The Spotify Generation

[Fretless]

We can't get away from it - music streaming has become the norm.

Firstly there were gramophone records with sound-waves etched in delicate resin. Then came the CD with digital bits read by lasers. Now all the music is in 'the cloud' and everybody has a playlist for every occasion and white iPhone buds surgically implanted in their skulls..

But is the music any better?
With the exception of Katy Perry, I'd say NO.

There used to be record shops where I could spend whole afternoons flipping through racks of LP's or CD's, they are long gone. Mail-order is the only way for me to get my 'fix' these days - thank God for webshops and the internet!

Music has lost its value. We were adventurers on the Rock & Roll sea, looking out for new lands to explore, following the musical currents that could bring us to unexpected places. Finding new cultures, new sounds. But you had to make the effort yourself. Buying LP's was a risky business - sometimes there would be just one or two good songs with the rest of an album duds or fillers. The only way to hear new music was radio, friends, music-press reviews (not always reliable) and 'TOTP'.

On the other hand ....

There is a new generation of music-afficionados who have the entire history of recorded music at their fingertips (we didn't, back in the stone age). They can pick and choose and explore while sitting on the train or eating a burger at McD. Unburdened by our struggles to sort out the good from the bad they can just flip through what they like, make a playlist of it and send it to all their friends on Facebook.

There might be hope for good music yet.

[CN211276]

I have moved with the times, but the streaming has to be lossless. I am traditional in that I play albums rather than play lists.
A good thing to come out of this is to make mone a band has to be able to perform live and sell tickets because no one buys albums any more.

[Fretless]

Strangely enough, the dominance of streaming has been accompanied by the resurrection of the vinyl LP.

[BillyBones]

I was reading somewhere recently that despite the increase in vinyl sales they account for only about 5% of overall music sales, so still niche. I sold my LP collection 5 years ago and have no regrets.

For the last 3 months or I have had my SBT set almost permanently on Random Song Mix and just listen to what comes up. I find it quite refreshing really as with a library of over 30000 songs on my NAS there's plenty of choice to go at, half of which I can't remember ever buying or hearing before.

I can't actually remember the last time I bought a CD. I play a CD every so often just for old times sake

Spotify is my option when I'm out and about in my van during the working day and want to listen to some music. However, I've found recently that I get tired of listening to too much music and listen to Radio 4 or TMS mainly during the day these days.

[karatestu]

I suppose i ought to be embracing streaming, playlists etc but i just can't bring myself to do it . Not at the moment anyway. So much diy to do and other stuff the last thing i need is another project.

Must get all those cheap cd's snapped up whilst they are cheap

[Jammy Dodger]

Im a Luddite Dinosaur and proud of the fact, i despise the download culture.
I dont understand it, and i don't want to understand it, NAS, SBT and a hundred othes, wtf are they and what do they mean.......Who cares, not moi.
I yearn for days long gone, for an era that actually had a physical format to engage with, be it Phono Cylinder, Vinyl Record, R2R Tape, 8 track, Cassette, CDs, Videos, DVDs, etc etc

[karatestu]

Im a Luddite Dinosaur and proud of the fact, i despise the download culture.
I dont understand it, and i don't want to understand it, NAS, SBT and a hundred othes, wtf are they and what do they mean.......Who cares, not moi.
I yearn for days long gone, for an era that actually had a physical format to engage with, be it Phono Cylinder, Vinyl Record, R2R Tape, 8 track, Cassette, CDs, Videos, DVDs, etc etc

Good on ya Jammy. It's just more convenience for the lazy generation.

[savvypaul]

You could create Spotify playlists and then post them in the music section here, Jammy.

It's the modern equivalent of the mix tapes we used to make up off the radio when we was kids....

[Latteman]

I have a vinyl system and a streamer for radio & Spotify
I don’t have a CD player but still buy cds as they are cheap- picked up 6 in charity shop yesterday and paid £4
Vinyl is for pleasurable listening, I enjoy the ‘hands on’ of playing records and marvel that my record player is from 1967 and the 12” drivers from 1972.
Spotify and internet radio quality is excellent, I’ve found so many new artists and my vinyl collection has expanded
I like the convenience of streaming but do like trawling the vinyl shops of Sheffield Doncaster Rotherham and wherever I’m on holiday lookyfor hidden gems. I have many copies of fav albums and do like most Re-issues but usually have the original too
To say I’ve have an active record player since 1988 I have a meagre number of albums 6 x12” cubes stuffed & growing
LONG LIVE VINYL (& internet for streaming)
Long live music

[Latteman]

You could create Spotify playlists and then post them in the music section here, Jammy.

It's the modern equivalent of the mix tapes we used to make up off the radio when we was kids....

Good idea- we could copy some of our old mix tape play lists - still got a few lying about