The empire continues its mission to wipe out independents.

Running a record store in 2016 isn’t easy, that much we can tell you, and running a music distributor isn’t without its problems either. Cutting off supply to small stores with low buying power though is not the way to repair an ailing business model though, and that’s exactly what Warner Music have been accused of.

According to Pitchfork, WEA, the distribution arm of Warner Music, has cut off “about a hundred” retailers, actioning an aging policy that requires stores to maintain a $10,000 minimum annual order.

“WEA proudly supports hundreds of independent vinyl retailers across the country with direct distribution, and many more through other channels.” A representative for WEA told the magazine. “Last week, in accordance with our long-time policy, we recommended that a limited number of retailers would be better served by working with one of the many vinyl wholesale partners that carry all of our artists’ releases.”

While WEA added that not all of the stores concerned were record shops (the number included gift shops and other retail spaces) and that some of the stores concerned hadn’t ordered vinyl in some time, it’s a dangerous precedent to set.

The problem with actioning this policy is that it maintains an awkward hierarchy in the system. Smaller stores will be forced to use one-stop distributors for product – these distributors buy from WEA and then add their own mark-up. This means that these records will cost the consumer considerably more than in a competing chain store – say Urban Outfitters, for example – who have the buying power to continue to purchase product directly from WEA.

Sadly, this isn’t anything new, and has been a problem that has plagued the music retail industry for years. Large distributors have long prioritized large accounts by offering bulk pricing that the smaller indies simply can’t compete with, but at a time when record shops are disappearing, it feels like a further nail in the coffin.

Read next: Why vinyl hype is destroying the record.