Who remembers the days of walking into HMV and seeing the artist of the moment's latest CDs displayed at the front of shop. Well it seems like all you can do is "remember" those days. As of 2018 streaming now accounts for 75% of the revenue off music industry, music has almost fully moved to Digital Streaming Platforms. 15 years ago streaming platforms did not exist.
Is this a good thing?
The positives of this is the convenience, music is more accessible than ever, a few taps on your phone and you have access to an almost limitless collection of records for a monthly. Long gone are the days of copying and pasting links on the "YouTube to MP3 Converter" and downloading it to your phone and apps like "Tubidy" aren't so prominent anymore. For context Tubidy is a video downloading app. These methods I just mentioned are incredibly tedious compared to streaming services.
Physical copies (CDs or Vinyl) is more expensive way or purchasing music, its more beneficial to the artists but less beneficial to your pockets as a consumer because your paying a fee for a singular project rather than a monthly fee for a whole app of music.
I don't see the problem, streaming for the win!
But wait. When you have records that are available to you anywhere and everywhere, it kind of ruins the thrill of music. Buying the original CD can make the moment more special because if you connect with album you now have physical representation of that moment. The hobby of travelling up and down to record stores to find your favourite is no where near as common as it was. Just the simple graft of searching record shops for a specific vinyl can add some special nostalgia when listening to it.
I think that is why there is plenty of conversation about the fast food culture that consumers have now. If new music is constantly available, certain consumers are going to be looking for the next thing. All the time. People are not cherishing albums like they used to because all they had to was tap and download. Do you remember the feeling of your favourite artists brand new CD in your hand, it was almost like looking at new trainers.
So you miss the physical copies era?
Listen, a lot of music has dropped since the streaming took over. It would just be nice to have the physical copies of the albums I loved over the years, to have that land mark there right in front of me, close enough to touch. At the same time its nice to have the convenience. Its a weird one, but I'm sure you music heads will understand the complexity of the issue.
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