I buy CDs, I buy LPs, I buy digital albums. Which one depends on a mix of availability, how much I want to spend on that particular album, and how it might work in those formats. We also use Spotify premium around the house for convenience and to check out new music.
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CDs
- Thread starter 48thStreetCustom
- Start date
I actually bought my current car, because it came with a CD player.
Man, I'm jealous. I can't remember the last time I sat still and listened to music. It's probably been 20 years....maybe more.
I was a little "get off my lawn" when the streaming formats came out. These days I'll still buy a CD to support a live act when I'm leaving the show. But I never listen to them on the CD. I just feel as though I paid for the "right" to stream that struggling band. I have some with the plastic still on them.
When we moved into our house 12 years ago, I dutifully placed my 25 CD changer on the shelf in the entertainment closet amd hooked it to the receiver.
We have hundreds of CDs in that closet. I think a few times my wife had played a favorite Christmas CD. Once I played some Meters for my kids to show them that "old music" can be funky. But there hasn't been a CD in that thing for probably 5 or 6 years.
Heck, we also have hundreds of DVDs and Blu-rays. We haven't played any of those in a couple of years either.
I'll have to read tye article layer and see if they say WHY there was an increase in sales.
I still buy CDs, but the problem with them seems to be that a lot of artists I listen to nowadays won't even release their stuff on physical media. So I'm stuck with Spotify or Bandcamp on a lot of cases.
IF I buy digital, I buy from bandcamp or directly from the band's website - and I still refuse to use streaming services apart from internet radio. Whenever possible, I buy the CD. It'll usually go with me to the office (my PC there is the only one left with a drive), where it'll be ripped to FLAC, then carefully stored away. I still have a CD player on my home stereo (Yes, I still run one of those, with big cabinets), but mostly use my network player to stream FLAC files from my NAS.
In general, whenever I spend money on music, I try and choose the way that a) leaves my with a physical copy of what I bought or b) sends the biggest amount possible towards the people who made the music and leaves out as many of the leeches as possible.
In general, whenever I spend money on music, I try and choose the way that a) leaves my with a physical copy of what I bought or b) sends the biggest amount possible towards the people who made the music and leaves out as many of the leeches as possible.
I, absolutely, still buy CDs. I am fortunate in that I dislike 99.99% of today's music so whatever I want is available to me on CD for dirt cheap.
Additionally, I don't have to worry about a Streaming Service arbitrarily revoking the license for any music I have on CD and removing it from my library.
Additionally, I don't have to worry about a Streaming Service arbitrarily revoking the license for any music I have on CD and removing it from my library.
I don’t remember the last time I bought a CD TBH.
The only thing I own that plays discs is my PS5. My 2020 Ram truck, doesn’t even have a CD player. I like not having to shuffle through a CD case.
The only thing I own that plays discs is my PS5. My 2020 Ram truck, doesn’t even have a CD player. I like not having to shuffle through a CD case.
I spend more than 40 hours a week dicking around with computers. I do NOT want to have to do more of that just to listen to a record. I also avoid all subscription services. Ever try to cancel one? So, CDs for me.
Probably because software is all downloaded now. If you buy a video game in store, you just get a code to download it on steam.My next laptop will most likely not come with a disc drive. I will be buying a SSD...and a plug-in USB disc-drive. I bought a spinner laptop last year. Slow-ski, I can't take it anymore!
Ditto... if they're in good condition, from Goodwill. Otherwise, Half Price Books is another resource.
Unless it's something specific, a 'greatest hits' from any group is a win, in my book.
I have never and will never use Spotify. I buy vinyl direct from the artist via Bandcamp if possible. I will buy through Amazon if something is just not available elsewhere, and I also haunt Discogs. I will buy a CD if I have to. The ECM label is one where sometimes a streaming release costs as much or more as a physical release. I am someone who, in general, prefers a physical copy. These days, however, many independent artists are choosing to forego a physical release due to cost, so I do have a lot streaming-only purchases on Bandcamp that I haven't downloaded.
I absolutely love the portability of digital tracks, but any music that I get for personal listening (not band prep), is on CDs. I rarely listen to them on the CD anymore, but burn everything into a digital format for consumption.
I'm old school enough to appreciate and digest the cover art and liner notes - not the same as the vinyl version, but I still like physical stuff.
Plus, when the songs mysteriously vanish from my PC (where do they go?), I still have them.
I'm old school enough to appreciate and digest the cover art and liner notes - not the same as the vinyl version, but I still like physical stuff.
Plus, when the songs mysteriously vanish from my PC (where do they go?), I still have them.
I still buy CDs as well, mainly for the artwork and liner notes / lyrics. In fact, I got the Foo Fighters Medicine at Midnight on CD for Christmas. After ripping it into iTunes and loading it onto my iPod, I sat and listened to the entire album.
The other reason is to ensure I will continue to have access to them music I like. I have several albums on CD that are now out of print, and many that would be difficult to find on streaming services.
The other reason is to ensure I will continue to have access to them music I like. I have several albums on CD that are now out of print, and many that would be difficult to find on streaming services.
See, that's the part I don't want to fool with. I just stuff the CD into a CD player (of whatever type, I have several) and listen. They never wear out, you know. It's not like LPs that wear out a little more with each playing.
(I also have no Apple equipment nor will I since they've moved their entire operation into "perma-subscribe" mode a decade or so ago. My CD players and CDs cost me $0.00/yr to maintain and keep access.)
I totally get that. Once in a while I'll pop a CD into the Blu-ray player and just listen that way.
Darned right! I wish I'd bought those Tony Martin fronted Black Sabbath albums back in the days. Now I gotta wait and see if Tony Iommi will ever make good on his promise of the Martin era box set. Not to mention the Coverdale era Deep Purple albums...
I grew up with vinyl and cassettes and started buying CDs as a teen in the late '80s. CDs remain my favourite medium. I kind of get the sentimental appeal of vinyl (and, yes, the tactile aspect of vinyl is kind of neat) but it's just too fragile and static-prone for my liking.
