48% of teenagers haven't bought a CD in a year, meaning that 52% of teenagers still buy more CDs than we do. [LA Times]
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@warf0x0r: Just cough up that 0.99 cents for a song and you'll be on the right side of the law.
I have to say I love my iPod more than I ever thought I would. Although, I have noticed recently a few songs that I thought should be on iTunes weren't offered.
The last CD I purchased was in July of last year. I'll only buy music from bands that I really enjoy, because I want to support their music. The "grassroots" method of finding new music (talking to friends, streaming content) is so much more fun, because any "discovery" is just more fantastic and exciting.
I still buy CDs, but that's probably because I'm turning into an old fogey who can't quite wrap my head around buying music without getting something physical out of the deal.
Plus, online music stores generally suck hard when it comes to classical music and opera, and I really hate entering the information myself (especially since Windows really sucks when you're typing in any language other than English due to a crazy way of handling diacriticals—something Macs unequivocally do much better).
Damn...still buying CDs and listening to classical music...I really am an old fogey, aren't I!
I haven't bought CDs for a long time. Actually, I don't think I've ever purchased one.
A lot of the reason is that I just simply don't like most music these days. Sure, I have a copy of two old CDs the folks had, but I didn't buy those.
Most music I listen to is generally from games (NES, SNES) or from mod-type files (that are provided for free download anyway).
PS, for those who want an outstanding value from an independant classical label, check out Harmonia Mundi's 50th anniversary collection. Lots of off the wall stuff, ranging from 8th century Roman Rite chant (the pre-Gregorian stuff) to the 1990s. A few twists on some old favorites (like Liszt's transcription of the Eroica symphony for piano). Lots here both for for classical newbs and those for whom it's old hat.
29 discs for $100 ain't bad at all.
I don't think the physical media/digital distinction matters that much, but I think it's sad that the current generation will really lose out on the concept of a cohesive album. Pink Floyd would've been awesome no matter what, but you can't really experience "The Wall" or "Dark Side of the Moon" without the whole thing. Downloading "Comfortably Numb" or "Money" is all well and good, but you're missing quite a bit. And yes, you can download a whole album, but that's generally not how downloaded music is actually experienced.
@Corydon: If you want classical, you can't really go wrong with Deutsche Grammophone's online store. To be honest I haven't bought from it, it just looks good to me.
It's been about 3 years since I bought a CD. Brick and mortar music stores almost seem old-fashioned to me now. Not to mention horribly overpriced.
Also, I have decided that I could do without a big ol' stack of CD's taking up space. I have lots that I bought years ago, and perhaps one day I will upload them all to my computer and get rid of the actual discs.
@lukobe: Crap, you mean we'll have to go back to a time people produced art for art's sake & weren't money-grubbing whores? I bet that will get rid of 80% of the stupid rap acts as well.
Sign me the fuck up.
I still buy a lot of CDs but I haven't bought a new one in over 5-6 years. I used to buy almost exclusively from used CD stores (RIP Disc Diggers) and then I made the jump to the internet (mainly eBay & Half.com). I'm sorry my money isn't going directly to the bands I like but it's hard to pass up the 50%-75% cost savings.
@lukobe: That is the biggest load of tripe I've ever read on this subject. I just dropped a cool grand on more music production equipment and am going to start releasing tracks soon. For free. Why, because I love music. Will I still ask for money? Yeah, on a voluntary basis. If enough people enjoy my music, they'll kick enough my way to pay for my equipment and I'll continue. If they don't, I'll continue anyway because it's personally enjoyable for me. And, quite frankly, if millions enjoy my music, I can replace my 6 figure income doing live shows and never sell a single song. Will I make fifty million? Probably not. Do I care? Nope.
We need more artists who make music because they enjoy it, not because they need a new Ferrari. The former make good music. The latter, overhyped, commercial crap.
the last CD I bought new was a Dave Matthews solo disc (Some Devil?), that when I tried to rip or play it on my computer, kept attempting to install all sorts of DRM garbage. It was unplayable. $18 down the drain.
That was maybe 5 years ago. After that fiasco, haven't looked back.
Ripped all of my existing CDs to high-bitrate mp3s, and with the help of external hard drives and similarly-minded friends, we have been able to amass a music collection reaching into the terabyte range. If there is a jazz, blues, reggae, alt, funk, or rock song written between 1958 and 2008 that we don't have, you don't want it :)
Frankly, the RIAA released me to a universal digital catalog of music that I didn't even knew existed.
@Jaysyn:
I'm with you. The so called "music" that the RIAA wants to defend is the garbage that lines their pockets. There is no artistry anymore. I only CDs I buy anymore are from the bands at their shows. Support independent music! Don't buy (insert pop artist here) and pay overpriced lawyers to destroy musical art.
@jimconsumer:
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I am of the same mind. I have not, however, put large amounts of money into my rig (yet) even when I do it will be made available to other music lovers. Why? Because I love music and hope you do too, so check mine out and let me know what you think. And I happen to like my '89 Accord and have no need for a Ferrari. ;)
For one of my favorite "GNU" artists, check out [www.bradsucks.net]
@sir_eccles: Ripping a CD from the library isn't any more legal than snatching it off the interwebs... just more stealthy.
Which doesn't mean I don't know people that do it, but I'd hardly call it a "win."
www.lala.com for the win, perhaps. CDs are about $1.75, and you own them outright.
I get music from street musicians that I like...that counts as purchasing a CD, right?
Don't forget that people still like the cover art and the booklet that comes with the CD. When I was a teenager (five years ago) I didn't buy/download ANY music, I used the radio...I just found a station that I liked.
@PerpetualCarouse: Strictly speaking yes it isn't any more legal. But I was thinking along the lines of the taxes I pay that fund libraries that buy stuff to lend out and in some countries pay back a royalty in the form of a "public lending right".
I haven't bought a CD in ages...the internet has spoiled me rotten. This is coming from a person who bought albums, records, tapes, singles in both form (with a remix or two), and cds. Like many, I used to spend good money on a cd on the strength of a hit song only to be disappointed when the rest of the cd is garbage. Do that enough and it burns your ass.
It sort of amuses me nowadays when artists throw in a bonus dvd with their music just to sway you from getting the bootleg for $5 (do folks still pay for mixtapes?)or downloading. Where was all the effort before?
@Gadgetgirl: I'm in the same boat. I purchased everything from 8-tracks to vinyl records to cassettes to CD's. The advent of the internet and the wonders of cutting out the garbage tracks and just getting that ONE good song has spoiled me a lot. Almost in a brat like attitude, to where even although all my older stuff is in great condition in my living room its just easier with the music files and a good sounding stereo.
And with sooo many places to get music from ALL different parts of the world (legally and maybe not so legal) I haven't touched purchased a physical CD in a long time.
What the music business is doing with CD's sounds an awful lot like what the movie industry is doing with DVD's. Even though Blu-Ray is the new standard and probably the next big market for them, the movie industry is actually STILL trying to PUSH MORE DVD's. Should just go with the newer format and we'll buy it all over again like the crazy consumers we are known to be.
I buy lots of CDs...but primarily online, and mostly used copies. Big brick-and-mortar retail chains are continually cutting down on their music selections, and once a singer/band releases a new greatest hits disc, forget about finding their individual albums there again. Don't even bother with most mall music stores unless you want to fork out $18+ for a CD that can be easily found for $10-15 elsewhere.
Plus, when you're looking for something different to listen to and don't have a good record shop near you, it's easier to browse for singers/groups you haven't heard of before online, be it through recommendations on the shopping sites themselves (e.g., Amazon.com) or by poking through related music videos on YouTube to see what you find.



















I think you mean that 52% of teenagers still buy more CDs than you...