As much as I love the portability of being able to carry around my entire collection of music with me, I wish we could put the digital genie back in the bottle.

One of my true joys in life was hanging out at record stores and wondering what something sounded like and if it was worth my money. I'd go to the store and pick up a copy of Doug Sahm and think "should I buy it?" I probably went 10x before I actually purchased it. My collection was smaller but it meant I had to listen to those album more times. I got to really know some albums. Nowadays, I have albums I like that I've listened to maybe 3 or 4 times.

Also, portability means I rarely actively listen to music anymore. It's mostly background sounds for other activities. I started to buying vinyl to force my listening habits in this regard. If it's on vinyl, I'm more likely to sit down and just listen. Also, spending 15-20 bucks ensures that I'll want to get my money's worth and I listen to it more often.

Also not being able to download meant that I scoured magazines and internet sites to find out about music through a filter. It's too easy to just download it these days and make up my own mind.

We did the same, for the same reason.

I still primarily buy CDs, and although I have an ipod, I still use the CDs most of the time. I do a ton of driving during my work day, so I usually pick out 2-3 CDs in the morning to take with me.

I'd love to switch to vinyl, but I have so many CDs at this point that I couldn't replace my entire collection with a different format.

i think labels could vilify themselves by essentially disallowing listeners to have music. this is not a solution, same way as there wasn't a possible solution to curbing or controlling downloading when it initially came about.

streaming ain't good for shit but previewing

We've had this discussion many times before. My sentiments are much like Kingfish's.

I haven't changed, it's just that I preview more things and go fewer times to the record store. I still go though because I love going.


FYI FOR ATLANTA PEOPLE:

Atlanta Record Show is Sunday at the Marriott Century Center off Clairemont.

I'm planning on going and picking up some vinyl. Last time I went I bought the entire Springsteen Live Box Set on vinyl for 8 bucks. Also, but not limited to, New York Dolls "Too Much Too Soon" first print on vinyl for $10.

Well, see, I agree. I just think it would be a record label's wet dream if we were all stuck with streaming. Just like software companies would love it if we had to have subscriptions/temporary licenses for everything.

And when I say "record labels" and "software companies", I mean the big, established ones.

DERRIS I LOVE YOU.

Where do you find out about these things?

Not sure if I'll actually go, sadly, but in years past I would have been all over these things. I just never knew about them.

i buy cd's all the time. i'll usually buy 2-3 every time i get paid. it's been a lot more lately because i had a lot more spare cash over xmas. i really only buy cd's i know i'm going to listen to. i used to be really bad and was buying them because they had a cool looking cover or something.

i download a lot more than i purchase though, but i am more likely to listen to a physical cd than a d/l because i usually just forget about it on my computer, unless it's something i'm really looking forward to hearing.

i buy vinyl rarely but would like to get more into it. i have to try and see if my turntable is still working.

I don't think they actually have site. I think I went the first time after seeing it in either Stomp and Stammer or Creative Loafing. It's $3 to get in and is from 10am-4pm. The real scavengers can pay $10 and get in at 6am or anytime before 10am.

The only reason I know about them now is that after that first time I went I got on their email list and they send me emails when they're happening. They have 'em about 2-3 times a year now.

They're pretty insane and totally uber-geekworthy. Pretty much anything you're looking for you can find. Some guys even have their own niche. Some dudes do old 45's, some only hip hop, etc, etc. I know one guy was a live show bootlegger and had thousand of shows from tons of band for $2-$4 a show (cd).

I pretty much go to just look through the racks and find some cheap vinyl.

I like the idea of the cd, you give your money and you get something physical to hold. That being said I rarely buy cds any more and when I do I just rip them to my computer. It's been awhile since I've listened to music on anything other than a computer or I-Pod. I have found that the things that I have on cd I tend to like more and listen to more, and that part of it is due to an investment in it that I don't get from purely digital music.

i do an absurd amount of business at record fairs. there's a quarterly one at a suburban holiday inn and then an independent radio station has two of their own during the year too.

the best part about these is the negotiating. some people are stubborn on pricing, but most vendors will cut deals for big spenders or regular buyers. there's one guy i see at every show. if i pick through his crates and find $60 worth, i'll usually get the lot for under $50. for old stuff, there's nothing better. i always find something i've never seen before.

I never replaced mine that died about a year ago. I only used it like maybe 50 times before it died, too. pissed me off getting a new one

stilll buy probably ~100 cd's per year. maybe 1% of those from physical record stores though - mostly from amazon. as i've said before, i think downloading has actually increased my cd purchases. i'll always want the artwork/liner notes for something i really dig. i can't see myself ever going purely digital.

that said, i love that with my ipod i can have 25,000 songs at my disposal anywhere/anytime.

I go about once every 2-3 months to a record store to buy cds. Have started to buy more digitally. If I get a record player for my birthday next month I will prob get on a vinyl kick.

I have accumulated a crazy amount of cds over the past 2 decades, including many I've only given a cursory listen. In 2009, I found myself checking out songs on music blogs that had been leaked or released by the band/labels and only buying a few cds over the entire year. As a former diehard cd buyer, my habits have definitely changed.

I do a lot of my listening in the car so cd's still have a lot of value to me plus I still love collecting them


I download stuff for free to preview/make cd mixes once a month or so then actually track down and buy the cd to support the artist if I like the music


still buying a lot of cd's actually and receiving quite a bit through trading sites such as

http://www.musicboomerang.com

and

http://www.swapacd.com


but I found a found a sweet automatic direct drive SL-3300 Technics turntable at a record fair last week for only $25 so will be buying more vinyl soon

If I like something, I but it, cds included. The new Spoon for instance this Tuesday will be purchased in this medium. However, I'm really enjoying the vinyl again; there's nothing I like more than browsing the local joint for the old oop stuff. Actually I think if I can get a new release at a reasonable cost, I'd buy it in vinyl as well but I think it's still price prohibitive.

And if I can't find the physical, I'll buy a digital copy.

I still try to buy a new release CD every week and I'll usually pick up a 2nd hand or cheaper back catalogue album.

I never download albums before hand preferring to take my chances relying on the time honoured criteria of selection - personal experience of previous albums, art work, band name and 'vibe'. I like the whole idea of investing in something and having that surprise element off not quite knowing what you've got. Emotional reaction to albums is enhanced if you actually put money down for them. A greater appreciation of music you like or a sort of unbeatable sense of resentment towards the artist if don't. The latter is as worthy as the former.

I also think that by not listening to albums before you buy them you will inevitably buy things that you wouldn't otherwise. This exposes you to different types of music, keeps you from falling into the trap of only buying artists you already like and generally keeps things fresh and retains a general curiosity.

I always listen to music (at least at home) on my stereo separates system. When you have good audio equipment the idea of listening to music on a PC has absolutely no appeal. A couple of years back I deleted all the music files from my PC simply because it was a waste of hard drive space. Now I only rip albums to my mp3 player and immediately delete them from my PC.

Theoretically I like the idea of a vinyl collection but the only vinyl I have currently is my Postcard records. In the real world vinyl storage is something of a nightmare what with it being 4 times bigger than a CD album - I have finite floor/wall space after all - so much like my dream of owning a dog, I'll have to earn more money and move to a bigger property before it can become a reality.

When the CD ceases to exist I'll probably abandon new music.

Exactly how I feel!!!

Although, as much as I d/l (for preview purposes), if I like something, 99% of the time I will buy it in the physical format.

I'm all over the map...I download legally & otherwise, & still buy CD's if it's an artist that I already own a ton of CD's by. If I'm starting fresh with a band, I don't mind if it's all digital.

I'm a case study in the "downloaders buy more music" theory.

You know its already out right? Just making sure you aren't waiting until Tuesday for an album thats already out.

If I were Tanner I'd be fairly horrified with what you did there.

Or I'll just go on being horrified on his behalf.

I sold all my cds over the holiday break.

I have records, but I don't really actively BUY them (at least new releases)

i mean what a stupid things cds are.