhinged and also an event to promote Record Store Day.
Mike Mills of R.E.M.Autograph Signing on April 19, 2014Scarborough, METhis was an autograph signing to promote Record Store Day.
SeetherAutograph Signing on May 9, 2014Bangor, ME
Against Me!Autograph Signing on July 27, 2014Scarborough, ME
The String Cheese IncidentLive Performance on November 4, 2014Scarborough, ME
Grace PotterAutograph Signing on August 19, 2015Scarborough, ME
WilcoLive Performance on January 27, 2016Scarborough, ME
Graham NashLive Performance on April 16, 2016Scarborough, METhis was a concert to promote Record Store Day.
Gov't MuleLive Performance on August 20, 2016Scarborough, ME
All Time LowAutograph Signing on September 3, 2016Bangor, MEBull Moose released a limited run free poster for people who attended this event.
FozzyAutograph Signing on April 7, 2018Portland, ME