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Serious question - how do you buy music?

4.7K views 53 replies 43 participants last post by  Thunderboy1975  
#1 ·
It's been so long, I don't know how anymore. There are no CDs (not that I have anything to play them). Do you download it? How do you support an artist.
 
#2 ·
I don’t buy music anymore; have not done so for a long time. The only time I ever listen to music is if I’m trying to learn something from it or looking for another song to do and that can almost always be obtained from u toob. Music for me is mainly singing and playing my guitar. I never have anything playing on the stereo in the background and haven’t switched on a television in more than 20 years. I do have running water, indoor plumbing and electricity though so that’s something.
 
#5 ·
Old school here, I guess. I do still buy CDs, and DVDs, Blu-Rays, occasionally vinyl. I rip everything as soon as I get it and archive the physical copy. When I want to listen/watch, it's the rip.

That's how I support the artists, filmmakers, etc. Buying physical media.

Aside from the fact that streaming is low bandwidth relative to an optical disc, it's ephemeral. A disc and its packaging are a real tangible thing.

Call me crazy, I don't care.
 
#6 · (Edited)
There are no CDs
That has not been my experience. Some jazz artists I see playing live locally are selling CD's. In addition, we have a few local stores offering a wide selection of new and used CDs and I have had no problem ordering some CD's online recently (i.e., during the past 6 months).

@Chito will apparently/hopefully have "AnjChito's" most recent recordings available on CD.
 
#13 ·
Sometimes I think about the post-apocalyptic world where there's no more music for purchase in any form, or mechanism to play recorded music for that matter, apart from, "hey I'll sing you a song with my beat-up old acoustic guitar with four rusted strings and there ain't no more strings to replace the ones that're busted but please can you give me a porkchop bone to gnaw on" and think, OK, as long as I've got a beater I can eat.

That's when we'll know what the real value of music is.
 
#14 ·
Sometimes I think about the post-apocalyptic world where there's no more music for purchase in any form, or mechanism to play recorded music for that matter, apart from, "hey I'll sing you a song with my beat-up old acoustic guitar with four rusted strings and there ain't no more strings to replace the ones that're busted but please can you give me a porkchop bone to gnaw on" and think, OK, as long as I've got a beater I can eat.

That's when we'll know what the real value of music is.
This is why I learn to make things.

The likelihood in my life is small, but when the day comes I don't want to be standing around with a fucking iPad wondering how to kill a deer.
 
#25 · (Edited)
Last year I bought a few CDs, one from Bandcamp, one directly from the label, a couple from Sunrise Records. Amazon.ca doesn't have much of a selection these days, most of the listings are for Amazon Marketplace.

I'm mostly listening to high-definition music.

I had been buying Blu-ray Audio discs, the last couple were part of Beatles boxsets, but blu-rays are few and far between now and very expensive.

SACDs are pretty good, there is still a large selection, but they are expensive.

I will buy more high-definition files from ProStudioMasters or 7digital.com, but last year I only bought the Pixies album and their singles.

But I would rather get something tangible. I have bought Apple exclusive albums that are no longer available, if I lose the downloads I will have nothing, plus those had DRM so they're practically useless. I bought a bunch of albums from PONO and they're no more.

The Pixies release this year came in a deluxe edition with a DVD-sized book, I have several of these books from Pixies and Kristin Hersh. What I would like to see in the future are similar books or coffee table books that include an SD card or a download code. They could be sold in bookstores.

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I have an old friend who said he is subscribed to a high-definition streaming service and is quite happy with it, I don't remember which one.
 
#26 ·
I still buy new or used cds (The Beat Goes On is my go-to place), sometimes vinyl.

I switched from Spotify to Apple for better quality.

I just got a Tascam CD-RW900 recorder .. steep learning curve 🤔

I hate MP3’s but still like cassette tapes. There‘s something magical (and familiar for people my age) about making a tape from vinyl records and staying within the analog realm.
 
#32 ·
I stream the Beatles, Stones, classics, oldies, etc.... from spotify.

I buy all the new music... in vinyl and/or CD and/or Digital (bandcamp, etc)
...usually from the artist's website.

Recently bought the new bundle from SteveHill... CD/Vinyl/ comic/ Hot sauce, etc...
...also bought the complete list of Little Barrie, a mix of vinyl and CD, bought what they had in stock.

Bought The Escape Artist from bandcamp!