The options of publishing of music onto different mediums has evolved over the years due to enhanced technology, development in science and general trends and fads. It wasn't long ago we were listening to our CD's on walkmans before Steve Jobs came and introduced iTunes. Today we can download every single song we could possibly imagine, as it is less expensive to release music on an internet cloud, that publish it on CD and release it to stores and companies. With unsigned artists predominantly using online resources to release their material, and larger, signed artists sticking to the old reliable's, is digital taking over the music world?
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| Jack White in his Third Man Records' store |
Ex-White Stripes frontman Jack White has his own record label, Third Man Records, in which has a vinyl record only record store. Over the past few years it is significantly clear on the current increase of desire in vinyl records because of it's retro look, and nostalgic feel. Vinyl records is one of the oldest form of recording and publishing, dating back to the 1800's. Almost all albums released today can be purchased on vinyl also, averaging out at €20 for a 12" LP, and €7 for a 7" single. Costs varies for older vinyl's dating back from pre-80's, with originals usually being rare, and unused ones costing well over €100, if, per se, one of those records was a Jimi Hendrix original. In digital world where MP3, MPEG4 and FLAC exist, value isn't a factor, with equality in every album downloaded. No competition, no hierarchy. Prices are also much lower, with the option of illegal downloading from online torrents. But what makes you feel more proud? Having Jimi playing on your iTunes, or how he expected you to listen to it, on vinyl?
The Compact Disc, or CD, was eventually introduced in the early 1980's, which noted the decline of vinyl records in the mainstream market. Every musician/band's work can be found on a CD, whether or not they died before it's existence. This made the CD more universal for listeners, with each consumer buying a walkman or CD player. It's simple and basic, with every home having a stereo player, and every car with a CD player. Over the last decade, the Compact Disc's popularity declined in the mainstream, as the focus emphasised on a new fad: digital.
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| Vinyl Records: A huge hit in recent years |
The man behind the Apple logo, Steve Jobs, created iTunes along with his collection of iPods. It gave you the option of putting all of your CD's on your computer and placing them all into the one place. Practical and convenient, but invisible music never declared popularity amongst musicians, especially the more successful such as Jack White himself, and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl. You can't go too far without knowing someone who has an iPod, an MP3 player, or music on their mobile phone. Portable invisible music is widely popular, with many teenagers of the digital generation laughing at CD's and it's outdated look.
But with every new change we have rebellion. And with many people not following the trend of MP3, MPEG4 etc., bring back the golden oldie: vinyl. Record Store Day is huge across the globe, taking place on certain dates in certain areas each year, and is always a massive success for each record store. Admittedly, I myself love vinyl. I love it's feel, the crackle it makes when playing, and seeing the all important album work blown up. Although maybe just a new fetish, it's hard to imagine how the medium of music could develop on past being invisible. As a huge music lover, I take pride in certain bands or albums that I listen to, so I always feel the need to have them on some form of physical format.
Is this the future of music? Being invisible? It's a little sad, and I'm not even a musician! I can only imagine what the current greats are thinking of our generation, their fans, who don't even know what analog recording is. What do you think? Are you a vinyl or CD lover, or binge on your MP3's?
Riot Grrrl: Courtney Love.
